News – Page 2

Maple “seed crop” looks strong for 2019!

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 22, 2019

The hot, dry summer of 2018 has produced a heavier than normal “seed crop” on our native maples for 2019.

During the past few weeks (early to late-June), our native red and silver maples have shed their seed crops where they are growing along city streets and in parklands.

The larger silver maple seed can be seen along walkways and on the grass in neighbourhoods. The much smaller red maple seed is harder to find.

5 seeds in upper left are native red maple seeds; directly below are 3 Freeman’s maple seed; and to the right are 3 silver maple seeds on a common seed stalk

A less common, naturally occurring hybrid of these species (Freeman’s maple) occurs where the range of these species overlaps. Its seed is distinct from that of either parent trees.

A dime is included here to give a sense of scale. Freeman’s maple seed is directly above the dime; red maple seed is to the right of the dime; silver maple seed is to the right of the Freeman’s maple, in the upper right of the photo.

The seed of Sugar and Black maple matures in mid-September.

All About Maples News

MLF is proud to support 2019 Ontario Envirothon!

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 13, 2019

(Media Release from Forests Ontario – June 13, 2019)

University of Toronto Schools Recognized as Forests Ontario’s Ontario Envirothon Champions Maple Leaves Forever awards generous cash prizes to top three teams Toronto, ON [June 20, 2019] – The Ontario Envirothon champions, University of Toronto Schools, were presented with a cash prize of $2,500 from charitable foundation Maple Leaves Forever for their achievement in the academic-environmental competition. The cheque presentation was held at the University of Toronto Schools’ Humbert Street location today, with Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen from Maple Leaves Forever and Director of Marketing and Business Development, Chantal Cory and Manager of Education, Allison Hands from Forests Ontario in attendance.

This year’s Ontario Envirothon was the first ever ’virtual’ competition, hosted online by the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. “We were excited to host this year’s competition, because it provides a challenge for some of Ontario’s keenest young environmental thinkers,” said Brendon Larson, Associate Dean-Undergraduate Studies. “The online format this year allowed greater accessibility for students from across the province, and lowered the environmental footprint of the competition.” Held from May 27th to 31st, the competition saw 90 students from 18 teams test their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics, and agroecology.

As the reigning champions for the sixth year in a row, University of Toronto Schools will go on to represent Ontario in the NCF-Envirothon later this summer in North Carolina.

First Place Winners – University of Toronto Schools

The Ontario Envirothon is a unique environmental education program that immerses students in hands-on learning and discovery, offering budding environmental leaders a chance to explore career paths in the natural sciences and receive mentorship. “Maple Leaves Forever believes the topics covered by and skills developed through the Ontario Envirothon compliment the foundation’s vision of environmental sustainability,” explained Deb Pella Keen. “We are pleased to be involved in the recognition of the top teams for the fourth year in a row.”

Maple Leaves Forever also recognized the second and third place teams. Runner-ups Westmount Secondary were awarded a prize of $1,250, and third place team London Central Secondary School received $750 from the charity.

The Ontario Envirothon is coordinated by not-for-profit charity, Forests Ontario. “The Envirothon program has been delivering the best in hands-on, scientific competition for the past 25 years. We are truly proud to deliver this program in Ontario,” said Rob Keen, CEO of Forests Ontario. “The 2019 championship upheld Envirothon’s legacy of encouraging students to grow their confidence, their knowledge, and their teamwork skills. These skills are imperative for tomorrow’s green leaders.”

The Envirothon program is an environmentally-themed academic competition for high school students, held across Canada and the United States on regional, provincial, and binational levels. The first-place team from the provincial and state Envirothon Championships go on to compete in the NCF-Envirothon. In total, more than 500,000 students across North America participate in Envirothon competitions annually.

News

Know your trees: Non-Native Crimson King vs Native Red Maple

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 4, 2019

It’s finally spring in Ontario, and the leaves are showing on trees along our streets!

Many people mistake the reddish-coloured leaves of the NON-NATIVE Crimson King Norway Maple, thinking it’s a Red Maple.

In fact, the NATIVE Red Maple has green leaves in spring and summer, it’s only red in the fall.

All About Maples News Planting Advice

Flowers in unexpected places – maples blooming

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 May 15, 2019

We had a few nights with below freezing temperatures last week, but that didn’t slow up one of our earliest spring bloomers. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) started blooming in early April and this bit of cold wasn’t enough to interfere with seed development on these trees in central and southwestern Ontario.

The flowers start out as tight red buds, often appearing as clusters on dwarf shoots on last year’s reddish-brown twigs, adding a bit of colour to the twigs, even before they bloom. They are conspicuous, visible from the ground, even on large trees. As the buds expand, exposing the flowers, the tree canopy takes on a subtle red hue, before any leaves begin to unfurl.

  • Red maple twig showing swollen flower buds
    Red maple twig showing swollen flower buds
  • A red haze of red maple flowers in the tree canopy
    A red haze of red maple flowers in the tree canopy

Both male and female flowers can be found on the same tree, a condition called ‘momoecious’, but the most common occurrence is for trees to have only all male or all female flowers – called ‘dioecious’. They don’t look the way you expect flowers to look; they look like little red (or red and yellow) pom-poms.

  • Close-up of twig with red maple male flowers showing “stamens” with pollen
    Close-up of twig with red maple male flowers showing “stamens” with pollen
  • Close-up of Female flowers showing red “pistils”
    Close-up of Female flowers showing red “pistils”

The male trees bear pollen-laden flowers; the female flowers will develop into red, winged samaras (seed) when pollinated. Pollination is primarily by the wind as there are very few natural pollinators present at this time; but honey bees do visit red maple trees.

In early May, as the male flowers fade and wither on some trees, red maple seed begins to form on adjacent trees. After the flowers are pollinated, the female flowers produce tiny, pinkish-red samaras, that dangle on long ‘pedicels’ (stalks). The masses of these gives the trees the appearance of still being in bloom.

  • immature seed begins to form on 'pedicels' that have emerged from female flowers
    Immature seed begins to form
  • Early stages of red maple seed development
    Early stages of red maple seed development
  • Seed continues to form on long 'pedicels' (stalks)
    Seed continues to form on long ‘pedicels’ (stalks)

Within a few weeks, they develop into paired samaras with colours ranging from pale green with a pinkish margin on some trees to other trees having bright red samaras. Depending on the spring weather we get, the seed will be fully mature by the end of May to early June.

  • Mid-stages of red maple seed development - seed is fully formed (note leaf buds beginning to break)
    Mid-stages of red maple seed development
  • Seed is in latter stages of development. Note the greenish colours of samaras and the emerging leaves.
    Seed is in latter stages of development.
  • Seed is in latter stages of development. Note the reddish colour of samaras and the emerging leaves.
    Seed is in latter stages of development.

The colour of the seed samaras (2.0-3.0 cm long) change to a pale reddish brown to straw brown at maturity. The pedicels that connect the samaras to the tree then become dry and brittle. Within a few days, the seed will begin to fall from the tree or be dispersed by the wind.

Red maple is so-named for its red winter twigs and buds, red flowers and for its tendency to have red summer petioles and vibrant red fall foliage.

Write-up and Photography by Carl Mansfield, Arboreal Consultant, Maple Leaves Forever
Editing and layout by Mary Bella, Webmaster & Communications, Maple Leaves Forever
All About Maples News

Maple Leaves Forever welcomes new Executive Director

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 24, 2019
Deb Pella Keen
Deb Pella Keen

Maple Leaves Forever is happy to announce the appointment of our new Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen.

“I’m very pleased that we have found someone as highly qualified and committed to trees and the environment as Deb Pella Keen, to lead Maple Leaves Forever into the future. I will continue to be involved with the organization, with more of the responsibility for our operations moving to Deb going forward” Maple Leaves Founder Ken Jewett said about the recent appointment.

Deb is an experienced senior executive, having worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change throughout central Ontario. She was also Director of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, a provincial agency that works to preserve the Niagara Escarpment.

Deb continues to pursue her passion for environmental stewardship as Board member of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. She was also a member of the Canadian Council for UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Committee and continues to work with the Landscape of Nations 360° Indigenous Education Initiative and Plenty Canada, a non-profit that promotes social justice and environmental protection in the lives of Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world.

Deb holds a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from the University of Toronto and enjoys exploring the out of doors by foot, paddle, bike or skis with family and friends.

Maple Leaves Forever looks forward to working alongside Deb to support and encourage the planting of Native Canadian Maples. Welcome to the team!

Download official Press Release: PDF| WORD

News

Know your trees – Native Sugar Maple vs Non-Native Norway Maple

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 March 14, 2019

Sugar Maple (Acer saccarum) –
A Native Maple

  • Sugar Maple – Summer Leaf
    Sugar Maple – Summer Leaf
  • Sugar Maple – Summer seeds
    Sugar Maple – Summer seeds
  • Sugar Maple – Winter Twig
    Sugar Maple – Winter Twig

VS

Norway Maple (Acer plantanoides) –
A Non-Native Maple

  • Norway Maple Leaf
    Norway Maple Leaf
  • Norway Maple Seed
    Norway Maple Seed
  • Norway Maple twig
    Norway Maple twig

Can you see the difference in twig, seed and leaf?

Distinguishing tip:
Break a Norway maple leaf petiole (stem) and the sap is white. Break a Sugar Maple petiole and sap is clear.

Norway Maple leaf petiole


All About Maples News Planting Advice

Early Fall leaf colour change indicates failing health

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 August 1, 2018

Some maples exhibiting premature leaf colour change. Note the other healthy (green) maples.

Some maples exhibiting premature leaf colour change. Note the other healthy (green) maples.

Our Tree Guy answered a call from a concerned landowner with a tree problem. Several of the maple trees that lined his laneway were showing an out-of-season ‘fall-like’ colour change.

Premature leaf colour change is a reliable indicator of failing health.

First thoughts were that the trees were suffering from extreme drought stress. The trees hadn’t been watered this year. Trees that don’t get enough water, or are stressed for other reasons may stop producing chlorophyll causing the other pigments within the leaves to begin to show.

Further examination revealed the cause of the stress.

Severe damage to base of tree trunk caused by string trimmer.

Severe damage to base of tree trunk caused by string trimmer. The bark at the base of the tree has been stripped away, exposing the xylem tissue.

Routine property maintenance included the use of a string trimmer to cut the grass around the trees. Repeated use of the string trimmer had completely cut through the bark at the base of the trees that were showing the leaf colour change.

The”xylem” tissue, found under the bark, was exposed and had been damaged as well, reducing the tree’s ability to move moisture and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the tree.

A less severely damaged maple showing random leaf colour change.

A less severely damaged maple showing random leaf colour change

Five of the 22 trees were damaged beyond saving and will be expensive to replace. Several others will require attention to avoid additional losses.

An action plan was discussed. References were provided to help the landowner as he begins to make repairs to the remaining trees and attempts to improve their health.

All About Maples Caring for your maple News Questions & Answers

Watering trees especially important during summer drought conditions

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 July 17, 2018

Maples and other trees can be damaged by drought stress in dry summer weather

Watch for signs of drought stress like the browning of the leaves on this young maple tree.

Southern Ontario frequently experiences hot, dry conditions during the summer months. When drought conditions are prolonged, these dry conditions can have a negative impact on our rural landscape.  Deep rooted species like oaks have a higher tolerance of drought than more shallow-rooted species like sugar maple, that can suffer temporary or permanent damage.

Drought periods that occur during the long-day months of June and July are more damaging than those in August and September because of increased day length. Dry summer breezes also contribute significantly to drought stress.

SIGNS OF DROUGHT STRESS

Close-up of leaf browning – sapling is showing signs of drought stress.

  • under-sized leaves; limited shoot growth
  • Tree leaves wilt, usually starting from the top of the tree, then downward
  • Tissue in the leaf margins dies, turning brown
  • Upward curling or rolling of leaves
  • Some species show out-of-season ‘fall-like’ colour change
  • Leaf browning (scorch) is a sign that drought damage has already occurred.
  • Entire leaves turn brown and fall from the tree

WHAT TO DO

It is important to apply enough water to thoroughly wet the root-zone to a depth of 25-30 cm

  • Install a mulch around the base of the trees, if none is present
  • Water the trees slowly and deeply at least weekly; supplement as drought conditions lengthen
  • Increase the frequency of watering when first signs of stress are observed
  • Water in the early morning, if possible to reduce water loss to evaporation
  • Consider the use of tree-watering bags to conserve water and time investment

Trees planted in the past 2-3 years, especially those planted on exposed sites, are more sensitive to drought than older trees. Their roots often struggle to replenish the moisture lost through transpiration from the leaves.

References:

Planting Container-Grown Native Maples
Maple Leaver Forever (2017), www.mapleleavesforever.ca Toronto

Watering Tips for Drought Conditions [PDF]
University of Maryland, 1000 Hilltop Cir, Baltimore, MD, 21250, Extension, HG 85, rev 2010

Caring for your maple News

Lessons Learned – Tree-watering bags save wilted trees

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 20, 2018

A note from one of our rebate recipients:

Wilting leaves on a customer’s maple tree

I talked with our friends at Maple Leaves Forever last week when the leaves on one of the sugar maples I planted along my laneway three years ago took on a wilted appearance. What’s up?

I live and work in the city and escape to my farm on the weekends, so the ability to water my trees is limited.

I used to spend most of Saturday watering trees with a hose or buckets from a tank on my Gator.

I lost 7 trees to drought stress in 2016. Replaced them with container grown trees in 2017 and tried to keep the replacement trees and the remaining originals watered as best I could.

Still lost 2 of these and 2 more from the original planting in 2017. Trees need water to survive.

Wilting maple on the landowner’s laneway

Maple Leaves Forever suggested I get some ”tree watering bags” for the trees I planted this year and to continue to water the trees I planted in 2017. It takes 2 – 3 years for a tree to grow new roots and get established in their new environment. They said  the older trees should be watered  every week to ten days during hot, dry weather conditions.

Tree watering bags are available from several sources with brand names like “Treegator” and “Oasis”.  They can be a savior for absentee landowners.

Lessons learned.

– Anonymous

Our tree expert Carl Mansfield replies:

Several brands of tree watering bags have come onto the market the past few years. Treegator® patented the concept.

Below are pics of the two most popular slow-release tree watering bags available here in Ontario. Prices range from $24.99 for Oasis at CTC to $29.99 for the Treegator Original Tree Watering Bags at Amazon.ca (cheapest price from several suppliers). These bags have a maximum capacity of 20 US gallons (75.7 L) and empty their contents over a 4 – 6 hour period with no run-off or evaporation.

A commonly used formula suggests a recently planted tree needs 10 gallons of water per week for every 1 inch of tree caliper, so be careful not to overfill these bags when watering smaller caliper trees.

OASIS bag available at CTC – photo taken at MLF farm.

TREEGATOR watering bag

And here’s a DIY tree watering option that we have shared with a few MLF customers!

watering trees with buckets

watering trees with buckets

They may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the green tree watering bags but they are as durable, and can have a comparable slow-release rate. With a capacity of 5 US gallons (19 L), a 1 inch caliper tree needs 2 buckets of water per irrigation with the second bucket being placed opposite the trunk position of the first bucket. Material cost – $7.00 per bucket.

Caring for your maple News Planting Advice

MLF sponsors Ontario Envirothon – May 27-30, 2018

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 5, 2018

This year’s Ontario Envirothon theme was CLIMATE CHANGE

From Forests Ontario News release

University of Toronto Schools Takes First Place in Ontario’s Largest Environmental Competition

WATERLOO, ON, May 31, 2018 /CNW/ – More than 120 high school students from across the province took part in the 2018 Ontario Envirothon, an intensive multi-day competition held at the University of Waterloo.

U of T Schools - First Place

U of T Schools – First Place Winners of Ontario Envirothon received a total of $2,500 in prize monies: $1,000 for the school plus $300 per student.

Emad Ali, of Maple Leaves Forever, addresses the contestants

Emad Ali, of Maple Leaves Forever, addresses the contestants

This year, University of Toronto Schools won first place out of 21 teams, becoming the Ontario Envirothon Provincial Champions. Competitors were tested on their knowledge of aquatics, soils, forestry and wildlife. Markville Secondary School and Waterloo Collegiate placed second and third respectively. The top three winning teams, and their schools, were awarded cash prizes from Ontario Envirothon’s generous sponsor, Maple Leaves Forever.

“Maple Leaves Forever has been a proud sponsor of Ontario Envirothon for the past three years,” says Ken Jewett, Founder of Maple Leaves Forever. “The students that take part in these events are true champions of sustainability.”  

2nd place winners – Markville Secondary School received $1,250 in prizes: $500 for the school plus $150 for each student

3rd place winners - Waterloo Collegiate

3rd place winners – Waterloo Collegiate received $750 in prizes: $250 for the school plus $100 for each student

The Ontario Envirothon program is coordinated by Forests Ontario, a charitable non-profit organization. “This event brings together some of the best and brightest students in the province,” explains Rob Keen, CEO at Forests Ontario. “The lessons these students learn go far beyond the classroom. This year’s theme, climate change, is timely. The problems these students are trying to solve reflect issues many municipalities and industries are facing today.”

The Ontario Envirothon is a province-wide competition that celebrates students’ passion for the outdoors and challenges them to work as a cohesive team. The winning teams from Canada’s provincial championships will go on to compete with their American counterparts at the 2018 North American Envirothon Finals, to be held at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho from July 22 – 28, 2018.

This year, more than 400 trees were planted on the University of Waterloo campus for the Ontario Envirothon Legacy Project. The Legacy Project provides a chance for the students to give back to the competition’s host, as well as to the environment. “We love events like this on campus,” said Jean Andrey, Dean of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. “Not only is this a great experiential learning opportunity for a new generation of environmentally conscious students, but it will also help reinforce the creek’s banks, keep the water cooler in the summer and provide increased tree cover on campus.” .

Forests Ontario
Forests Ontario is the voice of our forests. Working to promote a future of healthy forests sustaining healthy people, Forests Ontario is committed to the re-greening of Ontario through tree planting efforts on rural lands and in urban areas, as well as the renewal and stewardship of Ontario’s forests through restoration, education and awareness. Visit www.forestsontario.ca or follow us @Forests Ontario.

SOURCE Forests Ontario

For further information: For more information, or to schedule interviews, please contact: Azra Fazal, Communications Officer, Forests Ontario, 416.646.1193 ext. 257, afazal@forestsontario.ca

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