A Leafy Legacy (Page 3)

The Macdonald Engineering Building PHOTO: Max Stiebel, ARR

Lasting Results

While the ice storm of 1998 took its toll on McGill trees, planting and tree care on campus continues, even though the trees have not been spared the budget woes that have affected all University life. Still, John Watson at the arboretum explains that the trees there fared better than most in the ice storm because they are well managed, healthy and strong, and damage was limited mainly to the sugarbush.

Director of the School of Architecture David Covo, BSc(Arch)'71, BArch'74, chairs McGill's Gardens and Grounds Committee, and his group continues to oversee the planting of trees on the downtown campus. They know the presence of trees in the lives of the University community will make them realize how special the benevolent giants and wiry saplings can be. Covo often sees that rapport of humankind and nature when he is out on the campus grounds.

	Strolling in the Morgan Arboretum. PHOTO: Owen Egan

"Last spring," says Covo, "when I was out with my hammer and stakes, marking out the places for the nursery staff, many people stopped. It's then you discover how many people have favourite places. We're trying to maximize the opportunity for people to develop just such favourite places.

"Every time we plant, we say: 'This isn't time-consuming, it's not expensive and the results are there for a long, long time."

Bronwyn Chester is Associate Editor of the McGill Reporter.

Donating a tree to the Macdonald or downtown campus of McGill is relatively inexpensive for such a long-term investment. For a tax-deductible $50 to $300 donation, a tree may be planted to mark a class anniversary, to honour a favourite professor or to commemorate a significant event. For instance, McGill students planted a tree on McTavish Street (at left)to memorialize the women killed in the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. The price of the planting depends not on the type of tree but on the plaque involved, at least on the downtown campus. Mac has given up on plaques because of the havoc they raise for those cutting the lawns and because, in development officer Greg Weil's words, "the place begins to look like a cemetery." Weil would, however, like to see some kind of map or walking tour established where the name of the tree and the person it honours are indicated. The downtown campus also faces the conundrum of how and where to place the plaques so that they are visible, not in the way and not prone to being stolen, but the Gardens and Grounds Committee continues with placing them. Some words of warning. Don't be surprised if neither Peter Knox, manager of facilities management at Macdonald Campus, nor David Covo, Chair of the Gardens and Grounds Committee, plants the tree of your choice in the spot of your choice. Generally speaking, they know what tree is needed where and will present options from which the donor can choose. Peter Knox may be reached at 514-398-7720 and David Covo at 514-398-6763.