Unveiling of the winners of the GUFF Photo Contest

An enthusiastic and excited crowd gathered at 10 Carden St on Saturday November 26^th to view the winning photos. The photographers, their families and friends had their first opportunity to see the “photo forest” selected by the contest judges. Thanks to the financial sponsors (the Stone Store and Meridian Credit Union) the photos were printed by Ponds Foto Source and beautifully framed by Wyndham Art Supplies Kloepfer Custom Framing.

Judge Tom Dietrich gave an inspiring summary of the photos and some of the interesting artistic interpretations of the themes. It was challenging for the judges to select the winners from such an excellent collection of photo submissions. By the time we were ready for the drinks and treats there was lots of conversation about photography, the winners and the beauty of both the photos and our wonderful Guelph trees.

A big thank you is extended to all the contestants who participated and made it such a terrific event and to our judges, Tom Dietrich, Oxanna Adams and Doug Steel who did an excellent job.

The Photos remained at 10 Carden St until December 2^nd. Photographer, Nick Mares who is one of the winners, has donated a beautiful photo of a tree backlit in the morning sunshine to be used as a fundraiser for GUFF.  Details on that will be provided at a later date. You can check out his photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/33385365@N08/

Event Photo Images:

Frank Valeriote and daughter Olivia

Tyler Kasza (left) with his family Fan Club

Sue Rietschin (left) and Michelle Brock (right)

 

Brant Avenue School Gets Their New Tree.

After winning the GUFF 2011 ‘Guelph Loves Trees’ contest, Brant Avenue Public School took receipt of their prize, as promised, a new tree for their schoolyard, this fall.

Ali Morrison, arborist and Leonard Chapinsky from Chapinsky Nursery delivered the 11 year old tree. They also brought eight shovels for these enthusiastic grade 5 students to do the planting.

First, they all took turns to dig the hole. After the big dig, they straightened the tree and filled in the soil. They then mulched the base of the tree in the required donut shape. This keeps the trunk dry at the soil level but still captures water for the roots to take up.

And this is what 11 year-olds look like. The red maple tree is also 11 years old.

The students will water the tree regularly until ‘freeze-up’ and again in the spring to  help it settle in.

Congratulations Brant Avenue Public School!

 

Mycorrhizae – Sometimes The Things You Don’t See Are The Most Important

Mycorrhizal partnerships are symbiotic, or, mutually beneficial, relationships between plants and fungi, that take place around plant roots.

Mycorrhrizae  in the soil have been shown to be essential to plant growth by facilitating the uptake of minerals and nutrients by breaking them down into available forms for the trees to use  as well as stimulating fine root development that lengthen the life of the roots.

They can also protect plants from drought, predators (such as nematode worms), and pathogens (micro-organisms that cause disease). Furthermore, in areas polluted by toxic heavy metals, fungi can buffer their plant partners against harm.

A diversity of fungi is desirable, as different fungi specialize in different functions, as mentioned above. One fungal species may be good at taking up particular nutrients, while another will be better at producing enzymes.

Threats to Mycorrhizae
Mycorrhizae can be damaged by soil compaction and disturbance, as well as by the use of certain chemicals, all of which occur in intensive agriculture and landscape maintenance.

Applying large amounts of inorganic fertilizers to young trees, can suppress the development of mycorrhizae. Excess nitrogen, whether from fertilizer use or atmospheric pollution, affects the reproductive parts of the fungus, and so could have long term effects on fungal populations.

Development practices have greatly affected the life in the soil.  Adding a handful of decaying leaves into a hole that a new tree is planted in can inoculate the soil and help bring back the organisms that the trees need so much!

 

The Trees In Our Life Series “Heritage Trees”- May 11

 

Guelph Loves Trees 2011 School Challenge

Guelph Loves Trees 2007

GUFF announces the Guelph Loves Trees 2011 school challenge.

GUFF has issued a challenge to the public elementary schools in Guelph – take part in the Guelph Loves Trees 2011 competition for a chance to win a $500 award to your school’s library.

Using an entry form provided by GUFF, and distributed to teachers by the school librarian, students are invited to use words and images to convey the importance of protecting and planting trees in Guelph.

The $500 award will go to the school with the highest number of entries per student population and will be presented at a celebratory event to be held at 11a.m. at 10 Carden St. on Saturday April 23 to mark Earth Day.

Samples of the entries from each school will be on display at 10 Carden and students and their families, their teachers and the general public will be invited to enjoy the show.  GUFF will also showcase the best entries at its public events in the coming year.

Guelph Loves Trees is an opportunity for students to be creative while learning more about trees and their value to the environment. Students are encouraged to draw and write about their favourite trees and parks and the benefits that these trees bring in terms of shade, shelter, clean air, water retention, and food for people and animals.

Guelph Loves Trees is one of several projects planned for 2011 by GUFF in recognition of the International Year of the Forest.

 

New Info On Old Trees

Research into the interactions between old trees and their moss that harbours cyanobacteria, produces a combination that contributes to the long-term health of surrounding trees. They are somehow fertilizing the ecosystems around them.

Without the presence of these old trees, the health of the surrounding younger trees is degraded.

Read more about this  interesting research HERE.

 

 

Tree Workshops At The Arboretum – Spring 2011

The Arboretum at the University of Guelph offers many inspiring workshops and courses. Of particular interest to GUFF are the two below. A full list can be found at www.uoguelph/arboretum.

• The Art & Practice of Pruning: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 or Wednesday, March 23, 2011 – 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm – This half-day indoor/outdoor practical workshop will teach you the principles of easy and correct pruning in the home garden.  This is a very popular course, so register early!  Arboretum Horticulturist: Sean Fox.  Fee: $55.00.  Registration deadline: Tuesday, March 15.  *Maximum 16 adults/session.
• About Trees: Tuesday, June 7, 2011  – 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Do you want to learn more about trees, including the ones in your own backyard?  Join Horticulturist Sean Fox on a walk through the World of Trees collection as he discusses pollination, fall colour, aging, and disease resistance, as well as some interesting facts about some very unique trees and shrubs!  Take home an informative booklet on how to care for trees.  Arboretum Horticulturist: Sean Fox.  Fee:  $35.00.  Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 31.  Maximum 20 adults.

 

Diana Beresford-Kroeger On The Complexity Of Trees

Diana Beresford Kroeger

Diana Beresford-Kroeger, botanist and medical biochemist,  was the keynote speaker at the Ontario Urban Forest Council Conference held in St Catherine’s in autumn 2010.

In her presentation Diane talked of trees as extraordinary, complex species. In our earth system the trees connect us to the sun as they oxygenate the planet. She spoke of the vast tonnage of tri-terpenes that are liberated by the boreal forest like a detergent cleaning the air with natural fungicides and natural antibiotics. They hang onto cloud droplets and regulate the weather of the world.

Diane talked about democracy of the land and how we need a land agreement between the species for care and sharing. And then she detailed specific trees that give massive carbon sequestration and can help us withstand the huge flow of severe weather and UV exposure that climate change is bringing .

If you want to learn more, there are a few copies of her latest book, The Global Forest at the Guelph Public Library. It is a fascinating read. You won’t be disappointed.

 

Sustainable Guelph Presentation

 

Make A Date To Plant A Tree – Mark Cullen

Great article from Mark Cullen in The Toronto Star regarding the importance of trees in urban neighbourhoods.

Here is an excerpt:

For a long time it has made eminent sense to me that we need more trees in our urban spaces. If we spent more time and money on the planting of trees and the maintenance of the ones that we have, can you imagine the difference that it would make?

Here are some points to ponder from a variety of studies including one conducted in Chicago by the University of Illinois called the “Vegetation and Crime Study.”

Check out a full list of referenced studies here: www.markcullen.com.

Consider what trees do in our urban area:

• Compared with buildings that had little or no vegetation, buildings with high levels of greenery had 48 per cent fewer property crimes and 56 per cent fewer violent crimes.
• Trees encourage physical activity. Comfortable outdoor environments are more conducive to encouraging exercise. Research in the Netherlands and Japan indicate that people were more likely to walk or cycle to work if the streets were lined with trees. Residents feel better and live longer as a result.
• The proximity of green space (and trees) to people’s homes increases the likelihood residents will choose to walk over other forms of transport.
• Green play sites reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Trees and green space helps reduce mental fatigue and stress and has important benefits for childhood development.
• A survey of 1,350 real estate agents showed that 85 per cent believe that a home with trees would be as much as 20 per cent more saleable than a home without trees.
• CP Morgan, a developer in Indiana, found that his wooded lots sell for an average of 20 per cent more than similar non-wooded lots.

Add the well documented facts that trees cool the atmosphere, produce oxygen, sequester carbon, filter and slow storm water runoff, and transpire moisture on hot days. You get the picture.

The Toronto Urban Forestry Study, “Every Tree Counts,” estimates the value of Toronto’s Urban Forest ecologically as providing “at least $60 million in ecological services each year”.

In Toronto, there are about 4 million mature trees in public spaces and 6 million more on private land. At one time, the tree canopy in Toronto covered almost 40 per cent of our land area; today, it covers approximately 20 per cent. The tree canopy in Toronto has been in decline since the 1960s.

As you contemplate all of these facts, think about the impact more trees would have in urban spaces in our lifetime — and that of future generations.

Mark Cullen

Read the full article

GUFF Guelph