AAT 2011 Season winds down...

Created on Sunday, 23 October 2011 23:10

Published on Sunday, 23 October 2011 23:10

Forty-six new saplings were planted in the park this spring and summer -- plus we've noticed seven new Kentucky Coffee trees along Dundas Street in the past month for a total of 53 new trees in 2011. A veritable treasure-trove of shade, oxygen and greenery for the future. After a summer of drought -- a very tough inaugural year for the trees -- we seem to be in a nice wet fall (nice if you're a young tree).

The AAT program has wound down for the season and the water outlets were packed up and turned off Monday, October 17th. A big pat on the back to the sixty volunteers who have adopted a tree or "cherry twins" (or more). Thanks to them almost all of the new trees received at least a 5-gallon (20 litres) watering every week.

thumb_AAT_buggy_and_bin_at_icerink

The 2011 season has been a big one for the AAT....

The 2011 season has been a big one for the AAT. In addition to the new plantings, there are 41 surviving Sakura Cherry trees planted in the spring of 2010 and four from the 2007 planting which remain in the program, bringing the total young trees in the AAT to 87. That’s more than double the 37 in the 2009 program. Since 2009 work has been done with the Parks department to add two new water sources (three including the one in the summer Art in the Park Camp grounds) and it looks like there can be more for 2012. And the bundle-buggies have been introduced to assist in getting water to the trees.

There have been ups and downs this summer too: a record breakingly hot and rainless summer, as well as young trees vandalised, hoses stolen, and water sources mysteriously turned off – but most of this is likely to be expected for life in a public space, yes?

The AAT program always has a few young trees that need attention or adopting so please do consider signing up through the website contact form for next season. (We're all volunteers so thanks for your patience if it takes abit of time to get back to you.)

The AAT program will be re-organsing to accommodate the growth of the program -- come to the Friends General Meeting on october 26th if you're interested in getting more involved or contact the AAT coordinator through the website contact form. Select Adopt-a-Tree from the "To" drop-down menu.