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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Archived Articles: Kiwanis Trees of Honour Park

KIWANIS TREES OF HONOUR PARK

A community partnership with Etobicoke Parks and Recreation Services and the Kiwanis Clubs of the City of Etobicoke.
The Kiwanis Trees of Honour Programme is a way of celebrating a special event or of honouring an individual by planting a tree for you and the Etobicoke community to enjoy. The official opening for the Kiwanis Trees of Honour Park on the east side of The East Mall midway between Burnhamthorpe Road and Bloor Street took place on April 26, 1997.
The park was designed by Parks personnel as an Arboretum since trees make the greatest contribution to the long term health and well being of a community. Etobicoke Parks and Recreation Services will prepare the site, and plant and maintain the trees. A descriptive marker will be mounted in concrete at the base of each tree. The master planting plan is an excellent collection of carefully selected and clearly identified varieties of trees and identifies a particular planting zone for each tree. The total number of trees that has been planned for this site is 368. Each tree will provide shelter, oxygen and a lasting tribute to a special person, or a celebration of an event or accomplishment.
Individuals, groups and corporations are invited to donate specimen trees to honour a person or an event. (A charitable donation receipt will be issued by the City of Etobicoke.) A brochure outlining details of the Park and a tree-planting master plan is available by calling Kiwanis Trees of Honour Committee at 416-233-3338 or 416-231-9859.
Did you know that Etobicoke can boast a collection of trees that is unique in Canada and is now recognised as one of the rarest collection of nut trees in North America? The Echo Valley Park, situated on the north side of Mimico Creek where it crosses Kipling Avenue and the first big bend upstream contains the best specimen of Turkish Hazel in the region as well as a unique collection of other nuts and native fruit trees.
This collection of between 150 and 200 varieties of nut trees and hybrid nut trees was established by Mr George Hebden Corsan after he purchased the 9.4 acre section which is now the park in 1911. The collection includes black, white and Persian walnuts, American and European hazels, hybrids, sweet chestnuts and pawpaws. Some of the trees, all of which are of fruit bearing age, are as tall as 50 feet.
The City of Etobicoke purchased the property in 1959 and it was only in the early 1970's that the value of the collection was realized by city staff at which time the trees were identifed and labelled and a maintenance programme set up to preserve the existing trees, along with attempts to establish additional varieties. Echo Valley Park is a prime example of good urban greenspace management. As well as being aesthetically pleasing the park also serves the purpose of being a natural flood plain.
Echo Valley Park lies between Wingrove Hill Road to the north and Echo Valley Road to the south. Enter the park via Wingrove Hill Road one block north of Burnhampthorpe Road off Kipling Ave.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Archived Article: School Ground Naturalization

SCHOOL GROUND NATURALIZATION
By Debby Morton

In 1992 Broadacres Junior School was the first Etobicoke School to naturalize their schoolyard. This year (1997) there are about 26 schools engaged in outdoor environmental projects. This is clearly an indication that the 'greening' of school grounds is an idea whose time has come.
Some schools approach their projects with different themes in mind i.e., bird and butterfly habitats, wet meadows, herb gardens, vegetable gardens, native trees for shade and peace gardens to name a few. Whatever the theme, all schools have need of community support. Money for these projects comes in the way of grants from Parent Teacher Associations, and environmental funding agencies such as Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, Shell Environmental Fund and Action 21.
Horticultural societies and individuals can do much to offer support to the schools in their community. Contact the principal if you would like to offer your help. 
Here are some ideas to get you started:
  •  Letters of encouragement focusing on what you think they are doing well. 
  •  Donations of: time, perennials, shovels, trowels, weed diggers, rakes, wheelbarrows, books (nature, reference and gardening), class sets of watering cans, bushel baskets, garden gloves, seeds (sunflowers, nasturtiums, heritage seeds, and cosmos to name a few) and spring bulbs. 
  •  Offer your expertise. Believe it or not there are many children and teachers who do not know how to plant bulbs, weed, raise seeds, transplant, prune or compost. 
  •  The naturalization committee in the school or a teacher trying to get things going might need help with research, phoning, planning gardens or taking a class out to work in the garden. 
  •  Sharpen their shovels (thanks Ed!) 
  •  Organize an activity for the nature club such as Christmas flower arrangements. 
  •  Help with the choice and purchase of native plants. Native wildflowers are being out-competed in the wild by invasive European species. Native wildflowers evolved with our native wildlife and therefore are their preferred food source. 
  •  Schools are always looking for activities that involve the gardens after they are established and would appreciate help with implementation i.e. seed collection, weaving, crafts, signage and identification of the plants.

Schools in Etobicoke that have started gardening are: Braeburn Junior School, Briarcrest Junior School, Broadacres Junior School, Etobicoke Humber School, Father Serra Catholic School, Greenholme Junior School, Humber Valley Village Junior Middle School, Humberwood Downs Junior Middle Academy, Holy Child Catholic School, Islington Junior School, John D. Parker Junior School, Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic School, Kingsview Village Junior School, Norseman Junior Middle School, Parklawn Junior Middle School, Seneca School, Seventh Street Junior School, Silverthorn Collegiate Institute, Smithfield Middle School, St. Gregory's Catholic School, Sunnylea Junior School, Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic School, Twentieth Street Junior School, Wedgewood Junior School, and West Humber Junior Middle School.
Editor's Note: Debby Morton was awarded the Etobicoke Board of Education's 1997 Award of Excellence for her work with Broadacres and other schools in their naturalization projects.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Archived Article: Native Wildflower Gardens - Beauty in Nature

Compiled from information by Metro Parks & Culture 
NATIVE WILDFLOWER GARDENS - BEAUTY IN NATURE 
By George Leja


Sun Row Community Action Site
At the Sun Row Community Action Site (CAS) in Alex Marchetti Park (formerly Sun Row Park), the community has been involved in restoration efforts to improve the ecosystem health of our urban parklands. The park is one of three CAS's chosen for immediate action (out of seventeen sites originally nominated) by the former Humber Watershed Task Force which was coordinated by The Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (M.T.R.C.A).
The Sun Row CAS is located between Islington Avenue and The Westway, south of Dixon Road. You can enter the park via existing trails from Islington Avenue on the west side; Sun Row Drive, Sherin Court, and Emery Circle from the south; The Westway at the east end; as well as McManus Road and Dixington Crescent from the north. Unfortunately, there are no parking areas within the park; however, vehicles can be parked along local streets close to most of the entrances.
As a result of events held at the Sun Row CAS this past year, hundreds of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers were planted within the park to begin the restoration project. Tree species included: Sugar Maple, White Birch, American Ash, Black Ash, Red Pine, American Elm, Black Cherry, White Ash, Hackberry, White Pine, and White Cedar. Shrubs consisted of Grey Dogwood, Snowberry, Highbush Cranberry, Nannyberry, Downy Serviceberry, Meadowsweet, and Staghorn Sumac. An assortment of wildflowers included: Black Eyed Susan, Penstemon digitalis, Butterfly Milkweed, New England Aster, Heath Aster, Smooth Aster, and Cylindric Blazing Star.
In the Spring of 1998, a large wildflower/butterfly garden will be constructed within the park. The Sun Row CAS project partnership will design the garden in cooperation with The Westway Horticultural Society. The proposed garden will add to the beautification of the park, while at the same time function as a natural habitat to attract a variety of butterflies to the site. It is hoped that the new garden will provide ideas to naturalize portions of local residential, business, and school properties; thus, reducing mowing and the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in surrounding landscaped areas.
Funding sources for the Sun Row CAS project include: the M.T.R.C.A., City of Etobicoke, Environment Canada's Great Lakes 2000 Clean-Up Fund, and a generous grant of $9,900.00 from the Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation (Etobicoke Chapter) to the Humber Creek Restoration Group (H.C.R.G).
For more information regarding the Sun Row CAS, phone George Leja of the HCRG at 416-244-9517. 


James Gardens
In 1908 wholesale fish merchant Fred T. James bought 12 acres of farmland in Etobicoke as a country retreat. For the next forty years James carefully transformed his property into a picturesque garden where public visitors were always welcome. Before their main house was built in 1927, the James family lived in the coach house that still stands next door. James operated a fish market where the circular parking lot is today. The terraces and collection pools were built almost fifty years ago using Humber River slate and weeping tiles.
Mr. and Mrs James died in the 1950's leaving James Gardens as their memorial. In 1955 Metro Toronto purchased the gardens. They have acquired new land and now the total area is about 27 acres (14,479 hectares), just over twice its original size. It is now part of the Etienne Brule park system which extends from Lake Ontario to Thristletown.
At the south end of the park, along the Humber banks is a 10 acre picnic and woodland site, left in a natural state. In 1964 authorized the establishment of this area as a wild flower preserve in co-operation with the Federation of Ontario Naturalists.
The main original garden climbs the steep hillside in a variety of terraces and levels, each with its streams, pools and waterfalls. Metro Parks has tried to preserve the atmosphere of this beautiful garden. Ever-running streams and pools, fed by crystal clear hillside springs flows through the expansive lawns, flowering trees and perennials. Flower lovers will revel at the rose garden, the five acre spring garden section with 120,000 tulips, tuberous begonias, water lilies, perennials and annuals.
In 1969, a bowling green was established to the east off Edenbridge Drive and the James Gardens Lawn Bowling Club came into existence.
There is no admission Fee and no parking charge.
Vehicles can enter James Gardens from Edenbridge Drive. The park is only ten minutes walk along Edenbridge Drive from Royal York 73 bus stop. Pedestrians and cyclists can travel through the park on the Tommy Thompson Trail.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Archived Article: Colonel Samuel Smith Park

COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK
In 1793, Colonel Samuel Bois Smith of Queen's Rangers was granted 1680 hectares of Crown land by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. The land extended from Lake Ontario to Bloor Street and from Kipling Avenue to Etobicoke Creek. Colonel Smith was one of Etobicoke's first settlers and played a role in the public administration of Upper Canada.

Except for a mill built about 1820 and a trail which crossed through the property roughly following today's Lake Shore Boulevard West, Col. Samuel's large estate remained undeveloped, impeding local settlement and east-west transportation during the colony's early years. The south eastern most portion of his land is now part of this waterfront park.

The park includes lands associated with the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital which was established and operated by the province from 1888 to 1979. The former hospital farms and gardens are now a significant public greenspace and heritage resource.
An additional 21.5 ha landfill area created by the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (M.T.R.C.A.) brings the park to its present size of 78,756 hectares. Naturalization and habitat restoration projects have been undertaken including the creation of a wetland and Carolinian tree and shrub plantings.
The area was known to support small population of smallmouth and largemouth bass and was an important migratory stopover for waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. Significant opportunities were identified to enhance habitats for fish, resident and migrating bird species, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals.
In 1993 the Waterfront Trail through Col. Samuel Smith Park was completed and a 3.6 ha wetland creation project was initiated. The wetland was expanded to include a second complex adjacent to the boat basin. The two areas were connected in 1995 by a wet meadow. Another wetland complex was created in 1996 along the south shore of the bat basin. Habitat improvements have included mud flats, seasonal flooded areas, underwater and shoreline fish habitat, turtle nesting and basking locations, snake hibernating areas and amphibian ponds.

Colonel Samuel Smith Park is located at the foot of Kipling Avenue at Lake Shore Boulevard West. Public transit includes the Kipling South 44 bus and the Queen Street 501 streetcar. Vehicles should enter the park at the Lake Shore Boulevard/Kipling Avenue entrance. Pedestrians and cyclists can also enter the park along the Waterfront Trail at Lake Promenade to the west or the Lake Shore Drive to the east.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Archived Article: Montgomery's Meadow Native Wildflower Planting Project

MONTGOMERY'S MEADOW NATIVE WILDFLOWER PLANTING PROJECT
Building on the City of Etobicoke's success of the 1996 Communities in Bloom competition whereby the city was recognized nationally for its Community Involvement and Environmental awareness, the Montgomery's Meadow wildflower planting was intended to be an experimental and learning site for future naturalized native meadow plantings. The plan was to plant approximately 12,000 wildflower plugs of a variety of suitable indigenous native species encompassing an area of nearly 2,000 square metres. This planting was to be performed by organized groups of volunteers including the Etobicoke Horticultural Society, the Montgomery Rate Payers Association, Girl Guides, Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, Our Lady of Sorrows School and the community. The success of Phase One surpassed our expectations and has led to great enthusiasm to move forward with Phase Two.
Our local government budgets are being cut each year. We, as citizens, can be proactive by becoming involved in environmental initiatives. Etobicoke is fortunate in our parks and forestry department is encouraging and supportive, and give of their own time to assist with the many projects that the community has undertaken.
Montgomery's Meadow is situated within Central Park, just south of Montgomery's Inn (Dundas Street West and Islington Ave.). The site was difficult to manage from a Parks Operations perspective and was identified as a desirable area to be naturalized. As well as Montgomery's Inn, the site is also contiguous to a well-used section of the City bicycle/pedestrian path system. Although the site is located within the valley lands of the Mimico Creek, the recessed exposure of the site affords great learning opportunities for area school children, local citizens, as well as habitat creation for wildlife within the valley.
Replacing the turf with native vegetation would permit the Mimico Creek to act as an ecological link with other habitat restoration projects. In this way we could provide some meadow habitat for rabbits and voles and song birds at all seasons. We also hoped to keep overwintering butterfly chrysalises and other insects.
Native plant selection is in keeping with the historical context of the site and describes a typical meadow in this area at time of settlement. All of the plants we used were native to Southern Ontario and most reflect local genetic adaptations. In this way we hoped to preserve locally specific species of wildflowers.
The project also provided an opportunity to promote the values of natural communities to the public. Familiarity with the native plant communities in our neighbourhoods encourages an appreciation of the inherent beauty and diversity. It encourages an accommodation of these native plants in places where we live.


The goals of the project therefore were to:
1.        Enhance the natural environment through the planting of native wildflowers.
2.        Promote community stewardship. Protecting and nurturing our natural areas provides the community with a sense of place and ownership, resulting in pride and satisfaction.
3.        Become a model demonstration site of different techniques of clearing, planting and maintenance.


Canada Trust through their AFriends of the Environment Foundation gives organizations grants for environmental projects. The Etobicoke Horticultural Society, as a non profit organization and lead partner offered to apply to Canada Trust for a grant of $5,000.00 for the native plant Aplugs. These were purchased from Otter Valley Native Plants and included Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Monarda fistulosa, Penstemon digitalis, Columbine, Purple Stemmed Aster, Great Blue Lobelia, Geranium, Woodland Sunflower, Carex pensylvanica, Switch Grass, and Rudbeckia hirta to name a few. Native plant seed had previously been collected by others and given to the Humber College School of Horticulture and the Etobicoke Parks Department Greenhouses where seedlings were also grown. Jack in the Pulpits, May Flowers and other native plants were donated. The Etobicoke Parks & Forestry Division also provided forestry staff to assist in preparing the site.

The Meadow was divided into two areas:
1.        An area for late summer-blooming prairie-type flowers which would stand through the winter and be mown in mid-spring.
2.        An area of spring blooming flowers which would be mown in late summer. A yearly mowing is necessary to maintain the meadow-nature of the site.


In late April 1997 the turf was removed by a combination of processes including black plastic and wood chips. Within eight weeks the turf under the plastic was dead and we were ready to get started. In early June, a teacher from Etobicoke Collegiate Institute used the project to involve his students in environmental studies and the students spent one to two hours each day for a week helping to prepare the site, plant shrubs and wildflower plugs (in grids of six plants, 10 inches apart.) The horticultural society organized two evening community planting events where members and the public were invited to bring a trowel and gloves and help plant. The press were invited and even local councillors came down. Approximately 36 volunteers showed up each evening and worked in teams. At the end of each evening the plants were watered and for the next few weeks the watering was done by the parks department staff. Our Lady of Sorrows School also came to help. In some areas mulch was used to keep unwanted weeds out while the young plants became established.
By September, three months after planting, many of the plants were in flower and most plants had survived our dry summer. The plant growth was beyond our expectations. Some knowledgeable local residents would even weed where necessary while strolling in the park. A bench was donated by Etobicoke Hort. Society so residents might rest awhile under the trees.

Planting for Phase Two has already started. A second grant was approved by Canada Trust for another $5,000 to extend our naturalized planting area; to install a protective split rail fencing around the area most liable to damage from foot traffic; build a Achipmunk wall to provide habitat to encourage an increase in the remnant chipmunk population of the area and erect interpretive signage. In September a community planting was organized one Saturday morning when twenty-eight adults and children planted another 1,400 plants. The chipmunk habitat was completed in November and more shrubs planted. The spilt rail fence was install in December.

Anyone who wishes to start another similar project and would like more information may contact Murray Cameron, Barbara Clarke, Cathy Faber, Debby Morton or Trish Murphy.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Archived Article: Nations in Bloom 2000 Qualification for the City of Toronto

TORONTO GOES TO THE NATIONS IN BLOOM CONTEST IN JAPAN

The City of Toronto has been advised by letter that the city has qualified as a finalist in the Nations in Bloom contest being held February 10-14 2000 in Hamamatsu, Japan . Toronto competes with Novgorod in Russia, Salvador in Brazil, and Quingg Dao City in China. It promises to be a very exciting contest as each of these cities has tackled major problems with a great deal of ingenuity, and competition is fierce. 


There will be a 35 minute presentation to the judges which will include a video and up to 20 overhead slides. The written portion has already been reviewed by the judges: it provided the basis for being selected as a finalist. Toronto's elegant presentation was prepared by Leslie Coates of the Parks and Recreation Division and featured on the cover gorgeous photographs of the High Park black oak savannah and the glorious wild lupine colony that has been re-established there. Inside the booklet-format presentation was an introduction that gave a general overview of the city, paying particular attention to the beauty of the ravines that flank our six rivers. Topics covered included heritage building management, the details of environmentally sensitive practices used in Metro, the different sorts of community involvement, landscape enhancements (special usage parks etc) and the long range planning for the future. These five elements of the judging criteria carry even marks. At the final presentation, the community as a whole is considered-not just particular and exceptional projects within the municipality. 
These contests are important because the liveable city is the future for most of humanity. Sharing technology and motivation will help us to develop cities that are healthy and satisfying places to live. 


written by Fiona Campbell, for Barbara Clark, Parks and Forestry Advisory Board Chairperson: 232-2243 for details. 

Archived Article: Communities in Bloom 1998 Win for Etobicoke-York Region



Etobicoke-York Region won the prestigious Communities in Bloom contest in 1998 for the most beautiful city in Canada with a population over 300,000. The first prize in the National Contest qualifies the City to enter the Nations in Bloom contest - an international forum for Toronto to showcase some of the good reasons for living here.

In an address to Council in December 1998, Mayor Lastman and Communities in Bloom directors soundly endorsed Toronto's bid to enter the contest. Council supported the motion and we now have our go-ahead. Great plans are afoot for a video presentation and a written submission that will demonstrate the exceptional people from every walk of life who have gone out and improved a little piece of their city using sound organic farming or state of the art forestry practices, new engineering technology, imagination, historical relevance and ingenuity. The best part of the presentation to the international judges is that tens of thousands of tax dollars were NOT diverted from general revenue for "beautification" projects. The funding for waterfront restoration, native shrubs and trees in parks , highway plantings and school yard naturalizations were generated from ordinary citizens and clubs, and organizations such as Canada Trusts Friends of the Environment, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, Greenstreets Canada and Shell Canada to name but a few. The good work continues: 10,000 trees and shrubs for Highway 427 are now paid for and needing you to plant them this spring: please call now (232-2243) to sign up for planting days in April and early May. We will meet at Etobicoke Civic Centre and bus over to the areas where the trees are to be put in. Bring a car full of friends and shovels if you own them, gloves etc and plant a tree for the next century in the new millenium. You'll never drive up the 427 again without checking out how your special tree is doing…

Keep our city clean. Pick up other people's litter. Recycle diligently, plant more flowers, vines and shrubs and compost some more of that lawn. Plant the roadsides with tough native species that don't need chemicals. Hang up bird feeders and bat boxes. Ours is a glorious city intersected with great ravines, gorges of ancient rock veiled with glittering waterfalls, stately stands of trees, grasslands, a lake that stretches to the horizon . To win the International Competition, all we have to do is look after it and preserve the natural richness we so take for granted. Volunteer.

written by Fiona Campbell, Communities in Bloom & Highway 427