Trees are nature's givers, sharing shade on hot days, fruit for long winters, and money for those who don’t want to get a job. Experience the altruism of our leafy friends firsthand with today's Groupon: for $99, you get a shade tree or flowering tree from Amherst Nurseries in Amherst (up to a $330 value).

On more than 100 acres of land, Amherst Nurseries grows a vast forest of trees and shrubs, helping to make customers' green thumbs even greener. The retail store boasts a friendly staff that helps customers select the right plants for their yards. Maples, ashes, honey locusts, and other shade trees provide homes for birds' nests and dolls' treehouses ($330 for a 15- to 20-ft. tree), and the colorful foliage of plums, cherries, crab apples, and other flowering trees gives yards an instant makeover in preparation for tree prom season ($260 for a 10- to 15-ft. tree). On the farm, Amherst's tree tenders minimize pesticide use and partner with UMass researchers to test new soil-conservation technologies. Each seedling is raised on sunlight, fresh air, and occasional discipline, growing into a sturdy young tree that showcases a one-year guarantee and an excellent moral compass.