Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. _____________________________ St. Lawerence tree tour: Stop 11 Walk into this back alley, which is parallel to a rail line, and you'll see a sight ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. _____________________________ Bain Co-Operative tree tour: Stop 14 This redbud (Cercis canadensis) has been around. It was first planted over 15 years ago in the garden ...

Looking west down Queen Street At eleven yesterday morning I learned that Global television wanted to interview me, an arborist, about the late changing of the leaves, in an hour — in a helicopter. I would have suggested doing the interview on a footbridge over the Don Valley, but when Global does a nature story they go big. And yes, I recognize the irony of burning significant amounts of fossil fuel to videotape leaves that have not yet fallen because of the unseasonable weather. However, it presented the opportunity to educate a wide audience about trees in a compelling way. And I got to ride in a helicopter. After the interview I was able to take some photos, a few of which I provide below. So first, a quick primer on why leaves change colour in the fall. Throughout the summer, leaves are full of chlorophyll, the green chemical that through the process of photosynthesis converts the sun's energy into sugars (remember grade 9 biology?). The sugars are stored in the roots and trunk, and then used to fuel the tree throughout the year as it grows roots, branches, leaves, and fruit. In the fall, the nights get longer, the weather gets cooler, and the tree begins to shut down. Tissue forms at the base of each leaf, causing them to eventually fall off. Looking northwest up Glen Stuart Ravine As the bright green chlorophyll drains from the leaves, other pigments like carotenoids (which make up the oranges and yellows and have been in the leaf all along) become visible. Anthocyanins (which provide the vibrant reds and purples) are produced in the fall when some sugars become trapped in the leaves. The vibrancy of the colours and the time the leaves drop is dictated by temperature, available moisture, and most importantly, shorter days. This year, as a result of the long summer drought, followed by a mild fall with no frost and cool rains, trees are holding their leaves longer. They are doing so partially to take advantage of the unseasonably good growing conditions by storing extra sugars they were unable to during the summer, because of the crippling drought. One fear is that we will now have a heavy snowfall or ice storm, which is more than likely considering it is mid-November. If leaves are still on the trees and the conditions are just right, snow and ice will stick to them, greatly increasing the weight of each limb, causing some limbs to break. The impact on the urban forest, not to mention the people and property below could be significant —all the more reason to have an ISA certified arborist routinely check the condition of trees on your property and conduct preventive maintenance if required, so they will be much less likely to suffer damage. These photos were taken looking west from around the Scarborough Bluffs area (anyone with a keen eye for streets and landmarks please point them out). What I think is so fascinating is how clearly it demonstrates the idea of canopy cover. The deficiency with Google maps in this regard is that the photos are taken in the winter, with leaves off, so you can see the roads, but not the trees. In these photos many of the leaves are still on and are vibrant colours, making it easier to identify particular species.

Do you like Toronto's trees? Do you worry that they are not getting enough love? If so, you might be interested in attending LEAF's volunteer orientation session next Thursday to find out how to use your skills to help Toronto's urban forest. This training session will outline the basic issues facing our urban forest, and provide an overview of LEAF's programs and numerous volunteer opportunities. If you plan to attend it is asked that you please register. LEAF Volunteer Orientation Thursday November 15, 6-7:30 pm Metro Hall, 55 John St, Toronto ON Room 310 Photograph by Dougal Bichan

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF will post a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Trinity Bellwoods and neighbourhood tree tour: Stop 9 Of ...

Are you passionate about Toronto's trees? Do you enjoy a nice beverage? Join LEAF staff and volunteers this evening at the Victory Cafe for LEAFy Drinks, a new monthly social event. The inaugural night, held last month, was an enjoyable evening with over 20 people talking trees, amongst other things, I even got to play-wrestle with a 3 year old. If you're looking for ways to get involved, or just meet others who share your appreciation of the urban forest, this is the night for you. Date: Thursday November 1st (First Thursday of every month thereafter) Location: Victory ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) will post a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dovercourt Park and neighbourhood ...