The Junction Cares for its Japanese Plum Tree

On Saturday, October 21, 2017, concerned volunteers came out to care for one of the landmark trees in the Junction, the Japanese Plum tree at the SW corner of Keele and Dundas. This landmark tree, located on BMO property at the SW corner of Keele and Dundas, has been sorely neglected over time, and it suffered greatly from the drought of 2016. Junction Adopt-a-Street-Tree volunteers watered it throughout the 2017 growing season, and could readily see it needed more than water. On October 21st, arborist extraordinaire Philip van Wassenaer and his wonderful assistant Rob Skeoch pruned the tree, and supervised soil amendment and mulching by volunteers. The JBIA provided refreshments for the volunteers, and soil amendments for the tree.

     Junction Adopt-a-Street-Tree Project is the result of collaboration among LEAF, Green 13, and the Junction BIA, supported by funding from Toronto Field Naturalists and the Junction Residents' Association. The drought of 2016 resulted in 25% mortality of Junction street trees. We can, as a community, do better, and we are. This past summer and fall 115 of the Junction's 136 street trees have been adopted by businesses, schools, and individuals - all committing to provide deep watering, 30 litres each time, twice a week. If you are interested in adopting one of the remaining trees, or in volunteering, visit yourleaf.org/junction (link is external)and contact junctiontrees@gmail.com.(link is external)
     Learn more at: http://www.green13toronto.org/urban-forest

     Volunteers delivering TLC to the Japanese Plum tree at the SW corner of Keele and Dundas, hope this tree is a Phoenix tree! and that the Adopt-a-Street-Tree model will inspire other communities to acknowledge the special needs of Toronto’s street trees, and step up to the plate to care for them. 

     We look forward to the growing season of 2018, and welcome all volunteers. Please contact junctiontrees@gmail.com !