HELLO JI!

IMAGINE YOUR STREET LINED WITH FRUIT TREES

Fruit trees in new developments. Think of it, apple, pear and cherry trees growing along streets. They all have beautiful blooms in spring and would be a source of fruits for all. Image credit: BITHINRAJ on Unsplash.

Many years ago on a Heritage Toronto Walk at Todmorden Mills, my husband and I came upon a lone apple tree. The knowledgeable guide shared the history of the space. How the small settlement in the Don River valley started out as a lumber mill in the 1790s and was the site of a small camp for German prisoners of war during World War II.

As we followed her through the site that now includes the Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre and a forest preserve, there it was. A tree growing out of what looked like a heap of rubble. One that naturalist Priyanka Kumar would call a “feral” tree. It had obviously not been pruned for ages and the branches shot up every which way, each loaded with small green apples. I so wanted to taste one, but hesitated, self-conscious about what the rest of the group might make of this person plucking fruits on public property. Now I wish I had. Perhaps some of them would have joined me and discovered what the fruit of an ancient apple tree tasted like.

I was reminded of that tree – and Kumar’s lovely book, The Light Between Apple Trees recently while pulling up maple seedlings in our suburban yard.

I love fall colours, the way the streets don gorgeous yellows, reds and oranges, the crunch under my feet on my morning walks. I even enjoy raking in the crisp, fresh air. What I do not enjoy is pulling up those pesky seedlings that take root in every flower bed in Spring in spite of every effort to keep them clear.

Specially after I learned that many of the maple trees planted on Ontario streets are the invasive Norway Maples because they tend to be hardier than Canadian sugar maples.

I would hate to see existing old trees cut down, but here’s an idea: Fruit trees in new developments. Think of it, apple, pear and cherry trees growing along streets. They all have beautiful blooms in spring and would be a source of fruits for all. Some of the streets in our neighbourhood have crabapple trees and their blooms are a joy to behold in spring. But I don’t think anyone does anything with all that fruit. Other than the birds and squirrels.

Community gardens do a stellar job of providing people who don’t have gardening space with plots to grow their favourite vegetables and flowers. Imagine extending the idea to trees along residential streets and boulevards. Much like the orange trees on streets in Spain and Greece. Fittingly, a Greek proverb provides inspiration: A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.

The time to plant those trees is now. The birds, bees and squirrels will thank us. Our children and grandchildren will have a fruit to enjoy on their way to and from school. They will learn that every fruit doesn’t come polished and waxed from a store. And seedlings from these trees might actually be welcome in abutting homes!

Happy South Asian Heritage Month!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Shagorika Easwar