- Lining the north side of Bain Ave.
- Photo: © Michael Pereira
Standing along Bain Avenue like giant sentinels are a row of 5 London plane trees (Platanus X acerifolia). Some of the largest in the city, these trees were planted as part of the original landscaping when the apartments were constructed in the early 20th century, making them nearly a century old. The London plane tree is a hybrid between the Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) and the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). One of this tree's most defining characteristics is its multi-coloured bark, which results from it peeling off in plates as a form of continuous renewal. This aids the tree's resistance to airborne pollution by preventing the pores from becoming clogged. The canopies of these London planes spread over 70 feet cooling the street, apartments and people below. The beauty of the London plane has inspired strong emotions; for instance, Handel dedicated his famous song Largo to the tree.
- Next stop: Towering Carolina poplar
- Previous stop: White pine memories
- Return to map of: Bain Co-operative
Funding for the program is generously provided by:
