Blogs

By now you are well aware of the fate of our ash trees. Since 2002 the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect imported from Asia has killed millions of ash trees in Southern Ontario and Michigan. Nearly all of Toronto’s ash, an estimated 860,000, will be gone by 2017. A few local artists are realizing the opportunity to create whimsical pieces out of the chaos and put them on display for the public.

Long ago, English settlers planted a “new” tree species, English walnut, to ensure a supply of their favourite nuts. It seems we’ll never learn from past species introductions that turned into aggressive invasives (i.e. the ever increasing European Starling population at the time – introduced so North America could have all the bird species mentioned in Shakespeare’s works - going from 60 starlings to 150 million invasive pests).

The more I learn about edible trees and plants, the more I want to try them out. When temperatures started to drop, I thought it was the perfect time to try some of our common native trees for my favourite cold weather drink – tea! After a brisk, cold day of working outdoors, I think nothing saves the day more than a mug of hot, delicious tea. This fall and winter, I set aside my fancy, store-bought tea collection to try sumac.

Last fall as Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast like a "chainsaw on methamphetamines," some neighbourhoods lost as much as ninety per cent of their urban forests. And as Sandy passed over the five Boroughs of New York City, 8,500 trees and many more damaged limbs fell into the streets. The mess she left behind and the subsequent flooding upset crucial watersheds, threatening the public water supply. But as soon as the winds died down, residents, rescue teams and even a few folks from above the border were working to restore order.