Communities in Bloom

Climate change is reshaping our cities, towns, and homes, demanding a new approach to urban landscape design and maintenance. While climate change is a global issue, its effects are deeply felt at the local level, where we live, work, and play. Each community must find tailored solutions, developing initiatives to address challenges on its streets, parks and playgrounds, and across all its green spaces.

Now, more than ever, our living landscapes are essential to our collective health and well-being. These thriving green spaces are beautiful and provide places for people to gather, connect, and enjoy the outdoors.

The Power of Urban Green Spaces

Urban green spaces — including gardens, parks, transportation corridors, and woodlands — offer countless benefits to people and wildlife. Our green infrastructure plays a key role in:

• Improving air and water quality

• Reducing the urban heat island effect and limiting the impact of heat waves

• Providing spaces for physical activity and reducing stress

• Enhancing the mental and physical well-being of residents

• Filtering air and water, helping mitigate climate change impacts

• Managing stormwater by slowing and storing excess rainwater, reducing flood risk

By investing in and maintaining our green spaces, communities can create resilient, vibrant environments that benefit people and nature. Communities in Bloom continues to support these efforts, encouraging innovative solutions for a greener, healthier future.

With June's arrival, these edible plants come into play:

• Haskap is a cold-hardy berry shrub known for its early harvest and sweet-tart fruits that resemble elongated blueberries. Native to northern climates, it thrives in Canadian gardens and ripens as early as late spring. Haskap berries are rich in antioxidants and perfect for fresh eating, jams, and baking. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and at least two different cultivars are needed for cross-pollination and optimal fruit set.
   
• Lovage is a perennial herb with a flavour similar to celery, though stronger and more aromatic. It adds depth to soups, stews, and stocks and is prized in traditional European cooking. This robust plant thrives in full sun or partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Hardy in much of Canada, lovage grows tall and returns year after year, making it a low-maintenance yet highly useful addition to herb gardens.
   
• Daylilies are ornamental perennials with beautiful blooms that are also edible. The unopened flower buds and open blooms of common daylily varieties (such as Hemerocallis fulva) have a mildly sweet and slightly peppery taste. They can be sautéed, stuffed, or tossed in salads. These hardy plants thrive in sun or part shade and are extremely tolerant of a variety of soil conditions, making them a striking and practical addition to edible landscapes.