This month's photo comes from our friends to the east! Emerald Ash Borer Ambassadors and LEAF Volunteers, Chris and Holly Monster ventured to Grey Abbey Park, at the bottom of Morningside Ave in the Scarborough Bluffs. On their trek, they captured shots of "the edge of the world," views of East Point from Grey Abbey, trees hanging off the edge of the bluffs, frozen seeds and fresh erosion. They also spotted some pretty extensive "woodpecker flecking" on the bark of a white ash – signs of pests and decline in an area heavily affected by the EAB.
But my favourite was of this birch tree stand, at the eastern boundary of the park (click the blog thumbnail up top for an enlarged view). I love how the spruce is tucked behind - as if hiding. The area, so important for biodiversity - not to mention its natural allure throughout the year, has been photographed at a moment where you can almost feel the calming rhythm of the waves below. It pulls you in.
So now we ask you to identify your favourite spots in the city - it could be the best tree to hang out under in the summer, your best climber, or just one that brightens your trip to work. The most important part is that you share these with us – and feel free to do so in any way that works for you. On flickr? Join our flickr pool. Is Facebook your thing? Share a shot on our wall! You can also find us on pinterest, twitter and instagram. Or just email them directly.
Can't narrow it to just one? Send us a bunch! Is it the Don Valley under ice or High Park in a snowfall? Unionville in the spring or Rouge River in the autumn? Whatever speaks to you the most is what we want to see. And the more involvement we get, the more interesting the project will become. So take out your smartphone, point-and-shoot, or SLR - spread the word and help us answer this question: What makes our urban forest so special?
