Curious Travels

My home is Toronto, and in the summer, I love biking through the city’s trails. Nature here feels alive. The leaves shimmer after a summer rain, and the forests smell rich and earthy.

Southern and eastern Ontario get a healthy amount of precipitation year-round, which supports deep root systems and thick, green forests. Even summer thunderstorms, which roll in fast and leave just as quickly, help keep everything vibrant.

As I became more curious about the trees surrounding me, the first thing I learned was the difference between deciduous and evergreen. Deciduous trees like maples and oaks shed their leaves every fall, while evergreens like white pine and spruce stay green year-round. Ontario’s forests are a mix of both, which creates a rich, layered canopy and dense undergrowth.

Toronto also borders one of the Great Lakes—Lake Ontario—which plays a big role in moderating the climate. The lake helps prevent late frosts, keeps the air humid, and extends the growing season, allowing trees and plants to thrive even deeper into the fall.

Spending time in these green spaces has made me appreciate how alive and diverse Ontario’s ecosystem really is.