After a morning of planting trees, over 50 people joined me and Alex Satel, Consulting Arborist, Urban Forest Innovations Inc., to learn more about the trees in the area.
We were right beside Little Etobicoke Creek, so Alex began by discussing the importance of trees in riparian areas. Trees along riversides help to filter water entering streams and reduce erosion, making for cleaner waterways and more stable riverbanks.
We saw this picturesque (and dead) oak tree. It’s been dead for quite a while, but provides habitat for all sorts of birds, insects, and fungi. Red-winged blackbirds flew in and out of it, and filled the air with their songs.
Not everything we saw was positive. This cherry tree was filled with black knot fungus. This disease causes ugly black swellings, or knots, and eventually kills the tree.
This willow in a wetland area was just starting to leaf out – I love that greenish-yellow haze that tells me it’s spring! Willows love water, and a mature willow can intercept 16,000 litres of water each year!
We found an amazing old oak tree in the woods. Alex pulled out his measuring tape to measure it, and it was 115 centimetres in diameter! Despite being in a forested area, its branches were wide and spreading, suggesting that it initially grew back when this area was an open farmer’s field with no competition from other trees. At over 150 years old, this tree has seen a lot of change in its lifetime!
Barkley came out of his winter hibernation, and was a hit as always. Everyone wanted their picture taken with him – including new Mayor Bonnie Crombie!
Thanks to everyone who came out to make our first Mississauga tour such a success! We’re looking forward to more fun events in Mississauga in the future, including our Tree Tenders Volunteer Training Program in May.
Robyn is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at LEAF.
LEAF’s Tree Tours in Mississauga are supported by the City of Mississauga.