Ontario’s Tree Trust celebrates a rare, century-old Cucumber Tree in St. George, honoring one family’s decades of stewardship and the community’s growing love for mature trees.
In recent years, the Ontario government has significantly reduced environmental protection legislation. Increased development with minimal consequences threatens the province’s biodiversity, habitat, and once-protected natural character.
But people are fighting back. Despite the current lack of legislation, environmental communities continue to raise awareness and push their cause. Tree Trust, a not-for-profit, grassroots organization that focuses on mature tree protection, is one of them.
Education, advocacy, and community engagement are Tree Trust’s core values. Based in Elora, Tree Trust launched in 2019 and now extends to 12 communities, with chapters run entirely by volunteers. In addition to offering educational events like tree walks and talks, Tree Trust works with ISA-board-certified arborists committed to improving the health and longevity of mature trees.
Protecting mature trees is essential to urban communities. Many are older than most community members, and these legacy trees offer immediate, irreplaceable benefits to our cities. Increased health and mental well-being, stormwater reduction, climate change mitigation, and economic benefits are all reasons to invest in big trees.
One way Tree Trust does this is by welcoming the province to participate in the Ontario Tree Pageant. This engaging, inviting competition reminds the province that a love of trees goes far beyond the surface. For the past three years, hundreds of nominations have been received, special stories have been shared, and majestic trees have been recognized.
This year’s esteemed panel of judges chose a tree that represents togetherness, a tree that is beloved and highlights a story of community awareness and environmental stewardship. This year’s winner is a Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata), estimated to be over 100 years old, standing tall in St. George.
This year’s winning tree was nominated by St. George resident and artist, Meredyth Kutt. This endangered, Ontario-native specimen stands among many other trees and is over 75 centimeters in diameter. Photo courtesy of Tree Trust.
This tree is being recognized not only for being a unique and endangered species, but also for its history. Researchers at the University of Guelph have studied this individual for its ability to thrive outside its expected range. Some even say it is the farthest west mature Cucumber Tree in Canada.
Beyond its uniqueness, this tree is celebrated as the epitome of environmental and community connection. The Kutt family, the tree’s owners, have stewarded it for over 20 years. They have cultivated a second Cucumber tree and currently support six of the original’s progeny.
This cucumber tree’s story is exactly the kind of stewardship Tree Trust wants to support. The Ontario Tree Pageant gives people a platform to share special stories about trees that mean the most to them. It reminds us how connected we are to nature and that, for all these big trees give us, they deserve to be celebrated.
