When I lived in Toronto, 1997 until 2007, I enjoyed cycling in some of the city's extensive green spaces- along the lakeshore, river valleys etc; One of the more unique areas was the Leslie Spit- Tommy Thompson Park as its officially known.
Originally started as a man-made breakwater to protect Toronto Harbour in Lake Ontario, as that function became less relevant, it became an accidental wild area, then a managed conservation area..
Dumping of construction/demolition rubble etc was continuing still in 2007 to extend the land space and create a secure shoreline on the stormy outer shore of the spit.. some areas are long since planted/established, some areas wer still being surfaced, others still pure rubble.. birds and shore habitat are being monitored and developed in some spots (breeding grounds of cormorants etc out of bounds to the public) and there are numerous plant species- some planted deliberately, others having arrived on their own- I don't know much about which are which!
A couple of websites:
http://www.friendsofthespit.ca/spit_about.htm
http://tommythompsonpark.ca/home/history.dot
I just got photos from one trip there online- after digging for the Argentina/Potentilla photos in another thread.. my knowledge of Ontario wildflowers is poor, since I always lived in downtown Toronto during my time in the province, so any ids or even confirmation of whether plants are native or not would be appreciated! Some of these I have a fair idea, some none!
Full albums here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111492944361897930115/June102007LeslieSpitA
https://picasaweb.google.com/111492944361897930115/June102007LeslieSpitB
Myosotis? or?
Cypripedium- wonder if this was planted? only saw one...
Woodland trails- large stretches of various species or phases of Equisetum.. almost/no one on these small trails
Anemone- is it canadensis? don't know the range...
Cornus- sericea? more photos in albums- pretty green bugs on several...
Erigeron
Iris- I saw occasional things I presumed to be garden plants-- deliberate or not? day-lilies, rugosa roses etc
Lonicera- native or exotic?
