HIGH PARK NEWSVOLUME 6

FALL 2005

High Park UpdateBy The Editor

HYPE RevivalOur HYPE (High Park Youth connecting People and the Environment) program has been dormant since its previous adult leaders stepped down. With the help of new adult leadership, we are attempting to revive this important program for high school students. Thus, we are planning an activity/social event in the near future to jump-start the program and assess general interest. The hope would be to develop a series of such events during the winter and spring months with the support of the students themselves.

New HPCAC Executive Offi cersTwo new offi cers were elected to the Advisory Council Executive at the November 16th Council meeting. Mark Ellwood assumes the position of vice-chair and Elizabeth Lis that of treasurer. Welcome aboard!

Special Phone Numbers•Concerns about dangerously leaning trees or tree-limbs in the Park - call Urban Forestry at 416-388-TREE.

•Concerns about irresponsible behaviour on the part of dogs and/or dog owners - call Animal Services at 416-388-PAWS.

•For Natural Environment and Horticulture issues in the Park - call 416-392-LEAF.

•For General Information - call Parks, Forestry and Recreation at 416-392-1111.

Planning Session on Guiding PrinciplesAs new initiatives are proposed for High Park, the Community Advisory Council often fi nds itself debating proposals wthout a set of guiding principles. By having a clear understanding of what is important and what things need to be done, the Council can focus its efforts and deliberations with more certainty.

To this end, we are holding an all-day planning session on a Saturday in February under the leadership of Mark Ellwood. The objective is to develop a set of values or principles that will guide discussion on proposals as they come forward in the future. All members of the High Park Community Advisory Council and other members of the public are invited to this important planning session. Details to follow.

PARK WATCH NEEDS YOU!By Gloria Worth

We had a hot and busy summer with only one major incident. This involved calling 911 after a girl fell off her bike while riding down the pathway towards the pond from West Road. One of the volunteers (John) stayed with her until the ambulance came. She was not seriously hurt.

We’ve had numerous requests for washrooms and lack of signage indicating where the washrooms are located. All washrooms have been locked since the beginning of the month although the legend on the park maps shows that the washrooms at the Chess House, Hillside Gardens and Jamie Bell Playground are open all year round. We are looking into this. Park Watch also helped out at the Pumpkin Float on October 30th.

We have a new volunteer - Mark Reale.

Karen Yukich came up with the idea of involving HYPE, after it has been revived, with Park Watch. We think it’s a great idea as the students can add to their community hours and increase our volunteer numbers. It will also expose them to Park issues.

Join us as we continue to patrol through the winter season.

Contents...About Us 2Calendars 3-4High Park Map 5Spring Creek 6Urban Birds 7High Park Groups 8-10Children’s Garden 11Nature Centre 12High Park Committees 13Colborne Lodge 14Volunteer Opportunities 15High Park Initiatives 16

Vandalized SignPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 1Page 1

ABOUT US

Contact us...infoline: (416) 392-1748 website: www.highpark.orgYou can fi nd up-to-date information on the various programs through our infoline and on our website.

HPCAC Executive 2005/06Chair Robin SorysVice-Chair Mark EllwoodSecretary Ken SharrattTreasurer Elizabeth LisNatural Environment CommitteeChair Karen YukichBuilt Environment & Safety CommitteeChair Paul HindleProgram CommitteeChair Ron AllanParks & Recreation Ex-offi cioRepresentative Helen SousaColborne Lodge Ex-offi cioRepresentative Cheryl HartCouncillor Bill SaundercookHPCAC Members-at-large elected June 2005Linda Curnoe Mark CyrMark Ellwood Terry GrahamElizabeth Lis Sharon LovettJohn Rocco John RomanovHPCAC Members-at-large elected June 2004 Ron Allan Karyn Morris Grace Petrucci

HPCAC Volunteer Program GroupsChildren’s Events Robin SorysHYPE K-9 Working Group Jane BrownPark Watch Gloria WorthVolunteer Stewardship Program Jean VesikWalking Tours Ron AllanMembers Representing Residents Assns.Bloor West Village R.A. Terry GrahamDundas West R.A. Ken SharrattHigh Park R.A. Karen PalkowskiParkdale R.A. Graig PeskettRoncesvalles-MacDonell R.A. Peter ElsonSunnyside Community Assn Rinna BraySwansea Area R.A. Merle HudsonMembers RepresentingLong Term InterestsToronto Entomologists’Association Karen YukichToronto Ornithological Club Don Barnett

Members RepresentingBusiness/Park EntrepreneursGrenadier Group Steve CaragianakosCan-Stage Company Paul ShawOFVIC April CornellCity-sponsored Programs, non-voting membersColborne Lodge Cheryl HartChildren’s Garden & Exploring Toronto Programs Keely ForthMembers RepresentingRecreational StakeholdersHigh Park Baseball League John PrimeauHigh Park Tennis Club Jane DevanHigh Park Demons Youth Hockey Bruce TokiwaCommunity Bicycle Network Arlene ClementHoward Park Tennis Club Randy StillHigh Park InitiativesSecretary Paul HindleTreasurer Michael StillDirector H.R. Robin SorysDirector Eleanor MortonDirector Merril MascarenhasDirector Pam FergusonP&R Ex-offi cio Helen SousaNature Centre Diana Teal

Contributors to this issue:Ron Allan Cheryl Hart Lisa Kemp Jean Vesik Karen Yukich

Jane Brown Paul Hindle Shawn Tay Gloria Worth

Keely Forth Richard Joos Diana Teal Bob Yukich

Editor: Ron Allan (editor@highpark.org)

Assoc. Editor, Design and Layout: Lisa Kemp

High Park Advisory CouncilHPCAC, a volunteer group, began as an interim Committee in 1993. It was recognized by the City of Toronto as the High Park Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 1995. Its name was changed to the High Park Community Advisory Council in 2003.HPCAC is made up of a broad range of Park users, including individuals and representatives of organized groups. These include local ratepayer/residents’ associations, recreational stakeholders, long-term interest groups such as the Toronto Field Naturalists, business/park entrepreneurs and a number of members-at-large from the community. The Council meets on a regular basis and meetings are open to the public.The HPCAC mandate is:

• to facilitate ongoing public input and assistance in the stewardship of High Park for present and future generations of Park users

• to provide public input on Park policies, goals and objectives to the Parks, Forestry and Recreation, City of Toronto

• to facilitate volunteer involvement in Park initiatives• to promote public awareness and responsible stewardship

of the Park

High Park InitiativesAn affi liated charitable corporation called High Park Initiatives (HPI) was founded in 2003 to raise funds in support of various Park programs and activities. HPI has also assumed responsibility for managing the High Park Nature Centre, an education program operated jointly by staff and volunteers.

HPCAC CommitteesThe work of the Council is carried on through two standing policy committees, the Natural Environment Committee, and the Built Environment and Safety Committee. Meetings of these committees are open to the public and your participation is welcome.In addition, the Program Committee sponsors six volunteer-led programs in the Park.

• Children’s events• High Park Youth connecting People and the

Environment (HYPE)• K-9 Working Group, dog owners and walkers• ParkWatch• Volunteer Stewardship Program• Walking Tours

This committee also liaises closely with the Nature Centre, and City sponsored programs such as Colborne Lodge Museum and the Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs, both located near the south end of the Park.All activities are conducted on a regular basis throughout the year.

Page 2

SUN

DAY

MO

ND

AY

TU

ESD

AY

WED

NESD

AY

TH

UR

SDAY

FRID

AY

SAT

UR

DAY

NOVE

MBER

12

34

5

6 VSP

Even

t

78

910

1112

1314

1516 H

PCA

CM

eetin

g

1718

19

20 VSP

Even

t

2122

23 NE

CM

eetin

g

2425

26 to

Jan

8, 2

006

Col

born

e L

odge

Chr

istm

as in

the

Park

2728

2930

Con

tact

Gro

ups f

or E

vent

Det

ails

DECE

MBER

12

3

45

6 Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Hol

iday

Wild

craf

ting

78 N

atur

e C

entr

eH

olid

ay W

ildcr

aftin

g

910

1112 N

atur

e C

entr

eH

olid

ay W

ildcr

aftin

g

1314

HPI

B

oard

Mee

ting

N

atur

e C

entr

e

Hol

iday

Wild

craf

ting

1516 N

atur

e C

entr

eH

olid

ay W

ildcr

aftin

g

17 C

olbo

rne

Lod

ge

& N

atur

e C

entr

eW

orks

hops

18 Col

born

e L

odge

Wor

ksho

p

1920

21 Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Win

ter S

olst

ice

Part

y

2223

24

2526

2728

2930

31

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Page 3

SUN

DAY

MO

ND

AY

TU

ESD

AY

WED

NESD

AY

TH

UR

SDAY

FRID

AY

SAT

UR

DAY

1 JANUA

RY 2

3 C

olbo

rne

Lod

ge &

Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Win

ter W

orks

hops

4 C

olbo

rne

Lod

ge &

Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Win

ter W

orks

hops

5 C

olbo

rne

Lod

ge &

Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Win

ter W

orks

hops

6 C

olbo

rne

Lod

ge &

Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Win

ter W

orks

hops

7 Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Sat A

M C

lub

Res

umes

8 Wal

king

Tou

rsEv

ent

9 Nat

ure

Cen

tre

Scho

ol P

rogr

ams R

esum

e

1011 H

PIB

oard

Mee

ting

1213

14

15

VSP

Eve

nt

Win

ter

Fun

Day

1617

18 HPC

AC

Gen

eral

Mee

ting

1920

21

22 Wal

king

Tou

rsEv

ent

2324

2526

2728

29 VSP

Even

t

3031

Con

tact

Gro

ups f

or E

vent

Det

ails

FEBRU

ARY

12

34

5 Wal

king

Tou

rsEv

ent

67

8 HPI

Boa

rd M

eetin

g

910

11 Col

born

e L

odge

Fam

ily B

akin

g C

lass

12 VSP

Even

t

1314

1516

1718

19 Wal

king

Tou

rsEv

ent

2021

2223

2425 C

olbo

rne

Lod

geFa

mily

Bak

ing

Cla

ss

2

6

VSP

E

vent

2728

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Page 4

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTSHIGH PARK MAP

Dog Hill

LesyaUkrainkaMemorial

VSPAdopt-a-plots

VSPBoulevard Beds

GrenadierRestaurant

PortugeuseMonument

Gardenof Hope

HowardBurial Site/Memorial

Children’sGardens

ColborneLodge

Jamie BellAdventurePlayground

ChessHouse

SportsComplex

Wen

digo

Cre

ek Spring RoadW

est

Roa

d

Lodg

e D

rive

Par

ksi

de

Dri

ve

TheDreamSite

AllotmentGardens

Spri

ng R

oad

AnimalPaddocks

HillsideGardens

Spring Creek

Centre Road

How

ard

Park

Ave

High Park Blvd

Greenhouses

Spring Road

FirePit

Deer Pen Road

The Queensway

Grenadier Pond

Spring Creek

Lake Shore Blvd

Page 5

Black Oak Savannah

E.D. LottMemorial

NatureCentre

Sculptures

ForestrySchool

Bloor Street West

UpperSedimentationPonds

Howard ParkTennis Centre

TennisCourts

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTSSPRING CREEK

Spring CreekPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Upper Sedimentation PondsPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 6

Spring CreekBy Ron Allan

Historical CourseWhere does Spring Creek originate? The historical course of Spring Creek, which now fl ows south beside Spring Road on the eastern side of High Park, lies buried beneath the neighbourhood north of the Park. Although it is not identifi ed as such, the creek’s course is clearly marked on early maps of the area, rising west of Keele Street and north of Bloor Street, near the intersection of present-day Annette and Medland Streets. It fl owed generally south being joined by another branch fl owing through today’s

Baird Park. The main stream continued past Glenlake Avenue then crossed Keele Street to continue down the east side. Here it was joined by several small tributaries fl owing from the east. Although upper Spring Creek and its side-streams were all enclosed in the storm-sewer system in the late 1800s, their course can easily be followed from the shape of the

local streets and the contours of the land.

The creek fl owed across Bloor Street through a low-lying swampy area (the Bloor-Keele intersection is still a saucer-shaped-depression) and turned westwards into the original Ridout property near what is now the northeast corner of High Park. It then fl owed southwards towards Lake Ontario Several tributaries joined it along the way, both from the west and from the east. The course of these side-streams can be clearly seen in the Park along Deer Pen Road, at Howard Park Avenue and through the present Adventure Playground in the Park. The creek ended in a marshy area at the original lakeshore (The Queensway today), and from here it drained to the lake. A remnant of this widespread wet area is the Lower Duck Pond at the southeast corner of the Park.

Managing Stormwater and SedimentationOver the years, the course of Spring Creek within High Park has been rerouted to free up more picnic area and the lakefront has been considerably extended. The creek still, however, empties into Lake Ontario. The majority of its volume fl ow today is storm-water from a 250-hectare catchment area north and northeast of the Park. (A smaller catchment area feeds Wendigo Creek on the west side of

the Park fl owing from there to Grenadier Pond and Lake Ontario)

To remove some of the debris (dirt, leaves, paper, plastic and other waste) picked up from roofs, driveways and streets in the catchment area, two sedimentation ponds were created in the 1950s at the point where the Spring Creek exited from a culvert into the Park. These ponds allowed settling out of some of the undesirable material in the water (Lower Duck Pond itself is a natural sedimentation pond.). In addition, a number of weirs were placed along the stream to reduce fl ow velocity and to control erosion.

By the 1990s, however, it was recognized that the upper sedimentation ponds (now known as Howard and Ridout Ponds) were undersized and ineffi cient. They have recently been expanded, including an added oil/grease trap, to about double their size with a corresponding increase in settling effi ciency. They do nothing, of course, to reduce e.coli from animal waste, dissolved phosphorus and metals and the salt in winter time, all of which are carried directly down the creek to the lake.

Ancient River RevealedDuring the course of the sediment pond expansion work, it was necessary to cap two old artesian wells, one in each pond. A drilling rig was brought in to do the work. Prior to this, a multidisciplinary team from various water authorities had been mapping groundwater fl ow from the Oak Ridge Moraine to Lake Ontario. In the course of their work, they had drilled a series of wells across the lower part of Greater Toronto from Duffi n’s Creek to the Credit River. Since the drilling rig was already on site, it was decided to drill such a well at the foot of Ridout Pond.

The drill progressed steadily to a level of about 45 metres. Suddenly, there was a massive explosion of shale, gravel, sand and water. The plume rose to a height of nearly 15 metres above the surface. After the exploratory well had fi nally been capped, the tops blew off the recently-capped artesian wells. When all wells had fi nally been capped, water continued to fl ow out of the nearby hillside. The water was cold, reddish and tasted of iron.

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTS

After some thought, the team realized they had tapped into an ancient underground river at bedrock level, predating the glacial age, fl owing from Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. Geologists had long known about this very old waterway, which had been dubbed the Laurentian River, but hadn’t known its exact location. Here it was passing through High Park! Apparently the natural outlet to the lake had been blocked and, once the drill bit broke through, the water under pressure was violently expelled. When the water, which later proved safe to drink, was exposed to the air, the dissolved iron quickly changed to iron oxide, turning it red.

The underground stream still fl ows quietly out of a pipe into Spring Creek. It can be seen from the footbridge just south of Ridout Pond, where Spring Road curves west to meet Colborne lodge Drive.

Urban BirdsBy Richard Joos

Have you ever held a bird in your hand?

Living in a large and growing city can be a daunting task. It is not just recent events that make the newspapers, or the increasingly intensive sounds of technology, or the smells of truck exhaust, or the sights of another overly tall building blocking what used to be an important view, or even the excessive cost of organic produce, it is the cumulative effects – the sum total of all these elements that together often upset/stress those of us who have decided that this is the right place to live. We have considered the options of other cities, and other parts of the country. And it is clear, nevertheless, this is the right place.

One of the little things that contribute to this sense of rightness is the chance to walk among the trees and see the birds of High Park. Especially during spring and fall migration, the birds here can be surprising. Warblers and thrushes in the spring, hawks in the fall, and some rarities sprinkled in somewhere, these are some of the highlights. There are many aspects of this experience – enough to delight both the beginner and the experienced with species richness and sometimes abundance. Hawk Hill houses the third largest urban hawk watch in the world. Over 250 species of birds have been seen in the park since records have begun to be kept. And in many places where staff and volunteer ecological restoration efforts have gone forward, habitat conditions in the Park have substantially improved. Proximity to the lake and a relic sand dune ecology make this an important site in the GTA to watch and study birds.

The Toronto Bird Observatory, in cooperation with High Park staff, Hawk Watch volunteers, and the Nature Centre, has been working in the Park since late September. We have been looking at this fall migration to see where there is good movement of birds and how to set up mist nets to band some of them. Banding, along with censusing, are some of the standard techniques of avian ecology. They facilitate

research on population dynamics, territorial behavior, species ranges, migratory routes, and individual longevity and movement – essential data for both science and conservation. Along with our partners, York University and the Canadian Wildlife Service, we have been sharing this experience through the environmental education program of “Birds in the City”. A surprising number of people have attended these banding demonstrations, especially on Saturday mornings. And it has been a delight to see the expressions on children’s faces when they see birds so closely and learn how to release a bird after it was banded. Even experienced birders have been able to learn more about details of identifi cation and ecological interrelationships.

We welcome you to visit and participate. We will be working just north of Hawk Hill every Saturday during spring and fall migration, weather permitting. During the week we will band and census from Spring Creek Meadow. School and Natural History groups are especially welcome. It may seem that it is too late, but even today there was a Myrtle Warbler among the Chickadees and Juncos.

We look forward to seeing you!

URBAN BIRDS

Hawk HillPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 7

Walking ToursBy Ron Allan

Our walking tour program begins again on January 8 with an appropriate theme – “High Park in Winter”. Dress for

the weather and meet us at 1:30 p.m. at the benches across the road from the south side of the Grenadier Café and Teahouse in the Park.

These informative walks will be offered every second Sunday afternoon from January 8 to April 23, same time and starting point. Other topics will be “How birds and animals survive the winter”, “Winter Landscapes” (photo opportunities) and “Identifying trees in the winter”.

K-9 CommitteeBy Jane Brown

As of September, the K-9 Committee has added fi ve new members to bring our total community membership to 15. We recently worked with members of the High Park Advisory Council, the Ukrainian Canadian Women’s Council and Councillor Saundercook to have the entry to Dog Hill reinstated. There is more work to be done, but the reopening of the fenced area has created happy dog owners in the Park.

The K-9 Committee has formed a small sub-committee to begin looking at fencing issues in the Park, in both the off- and on-leash areas. We look forward to further discussion and problem solving with the Advisory Council.

We recently invited Don Mitton from Toronto Animal Services to attend our K-9 meeting. He explained the new legislation regarding Pit bulls and it was an opportunity to ask questions regarding sanctions and monitoring. The topic of city dog licenses was also discussed and the K-9 committee is looking at new ways to educate and support dog owners in the park.

The K-9 Committee agreed unanimously to refrain from supporting product giveaways in the Park. Although there may be some support offered by the various companies by promoting our message of responsible dog behaviour, the Committee does not want to support commercialization in the park. We look to the city-wide dog committee for clarity on this issue.

Committee members are keen to have Spring Creek water tested to see if the water is toxic to dogs. Apparently the Toronto Region Conversation Authority visits the park regularly and they do test the water. We look forward to the

results.

Our meetings will occur every other month with Tuesday, January 17th and Tuesday, March 21st already set. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

Volunteer Stewardship ProgramBy Jean Vesik and Lisa Kemp

As a beautiful summer and fall season ends it is time to refl ect on the many successful stewardship events, which the Volunteer Stewardship Program has enjoyed since the last newsletter. Some of the highlights include learning about plants and the High Park ecosystem at stewardship events, fi eld trips to the Alderville First Nation and Royal Botanical Gardens and the fall Plant Sale.

In August, the VSP concentrated on removing Himalayan Balsam from the area next to Spring Creek. Himalayan Balsam was introduced to the area as a nursery plant and was used for its striking effect in ornamental gardens. Unfortunately, in addition to being an attractive plant, it is very invasive and has spread into High Park where it has inhibited the growth of native species such as Cup Plant. Over the past couple of years, the VSP has assisted the Restoration Crew in removing Himalayan Balsam and other invasive plants. There is also a noticeable increase in the number of native species appearing in the park and it is hoped they will continue to fl ourish.

One of the Black Oak Savannah restoration sites is near the Bloor Street entrance to the park and it has been the subject of two events this year. At the fi rst event, the VSP planted various native species suited to the soil, light and moisture conditions of Black Oak Savannah. The second event involved removing weeds, planting native species in the cleared areas and carrying many watering cans and buckets of water to give the plants a head start in the sweltering August heat. The event was followed by a plant identifi cation workshop where we learned how to identify plants by leaf, stem and fl ower characteristics and how to use this information to fi nd them in various guidebooks. Some of the

group learned to identify fl owering plants and the rest learned about tree identifi cation.

HIGH PARK GROUPS

WInter Walking TourPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

VSP Planting EventPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 8

In September, the VSP held a tree and shrub planting event in a ravine near the Coach House at Colborne Lodge. We learned how to plant on steep slopes in moist woodland soil and where to place the plants to suit the slope and light conditions. It was fun, but tiring work and it will be interesting to return to the site over time to see how the plants adapt to the environment and to watch the site evolve.

In October, the VSP held a fall Plant Sale as part of the Harvest Festival at Colborne Lodge. It was a beautiful, sunny day with a good selection of plants for sale. Set-up went smoothly and volunteers happily answered customers’ questions regarding the plants for sale and participating in VSP events. According to VSP chair Jean Vesik, “Although there was a variety of healthy native plants for sale and the weather was great that day the sales were not as good as the VSP hoped they would be. The VSP raised approximately $300 that will be used to purchase new pruners, loppers, a length of hose and new gloves. Although the Harvest Festival appeared busy attendance was down. One concern cited was that banners at the entrances of the park were not posted advertising the festival and that may be why attendance was down.”

October is seed collecting and Buckthorn cutting time (an invasive species used for hedges) and the VSP spent the fi rst event clearing a large amount of Buckthorn and piling it by the side of Centre Road for future use in closing a trail. The following event had the volunteers moving the Buckthorn pile from the side of the road to a trail passing through a ravine near Colborne Lodge, which needed to be closed due to erosion damage. Piles of branches were used to block the trail, which created an effective barrier to humans and will allow the area to regenerate and slow the damage due to water erosion. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day and lots of fun was had dragging the branches up to the trail. It was a good workout and an enjoyable event.

In November Buckthorn cutting and seed-collecting season continues. Due to rain the fi rst event was moved into the greenhouses where the volunteers spent an enjoyable morning cleaning seeds. The seeds are normally cleaned

during the winter events, and are then planted, grown and used in parks across the city to rebuild the native plant population. The event was followed by a tour of the native plant nursery where it was interesting to see the many different types of seeds now ready for collection, and to learn about the differences in colour and texture of young and old plants. For example, the young red oak has beautiful scarlet leaves, while the older trees have muted red-brown leaves.Field TripsThe fi rst fi eld trip of the summer was to Alderville Black Oak Savannah. Amanda Newell gave the VSPs a two-hour tour of the site. Although there were not a lot of plants in bloom, it was amazing to see all the Big Bluestem blowing in the warm August breeze and huge Butterfl y Weed pods. It was interesting seeing all the types of habitats they had – Prairie, Savannah, Forest and Old Field. It was nice being

the only people there and there was nothing fragmenting the habitats like there is in an urban park such as High Park, things like swimming pools, roads, monuments, playing fi elds and tennis courts. A real treat was seeing an Indigo Bunting near the end of the tour. When asked what people thought of the trip, Gloria Worth one of our VSP members said “It was good to see native plant restoration in another part of the province. Our guide was great and it was nice to get out of the city.”

In September a few VSPs ventured to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. We had hoped to get a guided tour of some of their nature sanctuaries such as Hendrie Valley and Cootes Paradise where they have rare and threatened species of plants and animals. However, the tours there are mainly confi ned to the ornamental gardens and our tour guide didn’t have knowledge of native plants. We saw a few of the gardens but the most impressive was the Rock Garden and it is a very unique environment as Gillian Smith points out, “The rock garden, a former quarry, has a different climate than the rest of the gardens. A slightly lower

HIGH PARK GROUPS

Harvest Festival Plant SalePhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Alderville Field TripPhoto Credit: Shawn Tay

Page 9

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTSHIGH PARK GROUPS

ground level plus surrounding rocky walls mean a difference in temperature of several degrees. Generally the former quarry area is warmer than the rest of the gardens. Around 100,000 non-native bulbs are planted in spring. Annuals, cherry trees and azaleas are featured prominently. The warmer temperature means that the plants, shrubs and some really large trees start sprouting earlier, and retain leaves and blooms longer than in other parts of the garden. Plants which might not survive the cold outside can also fl ourish in this area. A minor difference in the environment has created a major difference in growing conditions - a different microclimate.”

Susan Ladle, another volunteer, also enjoyed the fi eld trip to the RBG, “I was impressed by their efforts to restore the wet land vegetation beside the creek and dismayed by all they have stacked against them such as the law suit after the death of the child caused by the falling tree and the claim for damages after the outbreak of food poisoning. Their rose garden was a credit to them after such a ‘cruel for gardens’ summer and even if the jazz wasn’t working as well as it might to attract more visitors, they were making an effort. I feel that the province should be prepared to save such a treasure but that it (the garden) is in danger of failing completely unless some plan for joining up the various pieces is found and acted on soon.”ABC’s of the VSPsLast edition of the newsletter ended off with the letter “O” for the ABC’s of the VSPs. Let’s switch to the scientifi c names of some plants to continue the alphabet…

Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple): If you happen to be strolling through woodlands or openings you may see this mini green umbrella-like plant from the Barberry family. In the crotch of the two deeply divided leaves is a single waxy white fl ower with six to nine petals. This plant blooms in spring between April and June and in later summer a pale yellow berry appears. May Apple berries

are toxic initially but are edible when ripe and can be made into jelly. This plant grows to 1.5ft (45cm) and likes deep shade to fi ltered sunlight.

Quercus velutina (Black Oak). This medium sized tree likes to grow on clay hillsides, sandy rock ridges and slopes and also in pure sands. Black Oaks grow to 50-80ft or 15-24m and have an open spreading crown. The leaves are elliptical with 7-9 lobes which are either shallow or deep and narrow ending in a few bristle-tipped teeth. The leaves are yellow-

green with brown hairs below and shiny green on top and in the fall they turn a brown or a dull red. The bark is dark gray on the outside and the inner bark is yellow or orange. The inner bark use to be a source of medicine, tannin and yellow dye for cloth the bark was dried and pounded to a powder and the dye was extracted.

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan): In the summer and early fall you will see this cheerful native wildfl ower on the Tablelands of High Park between the playing fi elds and the Grenadier Café and Teahouse. It has long-lasting yellow blooms with dark centres that attract bees and butterfl ies. Black-eyed Susans grow in dry fi elds, roadsides,

open woods and waste places. This hardy plant can thrive in gravelly or sandy nutrient-poor soils and can withstand long periods of drought. This native wildfl ower grows to 1-3ft (30-90cm) and has leaves and stems of these that are very bristly and hairy.

References:

Royal Botanical Gardens website, www.rbg.ca

Little, Elbert L. 1996. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Eastern Region. Alfred A. Knopf Inc.

Dickinson, Timothy, Deborah Metsger, Jenny Bull and Richard Dickinson 2004. The ROM Field Guide to Wildfl owers of Ontario. McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto

Johnson, Lorraine. 1999. 100 Easy-to-grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens. Denise Schon Books Inc., Whitecap Books, Toronto

Peterson, Roger Tory and Margaret McKenny. 1968. A Field Guide to Wildfl owers of Northeastern and North-central North America. Houghton Miffl in Co., Boston

May ApplePhoto Credit: Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS Plants Database

Black OakPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Black-eyed SusanPhoto Credit: Unknown@ USDA-NRCS Plants Database

Page 10

Children’s Events: Annual Pumpkin FloatBy High Park Correspondent

The annual Pumpkin Float was held on October 30th at the splash pad at the north end of the Park. The weather was great and a good time was had by all. Proceeds go toward the maintenance of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground.

Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto ProgramsBy Keely Forth, Recreationist

Despite the heat this summer the Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs had another successful season of children’s programming, not to mention the over 300 lbs of vegetables produced by the High Park Children’s Garden. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, the garden received suffi cient water and care to not only survive but thrive, producing vast quantities of okra, zucchini, tomatoes and much more. We concluded the season with the ever-popular Harvest Festival, where we saw over 1,000 community members!

At this year’s festival, we hosted many special guests who volunteered their time and talents. This included a shadow puppet show by Me and My Shadows, storytelling with Norman Perrin, music by Dave Misener, nature arts and crafts by the Nature Centre, First Nations’ art and storytelling by the Buffalo Jump Artist Collective and seed balls, garden tours and other garden activities with our staff and volunteers. To top it all off, an organic garden harvest lunch was served, featuring our famous tomatillo soup, harvest tomato soup, pumpkin soup, quinoa and black bean salad, pesto pasta salad, fall cabbage salad and a fall fruit crisp overfl owing with apples. As every dish incorporated local, organic vegetables, we feel we have contributed in our own way to education about eating locally, stepping lightly on the earth, and offering health and nutrition in the community.

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers and community

members who helped to make this season so successful. Without your help and support it would be a lot more diffi cult to offer the variety of programs and events that we provide. We will be holding a thank you gathering for our staff and volunteers in December to recognize their contributions to the Programs.

Now that the garden has been put to rest for the season, it is time for us to start planning for next year. Watch for the release of the Spring/Summer 2006 Toronto Fun Guide in late February for upcoming programs. Remember, keep your hands in the dirt and your hiking shoes on…

CHILDREN’S GARDEN

Pumpkin FloatPhoto Credit: Ron Allan

Child enjoying vegetablesPhoto Credit: Keely Forth

Children enjoying craftsPhoto Credit: Keely Forth

Page 11

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTSNATURE CENTRE

Autumn Adventuresin High ParkBy Diana Teal, Nature Centre Co-ordinator

This fall, 675 participants visited the Nature Centre to participate in a variety of hands-on environmental education programs. Beautiful, warm autumn weather and a spectacular show of fall colours made the park a perfect destination for school trips and family outings.

50 students took part in our “Hawkwatch” program, made possible by the continued help and support of the King of the Hawks himself, Don Barnett. Don also enlisted the support of the Toronto Bird Observatory’s Richard Joos, who presented a workshop on migratory bird banding to visiting students.

As part of our Fall Planting Program, 178 students worked hard to restore the understorey of the park’s black oak savannah by planting 212 native wildfl owers and grasses. Students also had the opportunity to become a “Botanist for a Day”, watch chipmunks and squirrels prepare for winter and discover the difference between a red oak and a black oak. 225 students searched high and low for rare black oak acorns while taking part in our “Nuts about Seeds” seed collection program. We found many acorns but discovered that only 4 were viable after fl oat testing them! It sure isn’t easy being an acorn…or a black oak.

Two new programs introduced this fall were well received by teachers and students. 130 students explored science and mythology while learning how and why leaves change colour in our “Changing of the Leaves” program. Through our new “People and Plants: Past and Present” program, 70 students learned how native people, early settlers and wildlife depended and continue to depend on the plants and trees of High Park for survival during the winter months. Zoe Fitzgerald, nature interpreter extraordinaire, designed and taught both of these excellent programs.

In addition to our curriculum-based programs for schools, we were able to offer two family-based programs throughout the fall months. 12 pre-school children and their parents took part in our 6-week “Knee-High Naturalists Tuesday Afternoon Club” program. 14 children participated in our 8-week “Saturday Morning Naturalist Club for Kids” and are so excited about their experience that we have decided to offer another session of the club this winter. To facilitate this program and other weekend programs, we hired Beti Stefanec as our part-time nature interpreter. Beti comes to the Nature Centre with 6 years of experience in Environmental and Outdoor Education. We are delighted to have her on staff.

Running programs this fall would not have been possible without the help of our incredible and dedicated volunteer nature interpreters: Neil Shore, Sarah Halonen, Marnie

McCourty, Patrizia Danielle and Mike Montanera. We are also pleased to host Emily Summers, our co-op student from Humberside Collegiate Institute. Emily has been working hard, assisting with teaching and program preparation.

I am already dreaming of chickadees eating sunfl ower seeds out of my hand and going on long snowshoe hikes after a big winter storm. Winter is on its way and we are excited about it! The Nature Centre will be offering several holiday workshops for families in December, including Holiday Wildcrafting, Decorating a Holiday Tree for the Birds and a Winter Solstice Party. During the Winter Break, we will offer a “Winter Adventures” program in partnership with Colborne Lodge as well as programs for local day care groups. Girl Guide programs will be offered on Saturdays throughout the winter months. School programs will resume on January 9, 2006 and our Saturday Morning Club will resume on January 7th, 2006.

Donations Needed! The Nature Centre is still in need of an old blender for a papermaking activity we would like to incorporate into our programming. In addition, we require scrap wood and water-based paint to make some improvements to the interior of the Nature Centre. Please give us a call at 416-392-1748 ext.6 or send us an email at: naturecentre@hpicharity.org.

Autumn LeavesPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 12

HIGH PARK COMMITTEES

Built Environment and Safety CommitteeBy Paul Hindle

Lott fountain renovationThe GOOD news is that a Purchase Order has been issued to Pine Valley Enterprises to begin work on the renovation of the Lott fountain on the northeast corner of the Park. The BAD news is that the construction won’t begin right away because Works and Environmental Services are going to reconfi gure the intersection of Parkside and Bloor Street in November. Until their work is done, Pine Valley Enterprises will not be able to access the site. Since weather conditions get worse in December and most contractors shut down by the second week for the holidays, this roadwork will probably not be completed until the New Year. I’ll have an update for the next edition of the Newsletter.

Lighting replacementsAnother GOOD news item is that the replacement of all street lighting in the Park is now underway. The lighting contractor is waiting for delivery of the fi xtures, which are expected in another week. There is some shop assembly, but they should be on site and installing them by the 21st of November, if not before.

Grenadier Group Concession #3A number of presentations to the HPCAC Executive, the entire HPCAC and some public meetings have been held by the Offi ceforUrbanism to gather community feedback on proposed changes to the Grenadier Group concessions within High Park and Sunnyside Beach. This is viewed as a long-term, 5-year project with the main focus right now on building Concession #3 at the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground.

The Grenadier Group/Offi ceforUrbanism project addresses the following goals:

• Public Accessibility• Respect for the natural environment• Safety• Connecting High Park to the Waterfront, the surrounding

neighborhoods and the City• Diversity - different spaces for different people• Remembering the Past – connecting to the history of the

area

A prime objective of these consultations is to identify the key stakeholders, people interested in contributing ideas and keen to get involved with the process. At the moment, it is not expected that construction would start before next fall, but anyone interested can contact me or the Offi ceforUrbanism at 416-971-7521 or info@offi ceforurbanism.com for more information.

Natural Environment Committee - UpdateBy Karen Yukich

Our August 31 meeting focused on a proposed stormwater management project on the west shore of Grenadier Pond, just north of Ellis Avenue and the Queensway, where there is currently a small inlet and infl ow from West Pond. Works and Emergency Services is planning to create a constructed wetland on this site. Runoff from Ellis Avenue will also be treated, and a related project is planned for West Pond. The purpose is to substantially reduce the amount of contaminants fl owing into Grenadier Pond from this source. The project is expected to start this winter.

In September, Karen Yukich took part in a Burn Site Tour along with Urban Forestry staff and the burn management consultants. The purpose was to review results of previous prescribed burns and plan future burns. Progress was noted in a number of management plots, as well as continuing challenges (e.g., resprouting buckthorn). The tour group reviewed a draft report on oak regeneration prepared by Uyen Dias of Urban Forestry. This recorded a number of sites where young oaks have sprouted, especially in areas somewhat shaded by shrubs – including the otherwise unwelcome buckthorn! The burn consultant, Fred Bruin, emphasized the need for long-term thinking and commented that oak trees survive much better if grown on site from acorns (or possibly very young seedlings) rather than being transplanted as trees.

At our September 29 meeting we reviewed a draft proposal for the Bioisland project (a method of growing oak trees in the more manicured areas of the park). We also discussed the urgent need to protect certain rare plants along Spring Creek. Cara Webster reported that the Forestry restoration crew has done some maintenance of the recent planting on the south shore of Grenadier Pond, including weeding and watering the plantings. Goldenrod was not disturbed as it is heavily used by migrating monarchs. (While somewhat aggressive, goldenrod is not a serious concern – it is often confused with ragweed, the true allergy culprit of late summer.)

Monarchs nectaring on Canada Goldenrod,south shore of Grenadier PondPhoto Credit: Bob Yukich

Page 13

COLBORNE LODGE

Colborne Lodge EventsBy Cheryl Hart, Supervisor, Colborne Lodge

Autumn is a beautiful time in the Park and it is a very active time at Colborne Lodge, beginning with the annual High Park Harvest Festival. Traditionally this event enjoys beautiful weather and this year was no exception, with sunny skies and temperatures well above normal. The Lodge, home of this decades-long event, offers a number of historically based activities such as 19th century cooking and foods, horse and wagon rides, music and traditional games. But the festival is much more than just a historic celebration as it also includes craft tables, a very popular native plant sale and a number of activities at the nearby Children’s Garden. The festival is held on the fi rst Sunday in October (except when the fi rst Sunday falls on Thanksgiving weekend) - mark the date on your calendar and be sure to attend next year!

For the second year, the Lodge hosted Haunted High Park tours on the weekend before

Halloween. Participants take part in a lantern-lit tour of the grounds and candle-lit tours inside the house, and hear about ghost stories and legends associated with High Park and Colborne Lodge. It is a unique opportunity to experience the Park and the museum at night in a safe, albeit spooky, atmosphere.

Fall is also a busy time for school groups, particularly for Grade 4 classes taking part in our cooperative Habitats and Humanities program with the Toronto Urban Studies Centre. The groups spend the entire day in the Park exploring issues of plant and animal habitats. They also visit Colborne Lodge to get a fi rst-hand look at how the Howards built their 19th century habitat to meet their similar needs for shelter and nutrition.

Christmas is great time to visit the Lodge. Rooms are decorated in the Victorian style, warm cider is simmering on the wood stove and 19th century sweets are served. Following are the many ways to enjoy this warm and cozy atmosphere. Parents – if you are looking for activities for your children while school is out, see below for Trimmings workshops the weekend before Christmas and the Winter Workshops held by the Lodge and the High Park Nature Centre the fi rst week in January.

Christmas in the ParkNovember 26 to January 8Tuesdays to Sundays - Noon to 4 p.m.; Dec 24 & 31 - Noon to 3 p.m.Tour charming Colborne Lodge while it is decorated in the Victorian style for the season. Learn about the Christmas traditions enjoyed during the mid-19th century in Toronto. Enjoy a warm beverage and a traditional Christmas treat. Holiday admission prices apply, Adults $5.50, Seniors and Youths $4 and Children $3.50

Christmas Trimmings Workshops for ChildrenDecember 17 or 18 – 10 to 11:30 a.m.Drop off your 6 - 12 year old children at Colborne Lodge where they can make their own traditional Christmas ornaments and tour the decorated parts of the house. Participants needing to purchase gifts will fi nd many affordable items in the gift shop including a 10% discount on selected items. Pre-payment is required; $12.50 fee includes materials, instruction and light refreshments.

High Park Winter WorkshopsTuesday to Friday, January 3 to 6 - 9 a.m. to Noon Colborne Lodge and the Nature Centre are offering four mornings of good fun, wintery adventures for kids (ages 6 - 10 years). Locations alternate over the four days and parents may book any or all mornings. Pre-payment is required. $15 per child per day. Parents booking both sites will enjoy a 15% discount. Call Colborne Lodge to register (416-392-6916).

Family Baking ClassesSaturday Feb 11 and 25 - 1 to 3 p.m.Adults and children prepare historic recipes together in the 19th century kitchen.Pre-payment is required, $15 per person.

Harvest Festival HorsesPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Harvest Festival ApplesPhoto Credit: Lisa Kemp

Page 14

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

High Park is YOUR park. Here are some ways you can get involved …

Volunteer Stewardship Program Do hands-on restoration work (planting,

seed collecting, weeding, etc) Adopt-a-Plot on the Oak Savannah

Park Watch

Patrol the park to provide information

to the public and report safety concerns

Walking Tours Assist in arranging walking tours on

the park’s human and natural history Be a tour host or leader

Fundraising Events and Programs

Organize fundraising activities

(e.g., Moonlight Madness outdoor films) Prepare funding proposals and develop

funder relations

Children’s Events Organize special events for children

(e.g., Pumpkin Float, Winter Fun Day)

HYPE – High Park Youth connecting People

and the Environment Support high school students doing

restoration work in the park

K-9 Committee Promote responsible dog ownership in

the High Park community

High Park Nature Centre Help staff develop, promote and deliver

outdoor education programs

Natural Environment Committee

Plan and review restoration projects Contribute to ongoing research

Built Environment & Safety Committee

Plan and review improvements to park infrastructure

High Park Community Advisory Council Provide community input into overall park

management

High Park Initiatives Manage funding, facilities and paid staff for

various HPI/HPCAC programs and projects

Special Projects

Organize a community planting event Compile a photo bank for High Park

Write an article for High Park News … and many more!

You have a lot to give and a lot to gain!

For more information on High Park programs and volunteer opportunities

VISIT www.highpark.org & www.hpicharity.org

CALL 416-392-1748 (HPCAC) or 416-600-4474 (HPI)

SIGN UP Email info@highpark.org to get on the general High Park email list

You can also request mailings on specific programs/committees

Page 15

HIGH PARK FINAL THOUGHTSHIGH PARK INITIATIVES

Page 16