Garden Route Therapy

After a summer spent constantly looking down in naturalized areas and seeing Dog Strangling Vine everywhere, I think I may have forgotten to lift my gaze to the trees. A new orientation came from attending the recent Tree Tenders Training in arboriculture offered by the grassroots non-profit organization LEAF, a group focused on the protection of Toronto’s urban forest (this covers public and private property). It was interesting to learn that there are an estimated 7 million trees in Toronto, with a canopy cover of 17-18%. The workshop introduced participants to topics like tree biology, tree and shrub identification (using a tree guide and how to work through a key), tree selection and planting and tree stress and its management. We also got a basic run through, from a By-law Officer, of the City of Toronto’s Tree By-laws and Policies that include: City Street Tree By-law, Private Tree By-law and Ravine Protection By-law. To transmit information in an engaging way, the workshop used short lectures with case-study photos, hands-on identification activities and touring neighborhood trees in the Broadview and Gerrard area. We worked from an excellent manual, that I am pleased to be able to refer to in the future, called the “Citizen Arborist Study Guide”, prepared for the International Society of Arboriculture Ontario Inc.

Tree Tenders was an ideal starting point for a beginner like myself. It provides participants the confidence and knowledge to make a more meaningful contribution when it comes to trees. There is important information for citizens who want to volunteer by planting trees or organize a planting, are interested in maintaining and or planting tress on their own property and want to be able to protect trees by following the tree policies and bylaws. Also, if you need to communicate with an arborist, you will know what questions to ask and be able to make a more informed decision. For my own studies, I believe having an understanding of trees is important to the practice of horticultural therapy because the experience of participants is greatly benefited by having healthy trees in their outdoor workspaces.

With the recent drought conditions in the city there has been plenty of concern generated over the loss of trees. The Don Watcher blog, recently posted encouraging citizens to “Adopt a Street Tree” they pass regularly and to provide it with water, even if only the content of your water bottle. I was fortunate to pick-up at the Riverdale Library book-sale (for 50 cents), a copy of The National Wildlife Federation Book of Family Nature Activities by Page Chichester. It’s an extremely practical guide with step-by-step instructions for working with kids creatively and includes a section on Trees, with an “Adopt a Tree” in your neighborhood activity plan. They suggest activities that encourage young people to observe a selected tree carefully over an extended period of time and to develop their skills by measuring the height of their tree, trying to determine the age of their tree, creating a model of their tree and keeping a tree journal. I would add to this list basic tree maintenance, including watering and mulching. Would it not be wonderful if each school class adopted a tree each year and students followed the life of the tree next to their own school journey through the changing seasons. Reading the storybook The Giving Tree can always be included with any lesson about trees. The key lesson I gained from LEAF was related to on-going observation, how knowing your trees is key to keeping them healthy. Giving young people an early start in developing these skills may ensure that trees planted today will still be around as this group of children grows-up.

Activity idea:  At the High Park Children’s Garden, participants painted pine cones and created butterflies from coffee filters in order to decorate and celebrate the oak tree’s contribution to the garden.