The Great Canadian Skyline Thread! - Page 255

O-tacular · #**5081** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 10:25 PM**

Here is an example of one of the new oak trees from Calgary you can see being planted around the city.

Here's an accompanying article touching on our urban forest.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/...+treescape+come+long/10175240/story.html

1ajs · #**5082** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 10:55 PM**

winnipeg has the largest urban elm population or something i remember reading and hearing in the media they seem to do pretty good in our extream temps

O-tacular · #**5083** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 10:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

I'm kind of sad for that tree.

Developing that parking lot would be bittersweet for me. On the one hand you'd gain density but you'd likely lose the tree. Thankfully the Stampede board couldn't organize a sandwich let alone developing their land in Victoria Park, so I think it's safe for the time being.

lio45 · #**5084** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Thank you for reminding me and I can't believe I forgot about Calgary's Elm trees! Seeing as we are in the middle of the prairies we are one fo the few cities that has not had its elm trees decimated by Dutch Elm Disease. Most of the older neighbourhoods in the inner city and even some older burbs have amazing elm canopies.

Wow!!! Gorgeous pics of elm canopies!! ("In the inner city", you say? These neighborhoods look delightfully suburban!

)

It really was a blessing for Prairie and Great Plains cities to be isolated outside the continuum of the northeastern native American Elm range.

lio45 · #**5085** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:29 PM**

6:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Last tree related picture I promise. This is my favourite tree in Calgary...

6:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Here is an example of one of the new oak trees from Calgary you can see being planted around the city.

Did you ever consider a career in politics?

O-tacular · #**5086** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

6:10 pm

6:25 pm

Did you ever consider a career in politics?

Lol! No contrary to that post I am not a good liar.

lio45 · #**5087** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Here is an example of one of the new oak trees from Calgary you can see being planted around the city.

Seems particularly... shaggy. What kind of variety is that?

O-tacular · #**5088** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

Wow!!! Gorgeous pics of elm canopies!! ("In the inner city", you say? These neighborhoods look delightfully suburban!

)

It really was a blessing for Prairie and Great Plains cities to be isolated outside the continuum of the northeastern native American Elm range.

When I say inner city I don't mean in the Beltline or DT. I am referring to those older areas adjacent to the core that were formerly suburban (if such a thing existed 100years ago) but are now experiencing a renaissance with all the new infills going in. But these types of corridors can also be found in 50's era burbs too.

O-tacular · #**5089** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

Seems particularly... shaggy. What kind of variety is that?

I don't know. It seems like oak trees look very odd as saplings. The bark is very coarse and the branches unusually thick for a baby tree.

lio45 · #**5090** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Here's an accompanying article touching on our urban forest.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/...+treescape+come+long/10175240/story.html

FWIW, they don't seem very pro-oak:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Word

Sometimes, I think Calgarians are in denial we live in a winter city. I am often reminded of this when I pass by the struggling oak tree planted by the city in Grand Trunk Park across the street from my house. It, like many of the thousands of oak trees planted by the city, struggles to grow in a place not meant for trees — certainly not oaks. Could this be “tree abuse?” In fact, some might say creating an urban forest in Calgary is disturbing its natural ecosystem. Today, Calgary’s tree canopy is estimated to cover seven per cent of its overland mass. The goal is to increase this by one per cent per decade to a 20 per cent canopy.

In the summer, for those Calgarians living in established communities it is hard to imagine Calgary was a barren, treeless prairie landscape. Yes, Mount Royal was a treeless hill less than 100 years ago.
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niwell · #**5091** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:48 PM**

Calgary removing its poplar trees as they die off and replacing them with other varieties seems like a good call. The poplars didn't bother me growing up but since living in Ontario I can see why my parents always called them garbage trees.

Medicineline · #**5092** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:50 PM**

O-tacs picture is of a bur oak. I believe they are the only variety that can survive on the Canadian prairies.

lio45 · #**5093** Posted **Mar 18, 2015, 11:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I don't know. It seems like oak trees look very odd as saplings. The bark is very coarse and the branches unusually thick for a baby tree.

All the saplings I've planted, both red and white (standard northeastern red and white, i.e. Quercus alba and Quercus rubra) did not look odd to me... they sure weren't entirely covered in leaves including the trunk.

There are oaks native to the hilly interior of California, Arizona, etc. so maybe the varieties can stand the dryness of Southern AB are among those. There are countless "exotic" (to me) oaks that I know very little about.

lio45 · #**5094** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cranium

O-tacs picture is of a bur oak. I believe they are the only variety that can survive on the Canadian prairies.

Thanks for the info!

Native range, the center of the continent, from Texas to Manitoba. (East to Ontario too.)

The leaves look very rich, almost like they're evergreen. They seem to have the texture/feel of southern live oak leaves. Is that pic below representative of the foliage? Wikipedia pics aren't always.

Quoting wikipedia (bold mine): "Bur oak makes an outstanding ornamental tree. Among the white oaks, it is one of the most tolerant of urban conditions, and is one of the fastest-growing of the group. It has been planted in many climates, ranging northwards to Anchorage, Alaska, and as far south as Mission, Texas. It withstands chinook conditions in Calgary, Alberta."

Mrs Sauga · #**5095** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 12:24 AM**

What is everyone's favourite flowers? I think tulips are nice.

O-tacular · #**5096** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 12:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs Sauga

What is everyone's favourite flowers? I think tulips are nice.

Don't go there. My mom currently has tulips growing in her garden. Could derail this thing further...

itom 987 · #**5097** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 1:15 AM**

Alright everyone, let's stay on the topic of this thread. If you want to talk about plants and trees please create or find a thread for it.

caltrane74 · #**5098** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 1:23 AM**

Why do threads in this forum always go haywire?

I came here for my fix of aerial Calgary Skyline shots and instead I got some pictures of a few wacky looking plants.

MolsonExport · #**5099** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 2:27 AM**

I have a nice Japanese Maple in my backyard.

rousseau · #**5100** Posted **Mar 19, 2015, 2:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

Calgary removing its poplar trees as they die off and replacing them with other varieties seems like a good call. The poplars didn't bother me growing up but since living in Ontario I can see why my parents always called them garbage trees.

Not very, uh...pop'lar eh?

I'll get me coat.