Toronto's Trees

Have you ever noticed how green Toronto is? Have you ever taken a bicycle along all the bike trails in the ravines only to feel like you have escaped from the busy-ness of the city?

Well all of this green is at risk!

Many of Toronto's trees were planted at the beginning of the 1900s. Unfortunately, they are coming to the end of their life expectancies. The recent ice storm gave a clear indiciation that we need to do more as individuals to keep Toronto green.

In my front yard, I have a century old Norway Maple Tree. It didn't fare to well during the ice storm. Two huge branches came crashing down during the middle of the night. Luckily no one was injured and no property was damaged.

This was not the first time either. Last fall during more crazy weather - winds over 100 km per hour - more branches strewn all over the yard.

A few years ago, this grand tree was host to a colony of carpenter ants and several of the branches were weakened as a result. So whenever some wild weather hits the city, my aged tree suffers.

Unfortunately after the recent ice storm, the City of Toronto Forestry Department has decided that it must come down.

Now, we all know that some of Toronto's favourite neighbourhoods and most desirable streets are tree-lined and have these amazing shady canopies. Think of High Park, Bloor West Village, and Riverdale - the trees are part of what makes these neighbourhoods so desirable.

So while I am saddened that our grand old Norway maple will be soon be gone, my partner and I are already researching what will go there in its place. To find out more about the Tree Advocacy Program in Toronto go to Tree Advocacy Planting Program.

And if you want to do some of your own research or visit the best Garden Centre in the GTA - Humber Nurseries is head and shoulders above the rest.