Tree Planting With A Hint Of Winter
It had been a long time since I attended a tree planting, so despite a couple of physically draining days at work to end the week, I was happy to wake up last Saturday and head to Orangeville for a tree planting with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TDFEF).
Weather forecasts for my area proved to be correct for once and I turned the horses out to snow-covered paddocks while waiting for the car to heat up and melt the frost off the windows. Only days away from getting my snow tires put on the car, I stuck out the drive with my summer tires that dislike the snow as much as I do. Some impressive snow squalls greeted me as I drove south, causing me to slow down and take extra time.
A beautiful view to start the day.
Despite the weather further north, Orangeville was sunny with crisp air and no snow when I arrived. For the past few years CVC has been naturalizing an area off Hunter Road around a stormwater pond, by planting hundreds of native trees and shrubs. I was thrilled to look around and enjoy the spectacular fall colours these plantings were producing.
We set out the trees and got equipment ready in preparation for the start of the event. Volunteers began arriving – chatting, laughing, and sharing their shivers from the chilly temperature (I assured a few of them that they would soon warm up while digging). Some people were local while others came from as far away as Scarborough and Milton to take part in a fun morning of tree planting.
Tree planting seems to instill a sense of camaraderie among volunteers and it’s a pleasure to watch people enjoying a morning with each other. Most of the digging went smoothly, but there were the occasional spots full of gravel that made it impossible to get a shovel in. Many people worked in teams of two, with one person digging the hole and the other planting the tree.
A great group of volunteers!
Lots of shovels at work and trees going in the ground.
The family that plants together is happier!
A mid-morning break was provided by TDFEF in the form of coffee and treats from Tim Hortons, then shovels started hitting the dirt again. A brief flurry of snow wasn’t enough to dampen spirits and the last shrub got planted well ahead of schedule. As is so often the case after a tree planting, everyone was smiling as they returned their shovels to the trailer and said their goodbyes. I am convinced that one of the keys to happiness lies in the physical act of planting trees.
The fall is a particularly great time to plant trees with the cooler weather making it more enjoyable for all. If you’d like to take part in a tree planting, check out the Events page for your local conservation authority, town, or favorite stewardship group. All it takes is a few hours one morning to help the planet and help yourself.
As usual, the fine volunteers in Orangeville did a great job and the naturalized area is looking better than ever. I can’t wait to see how it looks next year.
CVC has a tree planting on Saturday, October 24th, in Alton for anyone looking to get involved.
argosgirl
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