March 07, 2013
Sharmeen Shahidullah
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Storms can be terrifying. They remind us that nature is powerful, often unexpected, and can leave us helpless in its path. Take the recent snowstorms in Toronto. Not the worst Ontario has seen, but enough to put life on hold. Picture vehicles locked in garages, schools and businesses shut down. Those of us brave enough, or with no other choice, venture out at our own risk. These events tend to isolate us – we’re glued to our T.Vs and windows instead.
March 07, 2013
Michelle Bourdeau
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Fred is a good, reliable tree. As a hackberry, he is hardy, quick-growing and puts out a lot of leaves – which are some of the reasons the Janczur family welcomed Fred in spring 2007. According to Axelle Janczur, “Fred has made our garden more liveable in the summer and he provides nice shade.”
March 05, 2013
Andrea Bake
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Every year approximately 50 million birds pass through the Greater Toronto Area to get to their breeding grounds further north. This immense population influx starts in early spring with the arrival of the American robin (often despite the snow sitting on the ground).
March 01, 2013
Visitor (not verified)
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This time around I decided to make a hemlock tea from the needles of Eastern or Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Our native hemlocks are pretty impressive – they can live up to 600 years or longer - some may even reach 1000. As evergreen trees, they provide greenery all year round as well as dense cover and food for our urban wildlife. My first edible introduction to hemlocks was being asked to chew its needles and to describe its taste. “Christmas!” I proclaimed, while others said “winter” and “minty.”
February 28, 2013
Matthew Higginson
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Our necks are cranked up toward the sky. Thirty-two feet overhead, Ryan Kuz reaches out from his small white bucket and calmly brings a chainsaw down on a branch, cutting through until it snaps and gracefully swings away. Caught by the rope he’s secured around it, the massive branch is slowly lowered to the ground where we’re standing. I help the crew from Fairchild TV shimmy out of the way, careful not to slip on the icy interlocking brick of the alley.
February 27, 2013
Matthew Higginson
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We want to see the urban forest for the trees! And we want to see them through your eyes. So we’re launching a series to highlight our favourite photos. Each month we will choose one, but the goal is that they are all provided by you! So get out your cameras and snap emblematic shots that speak to what it feels like in our streets, parks and alley ways.
February 14, 2013
Sharmeen Shahidullah
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Today is the day we celebrate our loved ones, indulge in heart shaped candies and exchange X’s & O’s. But last week I came across these letters from children to their favourite trees! Aren’t they adorable? Call me a tree hugger if you must, but as you exchange notes of all kinds I encourage you to write one too for the loveliest tree you know...
February 14, 2013
Michelle Bourdeau
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True love comes in trees, so in honour of Valentine’s day, I bring you a love story. This edition of the series comes hot on the heels of the last - but the timing was right and we couldn't resist. Enjoy!
February 13, 2013
Estela Thomson
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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.
February 12, 2013
Michelle Bourdeau
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Hope. In the cold of early February, as we dust off the remains of Snowmageddon II (aka Nemo), it is something we certainly all could use. Hope is when we let imagination turn snowflakes into white spring petals.