Happy National Tree Day! Our staff thought today would be a great day to tell you all about our favourite trees, and why we love them so much! Learn more about our favourite trees below.
Martin
Did you know the average oak tree lifespan is 300 years old? The White Oak is one of my favourite trees. There’s something almost magical about their magnificence but also a little goofy with the shape of their leaves. I also happen to love moose for the same reason! When I think of my childhood going out into the forest and climbing trees, I remember a great white oak on my family’s farm that would be a favourite of mine. The white oak also provides a hard wood that is beautiful and rot-resistant. It been used to make a range of items including furniture, cabinets, boats, and even whiskey barrels! Its bark can even be used to make medicine to help with arthritis, colds, or even to help stimulate digestion. It’s an incredible tree that keeps on giving!
Emma Jane
My favourite tree would have to be the American Elm (also known as the White Elm). Growing up in southwestern Ontario, the iconic silhouette of this tree usually standing alone between fields is a sight that I hold close to my heart. I love how the silhouette, almost like an umbrella drooping with rain. While the American Elm has been a staple sight of my adolescence, it very well could not have been. In the 1930s, the Dutch Elm Disease spread to North America, and unleashed itself onto our elm trees, decimating the population of this tree around the province. Luckily, some trees do show a resistance to the disease, and the University of Guelph’s Arboretum has been working on identifying these trees and engaging in genetic testing of them to identify resistant trees for breeding. The work that the Arboretum is engaging in is incredibly valuable because it helps to ensure a future for this very special tree. The best part? You can help our elms recover! If you know of a large American Elm near you, check out this page to find out how you can report it and contribute to this effort.
Melissa
Ever since I was a child, I have been enamoured with Black Walnut trees. Walking around the village where I grew up, you could always find the hard, green balls laying on the sidewalk, and usually they would not get a second notice. Black Walnuts have a long history in Canada, and are my favourite tree because, in addition to their unique look (and being sought after for woodworking), they are also a tree that produces an edible nut – dual purpose! And they re-seed in the wild, adding additional greenery and safe spaces for species-at-risk to local bush lots, forests and ravines around the province.
Did you know that our easement agreements also protect a number of endangered Butternut trees? It’s true! Some of the landowners even take to spreading the seeds within their property to try and promote the growth of this magnificent, yet endangered tree.