- Front yard of 73 Bartlett St.
- Photo: © Dougal Bichan
This is a young Norway maple (Acer platanoides), a species native to Europe that is often planted in Canadian cities. What is interesting about this specific tree is its unnatural form. Look within the canopy (walk along the driveway and peer in above the trunk) and you will notice that the main branches turn in circles.
When the branches were young and supple, the homeowner, Antonio, who as a child lived in a forested region of Italy, tied them up with wire and string. His intention was to make the tree look like a beautiful woman, you can decide for yourself whether he succeeded.
As the branches aged, their wood grew harder and put on new rings of growth, permanently assuming their uniquely twisted form. This practice of manually directing branch growth is referred to as training.
It is interesting to note that since Antonio has stopped this practice the ends of the branches have reverted to growing in their natural upright form.
- Next stop: Escape from a Siberian hedgerow
- Previous stop: Downtown de-fence
- Return to map of: Dovercourt Park
Funding for the program is generously provided by:
