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 July's arrival, these edible plants come into play:

• Hazelnut shrubs produce tasty, protein-rich nuts that are excellent for snacking, baking, or making nut butters. These hardy shrubs thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, and they also support local biodiversity. Canadian gardeners should choose cold-tolerant varieties and plant more than one cultivar for cross-pollination. With proper care, hazelnuts will begin bearing within 3–5 years.
   
• Grapes are vigorous climbing vines that produce juicy clusters ideal for fresh eating, juice, jelly, or wine-making. Hardy cultivars such as 'Valiant' and 'Frontenac' are well-suited to Canadian climates. Grapevines need full sun, good air circulation, and a sturdy trellis or arbor. They benefit from annual pruning to encourage healthy growth and fruit production.
   
• Wild garlic, also known as ramps, is a woodland perennial with edible leaves, flowers, and bulbs that offer a pungent garlic-onion flavour. It thrives in shaded, moist soil and naturalises easily in forested or shady garden areas. Wild garlic is harvested in early spring and is excellent in pesto, soups, or sautéed as a side dish. Sustainable harvesting is important to maintain healthy colonies.