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

• Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a versatile vegetable known for its rich, slightly smoky flavour and meaty texture. It is a staple in dishes such as ratatouille, baba ganoush, and eggplant parmesan. In cooler climates like Canada, eggplants are typically started indoors before being transplanted to the garden after the risk of frost has passed. They thrive in warm, sunny conditions and require well-drained soil to produce their signature glossy fruits.
   
• Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is a striking, architectural plant related to the artichoke. Its thick, celery-like stalks have a slightly bitter, nutty flavour and are often blanched before being used in stews, gratins, or braised dishes. In Canada, cardoons need a long growing season and benefit from early indoor sowing. Once established, they are both a culinary and ornamental highlight in the garden, attracting pollinators with their beautiful thistle-like flowers.
   
• Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is a nutritious leafy green known for its vibrant, colourful stems and mild, earthy taste. It is commonly used in sautés, soups, and salads, offering a slightly sweet and slightly bitter flavour profile. Unlike spinach, Swiss chard is more heat-tolerant and can be grown throughout the warmer months in Canada. It is a hardy plant that can be harvested continuously by picking outer leaves while allowing the inner ones to grow.