LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests

LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests We envision communities where nature thrives and everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest.

Our mission is to engage communities in nurturing the urban forest through planting, stewardship and education, fostering connections between people and nature http://readerschoice.nowtoronto.com/l/NOW-Readers-Choice-2016/Ballot/Cityscape

🌿 Stewardship starts with community, and we're so grateful to everyone who joined us at Stewart Burnett Park in Aurora! ...
06/12/2026

🌿 Stewardship starts with community, and we're so grateful to everyone who joined us at Stewart Burnett Park in Aurora! 💚

By removing invasive species and mulching native trees and shrubs, you helped care for this naturalization site and support its long-term health and growth.

From spreading mulch to lending a helping hand, every contribution made a difference. Thank you for spending your Sunday giving back to the urban forest and helping our shared green spaces thrive. 🌳

We’re grateful to our event supporters Trees for Life and Town of Aurora for making this event possible.

Looking to get involved? Sign up for our upcoming events: https://www.yourleaf.org/events

👏 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the dedicated volunteers who joined us at North Maple Regional Park to celebrate 30 years...
06/12/2026

👏 A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the dedicated volunteers who joined us at North Maple Regional Park to celebrate 30 years of LEAF stewardship! 🌳💚

Your hard work and commitment made a meaningful impact as we removed invasive species and cared for native trees and shrubs, helping this naturalization site continue to thrive.

It was wonderful to see community members come together to give back to Vaughan’s urban forest. Every invasive plant removed and every layer of mulch spread helps support a healthier, more resilient urban forest for years to come. 🌿

We’re grateful to our event supporters Trees for Life and City of Vaughan for making this event possible.

Looking to get involved? Sign up for our upcoming events: https://www.yourleaf.org/events

One of the best ways to build a connection with the is to learn about the names and stories of the trees around us. 🌳M...
06/12/2026

One of the best ways to build a connection with the is to learn about the names and stories of the trees around us. 🌳

My First Ontario Tree Book by Jeffrey C. Domm is a beginner-friendly guide to identifying more than 40 of Ontario’s most common trees found in parks, backyards and forests.

With full-colour illustrations and tips on using leaves, seeds and bark to identify species, it helps readers of all ages answer the question: “What kind of tree is that?”

To help you explore the natural world around you, we're giving away a copy of My First Ontario Tree Book, plus a copy of Edible Ontario Mushrooms: A Guide to Common Species, an illustrated guide to some of Ontario’s most common edible mushrooms that includes identification information and safety guidance for aspiring foragers.

🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉

To enter:

🌿 Comment below with your favourite Ontario tree species, or a tree that has special meaning to you.

We'll randomly select one winner and contact them by direct message. Contest closes June 17, 2026. Open to and shipping within Canada only.

Whether you're walking through your neighbourhood, visiting a local park or spending time in your backyard, there is always something new to discover when you take a closer look at the trees around you.

📣LAST CALL! There are still a few spots left for our walk at North Maple Regional Park in Vaughan on Saturday, June 13. ...
06/11/2026

📣LAST CALL!

There are still a few spots left for our walk at North Maple Regional Park in Vaughan on Saturday, June 13.

Come explore a previous planting site with LEAF and see how community tree planting supports healthier ecosystems and local biodiversity.

During the tour you will learn how to identify common tree species and get a closer look at how these plantings are growing over time.

Sign up: https://www.yourleaf.org/node/2825

This event is supported by City of Vaughan.

🌳 If a tree is injured, it cannot heal itself like we do. So how does it survive?When you scrape your knee, your body go...
06/11/2026

🌳 If a tree is injured, it cannot heal itself like we do. So how does it survive?

When you scrape your knee, your body goes to work repairing the damage. It forms a scab, sends cells to fight infection, and grows new skin. The tissue is replaced and rebuilt.

Trees cannot repair themselves this way. Once wood is damaged, it stays damaged and becomes more vulnerable to decay and infection.

Instead of healing like we do, trees limit the internal spread of decay after injury by building barriers within the wood that compartmentalize the damaged area.

This is also why proper pruning matters so much. Where and how a cut is made can either support a tree’s natural defences or make it harder for the tree to protect itself.

Trees may not heal like we do, but they are far from passive when injured.

Read more about how this system works and why proper pruning matters: https://www.yourleaf.org/node/2827

🌳 Meet the Kentucky coffeetree!This unique native tree is one of the last to leaf out in spring, often waiting until lat...
06/10/2026

🌳 Meet the Kentucky coffeetree!

This unique native tree is one of the last to leaf out in spring, often waiting until late May or even June. That slow start is completely normal and part of what makes it so interesting in the landscape.

Once it wakes up, it makes a big impression. Kentucky coffeetree has a bold, architectural form and large, divided leaves that give it a tropical look through summer. In fall, its foliage turns a warm golden yellow before dropping to reveal a striking winter silhouette.

It is highly adaptable and handles tough urban conditions well, including drought, clay soils, and road salt.

Its large seed pods are distinctive and can persist into winter. The seeds are toxic when raw but were historically roasted and processed by settlers into a coffee-like drink, though this required careful preparation to reduce toxicity.

There is also evidence that the tree’s large pods may have been dispersed in the past by now-extinct megafauna such as mastodons and giant ground sloths!

Kentucky coffeetree is a strong choice for challenging sites where other trees may struggle, bringing both resilience and character to the landscape.

Plant one today through our subsidized planting programs: https://www.yourleaf.org/planting-private-property

🌳💧 Want to help your trees and shrubs thrive?One of the most important things you can do is water them properly. But how...
06/09/2026

🌳💧 Want to help your trees and shrubs thrive?

One of the most important things you can do is water them properly. But how do you know how much to give?

As a general rule, young trees (0 to 3 years after planting) need about 6 gallons of water twice a week. Young shrubs need about 4 gallons twice a week. The goal is slow watering at the base so water can soak deep into the soil where roots are growing.

Water slowly and deeply. Quick watering often stays near the surface, while slow watering helps build stronger, more resilient roots.

Not sure when to water? Check the soil under the mulch. If it feels dry and hard, it is time to water. If it feels cool and damp, you can wait.

Check out our blog for more watering tips: https://www.yourleaf.org/node/2555

🌳 Nominations are now open for the 2026 Ontario Tree of the Year! Do you have a favourite tree that holds a special plac...
06/08/2026

🌳 Nominations are now open for the 2026 Ontario Tree of the Year!

Do you have a favourite tree that holds a special place in your heart, like a towering backyard oak, a riverside willow or a neighbourhood maple that brings shade and beauty to your community? Tree Trust wants to hear its story.

Share a photo of your special tree along with a few words about what it means to you and help celebrate the many ways trees support us, from cleaner air and cooler streets to habitat for wildlife and stronger, healthier communities. 🌿

📩 To nominate email a high-quality photo to [email protected]
Include your name, tree species (if known), location, and up to 30 words describing why your tree deserves the title.

📅 Deadline: August 3, 2026
🎁 Prizes to be won!

Celebrate the beauty and value of these lifelong companions that always keep on giving. 💚

Learn more on Tree Trust’s website: https://treetrust.ca/tree-pageant/

🌱 Soil plays a critical role in the health of urban trees and shrubs, but it is often overlooked when planning what to p...
06/05/2026

🌱 Soil plays a critical role in the health of urban trees and shrubs, but it is often overlooked when planning what to plant.

It is made up of minerals, air, water and organic matter, and no two yards are exactly the same. Texture, moisture and organic content all influence how well trees and shrubs can grow and thrive over time.

In many urban areas, soil is also altered by construction, leaving it compacted and low in organic matter, which can make growing conditions more challenging.

Learn more about why soil matters, how to identify your soil type and ways to improve growing conditions before planting: https://www.yourleaf.org/node/2727

Backyards play an important role in supporting local biodiversity. 🐦🦋Native trees and shrubs provide food, shelter and h...
06/04/2026

Backyards play an important role in supporting local biodiversity. 🐦🦋

Native trees and shrubs provide food, shelter and habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife, helping create small but important pockets of nature in urban and suburban spaces.

For example, a single oak tree can support over 500 species of insects, birds and other wildlife!

Many native trees, including willows, cherries and maples, support local ecosystems by providing food and habitat at different times of year.

Even one planting can contribute to a wider network of green spaces that support healthier, more resilient ecosystems over time.

is an educational campaign in partnership with Toronto Wildlife Centre. Learn more: https://www.yourleaf.org/backyard-biodiversity.

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