The Toronto Star used to run a column on a neighbourhood tree. I’ve always loved trees, maybe that’s why I married a lumberjack.
By my count, I’ve either directly or indirectly had a hand or shovel in planting tens of thousands of trees in my lifetime.
As a summer student in the Forestry department at the City of Mississauga, we reforested city parks, my favourite being Saddington Park, a former landfill and now one of the prettiest parks in Mississauga with beautiful willows we planted swaying in the lake breezes.
My family has planted trees every spring and fall at Lemoine’s Point Conservation area as part of their annual tree planting program.
And for the past seven years or so, I’ve sold seedlings as a fundraiser for local non-profit organizations like the Sydenham Lake Canoe Club. I’m looking forward to seeing my regular clients again this spring and hearing where they planted their trees from last year, how big they’ve grown, and what their plans are for this year’s seedlings.
Some days when I’m feeling down about the effects of climate change and our inertia as a global community to address it, I think about the trees I’ve helped to plant and it makes me feel better.
So this week’s #HappyAct is a photo essay, a tribute if you will, to the trees of my life.
Above: Dave beside arbutus trees on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia
The beautiful pine trees off my back deck
I always loved this pine tree at the 18th green at our local golf course in Verona. It came down in a storm a few years ago.
Magnolia trees in Chez Piggy courtyard, one of my favourite patios in Kingston
Tree canopy in Stamp River Provincial Park in Alberni, BC
Trees near the magic waterfall in the woods where I walk
Clare helping me sell trees as a fundraiser
Palm trees from the Carolinas, where we vacation every year
Arbutus tree in British Columbia
More from my back deck, definitely my happy place
Happy Act 