If you’ve visited the Danforth East area over the last month or so, you might have sensed something in the air – a building excitement about the trees that grace its sidewalks and surrounding spaces. Maybe you heard about an upcoming tree tour from a friend, or read about something called an “Adopt-a-Street-Tree Project” in the newspaper or on a community board. Or maybe you’re already part of this project – the first of its kind for LEAF. As we move into the project’s second year, we are excited to celebrate its progress so far, and to look towards its next steps!
One of the beautiful trees in the Danforth East area.
Community members came out on the evening of Wednesday, July 20th to take a tour of the neighbourhood trees. They learned about the different tree species that have been planted on the Danforth and surrounding streets – including honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum). But the tour was by no means restricted to these species – do you know which native tree has seeds that were historically used as a substitute for coffee? Would you like to impress your friends by distinguishing between a sugar maple and a Norway maple, or a little-leaf linden and a basswood? And have you ever wondered where you can find a beautiful, spreading, mature elm tree (or why they’re so rare)? These questions – and more – were answered on Wednesday’s tree tour.
Examining a Norway maple near the start of the tour.
One of the participants holding Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) adult and larval samples.
The tour started and ended at Coleman Park, near Main Street subway station – an ideal midpoint in the Adopt-a-Street-Tree project area, which extends between Woodbine and Victoria Park. To celebrate the Danforth community, which has done such a good job of caring for their trees over the past year, we made sure to include a stop at the Alleyway of Dreams, as well – where we got to examine some local (and sometimes tree-themed!) art. Mark Kerwin, project coordinator and one of the alleyway artists, is also one of several locals who water Coleman Park’s young trees.
An Alleyway of Dreams mural.
After the tour, participants had the opportunity to ask questions about the Adopt-a-Street-Tree Project, get to know their fellow community tree enthusiasts, and sign up to adopt a tree or volunteer. We’re happy to report that there were many new adopters from the night’s event – with more than 90 trees now adopted – so the Danforth’s trees will continue to be healthy and happy!
Participants signing up to adopt their tree.
If you too would like to adopt a tree on the Danforth, or join our Adopt-a-Street-Tree volunteer team, please contact erin[at]yourleaf.org. We’re always looking for new adopters…and the trees will be very grateful.
Montanna Diakun is LEAF’s Education and Stewardship Assistant.
Photographs taken by Jaclyn Corneil.
LEAF’s Adopt-a-Tree-Program is undertaken in partnership with the City of Toronto and is supported by Live Green Toronto and Canadian TREE Fund..