The choice of species of tree to plant is likely to reflect the parishioners’ preference. However, due consideration must be given to the match between site conditions and species requirements. The information about individual species’ needs is often available at websites of the nurseries or other places (e.g., the University of Guelph Arboretum, https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/thingstosee/trees). For Southcentral Ontario, a complete list of species and their characteristics can be found at https://fgca.net/wp-content/uploads/Spp_InfoTABLE_2021.pdf, and information on individual species.
Although in special cases people grow seedlings from seeds, most tree seedlings are purchased from nurseries. There is no single source and individual nurseries vary in the species, age, price, and availability of seedlings. There are nurseries run by companies, public organization, and individuals in various places.
To maximize the likelihood of successful establishment it is important that the source seeds originate close to the area where they are to be planted. The diocesan parishes are mostly found in hardiness zones 5 to 7 but a more precise location (zubzone or better) should be specified. The website https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-ontario-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php provides a map of hardiness zones in Ontario, and a plant hardiness category for individual Canadian municipalities is provided at http://planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en.
Another consideration in species selection is to avoid invasive species and choose an indigenous one instead. For example, it may be surprising to learn that Norway Maple, a beautiful tree with abundant leaves, is an invasive species but indigenous alternative are available (https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Southern-Grow-Me-Instead-1.pdf).
For a tree to survive and thrive for several decades, resistance to diseases and insect epidemics is also important, given that several invasions took place over the last several decades (https://www.ontario.ca/page/forest-health-pests-diseases-and-severe-weather-conditions, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/wildland-fires-insects-disturbances/top-forest- insects-and-diseases-canada/17607). To the extent possible, this aspect should also be taken into consideration.
With this background, the following are some of the nurseries that produce seedlings of interest in eastern Ontario:
- Pineneedle Farms: https://www.pineneedlefarms.ca/
- Ferguson Tree Nursery: https://www.fergusontreenursery.ca/
- Lemoine Point tree nursery: https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/lemoine-point-nursery
- Conservation Authorities of Ontario: Various authorities operate nurseries from tree seedlings and make them available to others. To find the nursery in your area, link to an interactive map: https://conservationontario.ca/conservation-authorities/find-a-conservation-authority; clicking on a conservation area will yield the location/ address, phone number, email and a website link.
- Natural Themes Native Plants Surgery (Conservation Ontario): http://www.naturalthemes.com/
- Quinte Conservation (Conservation Ontario) : https://www.quinteconservation.ca/en/index.aspx
- Otonabee Conservation (Conservation Ontario) : https://www.otonabeeconservation.com/product-category/tree-seedlings/
- Cataraqui Conservation (Conservation Ontario) : https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/treeplanting?_pos=1&_sid=63b57dad5&_ss=r
- Other Conservation Ontario locations : check your local area programs, using the above link to find the appropriate contacts
- Richardson Farms: https://hrichardsonfarms.com/
- Sommerville Seedlings https://www.treeseedlings.com/about.php
- TreeTime Canada (grown in Alberta): https://treetime.ca/
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