Monday, October 20, 2014

a tree walk

I met up with a friend in Toronto on Saturday and we joined a crowd of about 80-100 other tree enthusiasts for a guided tour around the arboretum at Mt Pleasant Cemetery
altogether the cemetery spans over 200 acres in a park like setting and has several miles of walking paths interspersed with fountains, statues, gardens, and rare and distinct trees. (as an aside, through the gates you can see the monument a certain Mr Steve Stavros had put up for himself which I posted about here).

there are interesting opening times listed to accommodate the variable dates of the time change
it was a rather dull day - usually good for photographs, but not especially for capturing the brilliance of fall colours.

okay, actually it was cold, the first cold day we've had, with a threat of rain all afternoon, but almost every one of the large crowd stuck with the guided walk for the duration

we learned about some of the many unique, and not so unique, species of trees in the arboretum and why they turn yellow or red and when, and some of their good and bad points. for example, the Norway maple is an invasive, non-indigenous tree that is planted all over Toronto. many love the massive shade it provides, but also lament that no grass will grow under the tree - because of the massive shade. it appears similar to a Sugar maple but one of its distinguishing features is that it is the last maple to change colour. so the one above is definitely not a Norway. 


this distinct maple is a long way from its natural habitat on coastal BC and northern California. 
we know it's a Vine maple as every tree has an identifying tag 
a few trees even have the original wooden tags still hanging on after more than 200 years








and, by the rugged condition of this poor willow, it is quite possible that this is one of the +200 year old trees in the cemetery
sharing this Monday Walk with Restless Jo       and signs, signs

17 comments:

  1. Thank you! This was an interesting and informative walk, and of course, the colours are lovely. :)

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    1. this was this arborist's first time guiding the fall walk and I would definitely go again. there are so many different trees to choose to highlight that I don't think it would ever get too repetitive.

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  2. I love finding these guided walks, you learn so much from the guide that it really enhances the walk. Beautiful Autumn colours.

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    1. even the small detail that every tree had a tag would not have been noticed had I not taken this walk!

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  3. Seeing a tree walk would be a rare sight indeed. :)

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  4. This is why I love Autumn. Great photos!

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  5. I would have loved that! Will have to remember for next year.

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  6. Cemeteries are such a wonderful place to walk. This looks like a great one. I have tried to grow Acer circinatum in Rochester NY with no success. Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  7. Beautiful trees ...I have birded in cemeteries before ... I bet with all those wonderful trees this one is really good habitat. Great to have an arborist-guided tour.

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous trees! I love walking through old cemeteries. Thanks for sharing your tour!

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  9. Gorgeous. You're way ahead of us on fall color.

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  10. What a lovely walk through the colorful trees and the old cemetery. I find it interesting that Mount Pleasant is a very popular name for cemeteries across the land.

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  11. I love autumn in ONtario. THis must have been a fun and informative walk!

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  12. Fascinating and so beautiful... :-)

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