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durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday, April 14, 2022 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Anne Beswick Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM LETTERS & COMMENTARY It was like a little blast of sunshine, the glad report and picture Rosemary Barnard emailed me, of winter aconites blooming in her yard, even before snowdrops. Those tiny golden buttercups aren't native to Canada, but I can understand why immigrants from overseas would bring along bulbs to plant in their gardens, spring flowers so early they often poke up through the snow. Balm for winterweary souls and food for hungry pollinators. That was a month ago, weeks during which native pussy willow buds have swelled, covered with soft silver fur to protect them from the cold -- another harbinger of spring. Then they got on with blooming, turning into little yellow catkins, named from an old Dutch word for kitten, katteken. As yards and gardens start to glow with sunny daffodils and forsythias, not to mention bright bits of gold across the ground from dandelions and colts foot, we get ready for the main attraction: spring bursting forth in a rainbow of other colours, including 40 shades of green. After feasting your eyes on deep blue hyacinths and gaudy red tulips, and oohing and ahhing over creamy pink magnolias, be sure to look higher still, at other trees in bloom. Red maples, for example, just about the earliest to flower. Native in wet woods and upland forests throughout eastern North America, they're so attractive as a shade tree they're commonly planted in urban areas. Red leaves in fall, red twigs in winter and red flowers in spring make the species aptly named. And very early on, before any leaves unfold, those fat red buds open into fuzzy clusters, glazing the branches with colour. Silver maples, close relatives of red maples, bloom early as well, their clusters yellowish-green. Look closely at the flowers of both to admire their intricate form, and check how those "helicopter" winged seeds develop, spinning to the earth in early summer. American elms are other early flowering trees, and enough survive along Durham's rural roadsides to capture attention with their dramatic trunks and stately spreading crowns. The small red-green flowers droop in clusters on long stems and start developing into fruit before any leaves emerge. Carried out from around the mother tree by the wind, the flat, paper-covered seeds may germinate and sprout by early summer, generously spreading these iconic trees along fence rows. And don't forget service berries, small woodland trees that bloom so early their dense showy petals create clouds of white against a still-grey wintery landscape. Nature queries: mcarney1490@gmail.com or 905-725-2116. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at exploring the great outdoors. SIGNS OF THE SEASON HAVE STARTED TO APPEAR MARGARET CARNEY NOTES 'THE MAIN ATTRACTION' IS STILL TO COME MARGARET CARNEY Column Pussy willows are among the early signs that spring has arrived, notes columnist Margaret Carney. A native plant, she says the buds are 'covered with soft silver fur to protect them from the cold.' Also look for daffodils and forsythias. And Margaret reminds us that trees bloom and flower as well. Look up to see, for example, red maple flowers. Mike McEvoy photo PUSSY WILLOWS WHY CAN'T PICKERING FAMILY MOVE HOME? To the editor: Re: Woman evicted from home in Pickering she's lived in for 48 years. It is such a sad story that the house is being demolished instead of trying to save it by taking the Puders up on their offer to have the house moved at their expense, for crying out loud. Why wouldn't the province or the City of Pickering (whoever had possession of the home at the time) take them up on that offer? It wasn't like it was gonna cost the province or city anything. In fact, it might have saved them the cost of the demolition. It is so sad that the authorities feel the need to demolish so many good homes that, in this case in particular, have been very well cared for and not left to rot. I feel for this family and have nothing but shame and anger for whatever authority decided to deny the request to move the home, for whatever reason. PHYLISS WELLS, AJAX ERIN O'TOOLE WAS RIGHT RE COALITION To the editor: I don't often comment on political matters here but fair is fair and truth is truth. Following the most recent federal election, our MP and former opposition leader, Erin O'Toole, implied that the Liberals and NDP were, effectively, a coalition. The leaders of both of those parties vehemently denied the accusation and severely castigated Mr. O'Toole for the allegation. By any other name, a coalition is a coalition and that's precisely what he have today, an agreement that will allow this government to stand until 2025, regardless of the issues. That is not what the people voted for and democracy has been defeated, as parliament is being rigged to prop up Mr. Trudeau's party. I'm waiting for the apologies from Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Singh to Mr. O'Toole. Mr. Singh, in a recent TV interview, admitted that such a pact with Mr. Trudeau had been discussed, behind closed doors, for a very long time. LARRY WOOD, BOWMANVILLE SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT DURHAMREGION.COM