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Bringing green to the concrete under our feet

PATRICIA CHISHOLM

Special to The Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 6:39 PM EDT 28/11/07

Problem: Too little room for trees to grow in downtown Toronto. Solution: An artificial forest of undulating umbrellas? ...Read the full article

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  1. Ozzy Rules The World! from Canada writes: Any improvement is a good thing. Smog keeps me from wanting to even go there..maybe someday I will.
  2. Michael Sharp from Island Paradise, Canada writes:

    She's a big old stinky city is our Toronto.

    But we love her nonetheless.

    Too bad about the stink, though.

    Hard to do something about big and old, but stink?

    How embarassing!

    Rock on Toronto, we love you.
  3. Coffee..Just give me Coffee from Toronto, Canada writes: Toronto? Stinky? Your "Island Paradise" dumps an average of 129 million liters of raw sewage into the Juan De Fuca Strait EVERY DAY. Now that is what I call stinky. You sure you want to sail in that?
  4. Michael Sharp from Island Paradise, Canada writes: Coffee..Just give me Coffee from Toronto:

    I sail in it everychance I get.

    You couldn't build a machine to do what the Strait of juan de Fuca does.

    As long as it's organic, it's scientifically viable, just like Global Warming is scientifically viable.

    Ethically?

    Well, who's to say?
  5. gordon mcpherson from Ottawa, Canada writes: Odd, not a mention of fountains. Some great cities I've been to like Madrid with its Don Quiote fountain or Rome's Trevi fountain are interesting, cooling attractions where people and tourists congregate or take a break for pictures. Perhaps to overcome the underground infrastructure, elevate the earthworks above ground level high enough for roots to grow and use an auto-watering system creating a parklike setting with low walls surrounding the trees or shrubs for sitting on or adding built in stone benches within the walls. I have a vision of a Canadian themed fountain having pine trees and evergreens planted on a huge mound framing a giant Voyageur fur trading canoe shooting rapids, water gushing beneath and dozens of small beavers carrying the canoe over the frothing water...perhaps overlooking Lake Ontario. This might even be built in Ottawa looking along the Ottawa River where the voyageurs passed on their way to western Canada leaving Quebec and Lachine in Montreal above the Lachine Rapids. Good luck!
  6. gordon mcpherson from Ottawa, Canada writes: I'm back!...for you architects, landscapers, city councillors and decision makers check out this web site:
    http://www.fountainsinthecity.com/visit/europe_a-e.html
  7. S C from Canada writes: An artificial forest of undulating umbrellas?

    Can anyone say ugly. Not worth the money when the city can't manage its current spending.
  8. Michael Sharp from Island Paradise, Canada writes:

    "An artificial forest of undulating umbrellas?"

    How about potted trees?

    This is just about the silliest thread on here.

    Artificial forests vs. potted trees.
    Asphalt and ground glass.
    Do something about the waterfront.
    Smog alerts.

    I may be 2500 miles from there but it's obvious to me that you guys have no imagination.
    None whatsoever.
  9. gordon mcpherson from Ottawa, Canada writes: ...to Michael Sharpe's comment..."Do something about the waterfront"...now Mikey, that's what I call imagination...I think you are still stuck in a west coast fog buddy! Just for you Toronto should build a world class golf course on the waterfront, how's that...you may even get to invite Tiger Woods to play there...now that's imagination..."Ya, do something about the waterfront"...ya, eh! Hey maybe we'll grow some west coast 'shrooms to finance da deal...ya dats imagination eh Mikey?
  10. Col. Akula from Sanity, Canada writes: I fail to see why potted trees cannot be planted. Seems a little stupid to disscount the possibility in lieu of some garish "Modern" art piece?

    The truth is that there is lots of room. Our rooftops can be laid with soild and gardens can be planted.

    Every little bit helps.

    And NO Toronto does not stink. That is such a childish attitude,.
  11. Michael Sharp from Island Paradise, Canada writes:

    Col. Akula from Sanity, Canada:

    Toronto may not stink, I've never actually smelled it so I can't actually lay claim to any working knowledge of it's odiferous qualities but smog alerts must assail the nostrils somewhat or am I mistaken?

    Luv ya T.O.

    Rock on!
  12. Rui Pires Martins from Detroit, United States writes: unless i missed something, the point of this exercise was to introduce green, or its functional equivalent into the core of the city, where root systems cannot grow sufficiently to sustain a tree for more than several years (hence why potted or planted trees don't address the issue). i applaud the idea of introducing solar power into the downtown, but the aesthetic...yeesh. not in my hometown...not if i have a say!
  13. Jennifer Pidgen from Canada writes: I really love the idea of this design. Trees need a lot of space to grow and pots wouldn't work and this offers a similar feel add the fact that we could collect solar energy. (as a side bar we should be doing that more on MANY of our city surfaces!) I don't think they would be an eyesore at all, if anything, it would be an interesting "art" installation.
  14. Michael Sharp from The Salish Sea, Canada writes:

    3 months later and the majority of posts are from some idiot in Victoria.

    I'm sure glad to see there is a lot of dialogue re: fixing Toronto.

    I don't like your chances.
  15. admore inches from Toronto, Canada writes: Michael Sharp, no, you don't need attention, do you?

    Try going up the stairs from your parents basement, walk out the front door, and try meeting people. Go on, you can do it. Don't be scared.
  16. Michael Sharp from Victoria BC, Canada writes:

    admore inches from Toronto says try meeting people.

    I've met you, admore.

    It was unpleasant.
  17. Carl White from Canada writes: Any real greenery would be better than none at all.

    Why not put out small trees in large pots? When the trees start to get too big, remove them, soil and all so as to not disturb the roots, and plant them somewhere. Then put out more small trees in the pots once they're returned?

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