Welcome to spring 2022!
We are so excited to hear that the Junction will become a butterfly-way by planting native pollinating plants in the concrete bins this year. This will add to the beauty and charm of the Junction.
But let’s not forget about the trees and the important role that they play in making our cities more liveable. Research continues to highlight the positive impact that trees have on our well-being, both mentally and physically, by providing us with shade, beauty and oxygen. We are also learning that urban trees play a crucial role in drawing down dangerous greenhouse gases created by all the traffic, as well as cooling buildings and heat islands caused by all the pavement and asphalt. And studies even suggest that trees are vital to a thriving business, as people will visit shady areas more frequently and linger longer, especially on hot summer days.
Thankfully the Junction currently has quite an impressive street tree canopy. To keep the trees thriving, they need some tender loving care from all of us. That’s where the
Junction Adopt A Street Tree (JAAST) Project, comes in.
Over the past 6 years, JAAST volunteers have worked tirelessly to create community awareness for the needs of the urban trees, encouraging business owners to see the value of caring for “their” street trees, by “adopting” a nearby tree(s). Many of you have wholeheartedly participated, providing twice weekly waterings, especially during hot dry spells and keeping the soil clear of debris, especially toxic cigarette butts which leach into the soil. Some of you have even gone a step further and added mulch to “your” tree.
We are so grateful to all of you who have “adopted” and hope you will continue to care for your tree(s) again this year.
For those of you who are new to the Junction BIA, if you are interested in adopting a tree, or wish to join our weekly watering teams or just want to learn more about us, please contact marian@green13toronto.org
On behalf of the trees, as well as the Junction Adopt A Street Tree project & Green 13 thank you!
Marian Booy
