Andrea Bake's blog

Species Profile: Pawpaw

Andrea Bake — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:56:27 +0000

Each month we choose a particular species to focus on from our residential planting programs. These are written to explore the unique characteristics more deeply than what is featured on our profile gallery, while offering insight as to why we choose to plant them in backyards across Toronto and York Region. This month we look at the pawpaw – a new addition to our list and a delicious twist on native species.

Arborist Tips: brown leaves before fall

Andrea Bake — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:02:59 +0000

It is common to see trees with brown leaves in the spring and summer, well before we expect the changing colours of autumn to appear. There are a few reasons for such symptoms. You can narrow it down by answering the following a few questions....

Grow fruit in your own backyard

Andrea Bake — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:56:49 +0000

One of my favourite fall activities is going to my local apple orchard to pick a bag of Mutsu apples, which (surprisingly) does not last a week with my family. In the winter, I scour markets and grocery stores for the best specimens that have not succumbed to becoming a mushy disaster.

Forests, films and peace

Andrea Bake — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:26:43 +0000

On November 30, the Ontario Forestry Association wrapped up the UN’s International Year of Forests by having an evening film festival at the University of Toronto. In a large auditorium, I and about 160 other people watched 6 short films ranging from a documentary on towering Redwoods to the well-known NFB animation the Log Driver’s Waltz. The OFA touched upon many different connections people have with not only the forest, but nature as a whole, and educate other viewpoints at the same time.

A Tree on Your Doorstep, A Forest in Your Mind: Success Stories from Europe

Andrea Bake — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:57:27 +0000

The keynote speaker at the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) conference last week was Cecil Konijnendijk, a professor from the University of Copenhagen. He gave a talk on urban forestry in Europe - something I was very interested in because it was a chance to see what the Europeans are doing differently than we are here in North America. It was also a chance to gain ideas of where we can improve canopy cover in our own urban environments.