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Tree Tuesday: The beautified princess

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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.

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St. Lawrence Market: Stop 7

The area on the west side of Princess Street was once a derelict strip of weeds strewn with litter along a rusty chain-link fence. A grouping of wind-seeded tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Manitoba maple (Acer negundo) trees had voluntarily taken up residence in the strip, which had become overgrown and unkempt. Members of the St. Lawrence Residence Association in conjunction with the non-profit group smartliving St. Lawrence applied for money from the City of Toronto’s Neighbourhood Beautification Program fund to refurbish the area. Members of the community came out to pull weeds, install decorative stones salvaged from a nearby construction site, and plant native species of flowers and shrubs. The trees were pruned by LEAF. The large stone at the south-edge of the strip has become a de facto TTC bench. Dan O’Leary a resident who has done much to contribute to the revitalization of St. Lawrence humorously calls this “The Adult Garden” in contrast to the gardens nearby, which are used mostly by children. This is an example of what can be done by local residents with some elbow grease and a little financial support from the City.

Upcoming tours: Green Roofs and Trees Tour
When: August 4, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Where: 401 Richmond Building

Photo by Luke Tyszkiewicz

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4 comments

  1. There’s an interesting piece in the Economist about the monetary value of trees. It looks at how promoting the worth of trees can help protect them. NYC has just put the economic value of its tree cover at $122 million.

    Valuing urban trees

  2. Thanks for mentioning the Princess Street garden. A large group of residents have been involved in planting and watering this garden and other gardens all along The Esplanade.

    We were lucky to have the boulders donated from a local construction site. The large boulder (not shown in the photo) being used for seating at the bus stop is the bonus. It’s becoming a focal point in the neighbourhood. The fence behind the big rock will soon be an art fence.

    Thanks to LEAF for all their efforts greening Toronto.

  4. Guys you are not alone believe me. I’m absolutely agree with you. It doesn’t matter what other people would say just trust me. I know for sure that it’s about real events.