Beauty finalists for The Great Toronto Tree Hunt

All trees are beautiful in their own way and have been an inspiration to artists for centuries. We asked people to show off their photography skills by capturing the beauty of their favourite Toronto tree in their own creative way. Here are the 10 finalists who did just that:

Bragging Rights - Edith George

This tree is approximately 125-years-old as per the two arborists that examined the tree.  In fact an arborist from Ohio, U.S.A. came up to Toronto to specifically examine this tree. This photo was taken on June 24, 2015 when the tree was in full bloom.  It took my breath away as it does everyone else’s when you walk on Davenport Road. When the Catalpa flowers the we know that spring has come!

Camperdown Elm - Mount Pleasant Group

It doesn’t get any more awesome than this... a Camperdown Elm in fall foliage.

Cedarvale’s Sakura - Alana

This stunning Sakura tree is one of twelve donated by the Japanese Consolate to my mother, Claire Rodger, founder of the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden. This tree stands at the Garden’s entrance where, for fifteen years, the mission statement has been to teach cultural diversity through biodiversity.

Cherry Blossoms - Robert Elliot
High Park’s Cherry Blossoms bring people together to witness their beauty. Trips are made just to bask in the sun and enjoy the sights - something that happens far too rarely in a bustling city. Fluffy white flowers against a bright blue sky, perfect to lie under and watch the pollinators and birds whizzing by.

Cherry Tree in Little Italy - Rondi Adamson
Our tree is beautiful because he tells his own story: “I was born in Little Italy, in 2006, a more innocent time for our city. I knew from the start that I wanted to be an inspiration to the man who planted me, and later to his lady friend, as they looked down from their home office windows, searching for respite after hours of soul-crushing boredom in front of a computer screen. And while even in the dead of winter, I try to provide uplift -- reaching my blossom-free branches to the grey skies above -- it is in the springtime when I say the most. I mean, just take a look at me in this picture (taken by one of my humans from their attic window): all those blossoms on the front path say, ‘The folks who live here don’t do much yard work.’ And that orange pylon in front of me says, ‘The city hasn’t yet sent anyone to fix the part of the front path they wrecked while fixing the sidewalk.’ Mostly what this picture says is that a certain someone didn’t get her act together soon enough to photograph me in full bloom. Man, had she done that, I’d have this ‘beautiful tree’ contest won, branches down.”

Felicity - Pantea Beikzadeh
Tree blossoms only happen once a year and usually last for a very short amount of time. It is nice to capture their beauty and essence while they last. A beautiful reminder to experience and enjoy life to the fullest while it’s happening.

Great Willow of Fort York - Rui Felix
The wide open landscape of Fort York allows for an impressive dance between the branches of this large Willow and the wind to occur. Planted right beside the berm and wall of Fort York children love to run up and touch the tree and be amongst the weeping branches and leaves. Great for kids that might not be able to or have never climbed a tree to be able to get that close and personal.

Mario’s Oak Tree - Rose Tavelli
My brother Mario was tall, expansive and loved the sun, just like this oak tree. He was my playmate and buddy growing up and a warm and fearless soul. Mario never got to visit Canada before he passed away in Australia a couple of years ago so I scattered his ashes under this oak tree. I pass it on my daily walks and regard Mario and the tree as one - a beautiful timeless spirit.

Over the Edge - Assaf Weisz
 Toronto is a city defined by pushing edges. From amalgamation, to the blurring of the lines between cultures, to its transformation from a sleepy city to a hub of innovation and boundary breaking, we are increasingly a city that leans over to see what’s on the other side. This tree evokes our willingness to stand out in front, take risks, and peer just a little bit further.

The Beauty & Destruction of Ice - Michelle Williamson
One of our Christmas family traditions is to visit the Centennial Park Conservatory on Christmas Eve. The Ice Storm hit in 2013 and the entire city was encased in ice but we still fulfilled our tradition. As we were leaving, I caught sight of this tree completely covered in ice, with the sun setting behind it. Despite the bitter cold, I quickly took a few shots!

Source By: http://www.yourleaf.org/blog/jaclyn-corneil/2015-06-17/beauty-finalists-great-toronto-tree-hunt