January 09, 2014
Victoria Badham
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Every individual who contributes to LEAF’s efforts is irreplaceable. We could not achieve our goals without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Each year, certain individuals exceed our expectations and go above and beyond in their commitment to the urban forest. They are leaders within their community and mentors to other volunteers. We would like to congratulate Rita and Tim – our Volunteers of the Year for 2013!
January 09, 2014
Janet McKay
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The past year was inarguably a stormy one for Torontonians. In addition to the unprecedented maelstrom at City Hall, July’s #FloodTO dumped an estimated 61 billion litres of rain into the city’s streets, subways, yards and basements, just in time for rush hour. In December, #IceStormTO capped the city with an eerie, icy coating that downed an estimated 20 per cent of the urban forest canopy and left more than half a million Ontarians in the dark during the busy holiday season.
December 09, 2013
Jane Clark
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My fellow volunteers and I had been rushing to track down neighbourhood ash trees this summer to save them from the deadly emerald ash borer. Now the question was: What to do once we find them? August had arrived, and the EAB treatment deadline at the end of the month was looming.
December 09, 2013
Janet McKay
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On Friday November 29, we held the LEAF Best Forest Friends (or BFF for short) Social event – an opportunity to show our appreciation to our supporters and volunteers, each of whom is an urban forest champions in their own right! Approximately 200 dedicated tree-lovers from across the GTA filed into the CSI Annex. We raised a glass and got lost in many great conversations.
December 09, 2013
Andrea Bake
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Out of all the species we offer in our Backyard Tree Planting Program, I get the most calls about the Kentucky coffeetree. The greatest number of them involves concerns that the tree 1) was dead when planted, 2) has died over the winter, or 3) has full branches dropping off of it in the fall. Fortunately for me (and our homeowners!) these concerns are rarely warranted. And in fact, the majority of these can be explained by looking at the tree’s Latin name: Gymnocladus dioicus.
December 09, 2013
Robyn Stewart
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I’ve spent a lot of time coordinating and leading tree tours this year – it is part of my job here at LEAF, after all. But recently, I had the opportunity to attend a tree tour as a participant. And I learned a lot! The Ontario Urban Forest Council’s conference included a tree tour through Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Moore Park Ravine.
November 21, 2013
Victoria Badham
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This year marks 50 years of conservation, action and advocacy for the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC). To celebrate, they organized a weekend of events dedicated to educating and inspiring those who care for the urban forest. The three-day festival included a gala, a tree tour of the Moore Ravine, and a full day seminar delivered by Dr. McKenzie-Mohr – an environmental psychologist and leader in promoting sustainable behaviour.
November 21, 2013
Victoria Badham
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If you look closely, you can find nature in the unlikeliest of places. That slice of green poking through the crack of a sidewalk? It’s not just a weed; it’s a reminder that Mother Nature is always lurking, waiting for the opportunity to spring up in seemingly inhospitable locations.
November 21, 2013
Andrea Bake
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In the year 1900 Frank Chapman set out to change a Christmas Day tradition. At the time, it was considered a sport to team up and see who could gun down the most small mammals and birds on this holiday, but Mr. Chapman wanted to change this. Calling his proposal the Christmas Bird Census, he sought out people to count the birds – not shoot them. One hundred and thirteen years later, his tradition (now called the Christmas Bird Count) involves 60,000 people across North, Central and South America annually.
November 21, 2013
Andrea Bake
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It’s that time of year again – the leaves in their shades of red, orange and yellow have fallen and as the cold weather draws us indoors, we remember the way those brilliant colours brightened up the crisp autumn days. As the Field Operations Supervisor for LEAF, I do my fair share of consultations with our homeowners to determine the best tree species for their backyard. The number one request is for a tree with great fall colour. For our spring 2014 planting season, we’re adding another one with an impressive autumn hue to the roster: black gum.