Well, it鈥檚 springtime in Saskatchewan!聽 After the mixed bag of weather last week, our gardens will be hardy for whatever comes our way!
One thing we noticed was how the trees seemed to leaf out almost overnight.聽 What a glorious sight to see, those delicate green leaves after a long, stark winter landscape.
Trees are something we quite often take for granted in our garden landscape.聽 Some friends moved to a new house, and within weeks of moving there, were planning on taking out several of the major trees in the yard.聽 My urging may have fallen on deaf ears, but I suggested that they wait a year before taking such a drastic step.
Why?聽 It makes sense to go through the seasons and see what effect the trees have in the yard.聽 If they are diseased or dangerously close to the house structure, that鈥檚 one thing.聽 But if they are nicely set in the landscape, my thoughts are to 鈥渨ait and see鈥�.
It鈥檚 important to see how the trees block the wind in winter, or shade the house in summer.聽 Trees provide a surprising block of traffic noise.聽 They make the air cooler around a house.聽 If the tree is on a slope, it protects the earth from eroding away.聽 And of course, they provide a habitat for a variety of birds all year long, and taking that away can make a yard surprisingly desolate.
You may have read, once upon a time, about Arbor Day.聽 Arbor Day began in 1872 in Nebraska, but was championed in many places, including Canada, in the following years.聽 In Canada, it began in Quebec in 1883, and since then has been important recognition of the benefits of trees.聽
Trees give us a bounty of gifts:聽 cleaner air, provide oxygen, provide food, give shade, shelter for wildlife, reduce wind speed and cool the air, prevent soil erosion, and provide material for shelter.聽 Did you know that a mature tree will remove almost fifty pounds of carbon dioxide from the air, and give us fresh oxygen instead?聽 Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four.聽 And we haven鈥檛 even begun to talk about how trees beautify not only our yards and gardens, but our towns and cities.
聽Arbor Day 2021 will be proclaimed starting Friday, May 28 and then Arbor Week will continue until June 6.聽 Whether you plant a tree on your own or as part of a group, this event creates an awareness of the importance of trees.
If your garden or yard has the space, consider planting a tree, or even a shrub, during Arbor Week.聽 Do it to beautify your yard, attract the birds, provide delicious fruit in future years, or as a remembrance of someone dear.聽 Your yard will take on a whole new dimension with a stunning new tree.
It鈥檚 hard to believe that we have not met in more than a year, but the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society is still not having meetings.聽 We had a Zoom meeting last week, and everyone certainly misses getting together to exchange garden ideas. But for now, please check out our website at and see interesting garden photos and news.
Thank you to our friends at Yorkton This Week for their continued excellence in bringing us local news.聽 Let鈥檚 pray for health for all and good gardening weather ahead.聽 Have a great week!
