Bulletin Update: July 13, 2022
In this update:
ID’d by GROW: Witches’ Broom
Safety Culture: Stretching to Prevent Strains and Sprains
EVENT: Scope Out Skilled Trades Community Event (July 15 @ Stoney Creek)
All About the Urban Forest! (Webinar Series)
EVENT: Garden Tours in July
Call for ID’d by GROW submissions - Share your knowledge!
1. ID’d by GROW: Witches’ Broom
Witches’ Broom on Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
ID’d by Sarah Rafols (GROW Technical Trainer)
This weekend in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery, I saw a witches’ broom on a Norway Spruce! Witches’ Brooms are abnormal and dense clusters of twigs that appear on trees due to genetic mutations or a virus affecting the buds of branches.
In spruces, pines, and firs, witches’ brooms have been used to develop new plant varieties and cultivars that are classified as dwarf plants.
2. Safety Culture: Stretching to Prevent Strains and Sprains
National Association of Landscape Professionals (June 23, 2022) - Strains and sprains are common injuries that can occur in the landscape industry, but they can also be easily prevented with simple stretching techniques. Daily morning stretching improves muscle elasticity and leads to increased muscle control, flexibility and range of motion.
3. EVENT: SCOPE OUT Skilled Trades Community Event
(July 15 @ Stoney Creek)
Join a fun day of games, snacks, music and more, while you learn more about careers in the skilled trades and technology!
Try tools, test out simulators and ask experts your skilled trades questions, and explore:
the Skills Ontario Trades and Tech Truck
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Transitions Trailer
the City School by Mohawk Mobile Classroom
test your building skills with the Women in Technology and Trades interactive kit
Say hello and stop by Landscape Ontario’s booth for information on the Horticultural Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program and GROW Training Programs.
Check out the event flyer!
4. All About the Urban Forest! (Webinar Series)
LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) - Discover over 35 tree and shrub species found in the Greater Toronto Area through this four-part webinar series! Learn how to identify different tree and shrub species while exploring their history, significance and discovering ways to support your local urban forest.
This webinar series will be led by a group of youth who have been learning about the urban forest through our Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program. The YUFL program is a free training and mentorship program that seeks to support Toronto youth from historically excluded groups within arboriculture and urban forestry including (but not limited to) women, non-binary people, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ persons and racialized individuals.
The webinars include:
Look-a-Like Species - Tuesday, August 9, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Native Shrubs - Thursday, August 11, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Edible Species - Tuesday, August 16, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Urban Wildlife - Thursday, August 18, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Event attendees may be eligible to receive free native shrubs (conditions apply). Register and join us through Zoom to learn more!
5. Garden Tours in July
JULY 16 - GRIMSBY GARDEN CLUB GARDEN TOUR ($22)
2022 is Canada's Year of the Garden and Grimsby's 100th anniversary. Come celebrate and enjoy these 10 wonderful gardens. Register Here
JULY 16 - LAKE SIMCOE GARDENERS: GEORGINA GARDEN TOUR ($10-$15)
Grow with the Lake Simcoe Gardeners! Tickets available at Petal Pushers Flower & Gift Show.
See Event Flyer
JULY 16 - NIAGARA FALLS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY GARDEN WALK ($15)
Enjoy a day in picturesque Niagara Falls, Ontario visiting 10 beautiful gardens. Each one unique & full of inspiration to take home to apply to your own garden.
Read more
JULY 23 - MOUNT FOREST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: TOWN AND COUNTRY GARDEN TOUR ($10-$15)
Come, discover and get inspired! Proceeds support Mount Forest’s public gardens. Available for purchase at M&M Food Market. See Event Flyer
6. Call for ID’d by GROW submissions: Share your knowledge!
Did you learn about a new plant recently? Seen anything interesting or peculiar on the job? How about a new skill or technique you learned?
Share your knowledge with your fellow alumni and peers!
With the ID’d by GROW (or Identified by GROW) series, let us learn and broaden our landscape horticulture knowledge and plant identification skills together!
Please send a photo and a short caption of your submission to srafols@landscapeontario.com.