tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941977484506241316.post4321294410955923162..comments2023-03-04T08:48:22.497-05:00Comments on Mary Allen Stories...: Sprucing Up the NeighbourhoodKarl K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15971765120457496207noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941977484506241316.post-31242597510565413152013-01-09T17:08:35.226-05:002013-01-09T17:08:35.226-05:00According to the Arbor Day Foundation website Norw...According to the Arbor Day Foundation website Norway spruces grow in various soils, and are the "fastest growing of the spruces. Develops strong graceful branches that are covered with dark green needles. Ideal windbreaker. Matures at 60'; 25' spread. (zones 3-7)". I imagine they were the tree of choice for those reasons.<br />Tricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941977484506241316.post-77809402971234251812013-01-09T16:20:45.502-05:002013-01-09T16:20:45.502-05:00Thanks for the article, Tricia. Walking though th...Thanks for the article, Tricia. Walking though the neighbourhood today, I counted dozens of Norway spruces - giants, twice as tall as the rooftops. At the very bottom of this blog, see a yesterday/today photo that I just posted of the line of Norway spruces in front of St. Louis Catholic Church; c. 1900, and Jan. 2013<br /><br />In our area a century ago, this species was a very popular choice for planting. Does anyone know the reason for this? Norway spruce are certainly fast-growing and hardy. On farmsteads, these trees were frequently arranged in a line as a windbreak. They were also often planted around newly built churches, and seem to have been popular trees for house lots in our cities and towns. Some lines of them planted on house lots even seem positioned to function as shade from the sun.<br /><br />In May 1897, the Waterloo Chronicle noted that spruce trees (likely Norway spruce) were newly planted in two town park areas, at King and William Streets, and at Albert and Water (Dorset) Streets. This may have been part of the local "beautification" for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations the following month. Today there are still Norway spruce trees in the park at King and William. Karl K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15971765120457496207noreply@blogger.com