Blogs

It’s a long standing tradition in Canada to do all of our planting in the spring after the May long weekend. This is when the garden centres open their doors and people flock outside to dig in the dirt and enjoy the warm weather. Canadian winters have a history of being particularly harsh (we love our snow, eh?), which is why some people believe fall is a bad time to plant. But in reality, it’s perfect for our trees and shrubs!

In July 2012, Markham changed its official status from town to city. The shift suggests development is an ongoing priority for this once-rural area. While growth in Canada’s High Tech Capital is sure to bring prosperity and new ideas (and maybe an NHL team) to the region, it will also place substantial stress on the city’s urban trees.

I first blogged about Bayview Buckets in December of last year. Back then it was just an idea: persuade merchants along the four-block commercial strip in my neighbourhood to take ownership of the street trees growing out front. We would encourage them to “adopt” the tree by agreeing to water it from May to September.

Last February I had the pleasure of traveling to Barcelona, Fés and Rome on an intense adventure. While most tourists were mesmerized by the ancient buildings, local bars and cafes, I was more interested in the trees. Growing up in Canada I don’t often think about an urban world without large parks, wild ravines and backyards or green spaces around apartment’s complexes where kids can play, but while in Barcelona I was reminded that this is not true for everyone.