Blogs

Our Stewardship Coordinator, Brian Millward, had the pleasure of speaking with Lillian Natalizio about her experience with LEAF and her passion for the urban forest. From stewardship in our demonstration gardens to participating in community tree planting events, Lillian has participated in almost every volunteer program we offer since she joined our community in 2015! In total, she has donated over 350 hours of her time to protecting and enhancing the urban forest.

LEAF offers over 50 native trees and shrubs through our Backyard Tree Planting Program. Clearly, we love native species! But, is there one among them all that our staff likes best? I interviewed our Residential Planting Programs staff on what makes their favourite tree so great.

The ironwood is a tree with so many wonderful features, but its ability to blend in with its surroundings is uncanny. As a natural, smaller-growing understory tree that prefers a bit of shade, the ironwood keeps a low-profile amongst its forest friends.

Urban trees exist in conditions very different from those of a natural forest. As such, it is our duty to provide them with the proper care in order to protect them from harsh urban stressors. Follow these six, easy tips to help your trees survive and flourish.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the LEAF Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens. Made possible with support from Ontario Power Generation, these gardens, located outside five TTC subway stations, demonstrate how biodiversity can thrive, even in small urban spaces. Whether you frequent our gardens on your daily commute or are just learning about them now, we are excited to share with you how much they have grown!