Where the Wild Things Are Sometimes

It is easy to complain about lack of nature in Edmonton, but the fact is that we live in a city, and as far as cities go, I actually think Edmonton is doing pretty well on the nature front. Most places in the city attempt to integrate trees and plant life into urban settings, and I believe overall this is done fairly well across the board, with the exception of some of the industrial areas.

I have previously ranted extensively on the virtues of our river valleys, so I won't bore you by going into that again. One feature I have noticed myself focusing on is tree lined streets. I am in the middle of an apartment hunt with a friend, and every time I find an apartment, I immediately go to Google street view to see whether there are trees along the street. The street I live on now does not have them, but somehow it has become one of my key criteria in finding a place to live. I was even willing to accept living in a particularly shifty part of town just because the street had trees.

I like being able to see nature in my everyday urban existence; I think it's healthy for people. It keeps you grounded in reality of the world around, serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainability, and I also think it helps with seasonal affected disorder. Can you imagine going through an Edmonton winter without seeing trees or the river valley or squirrels or hares? Now that would really bum me out. So thank God and City Hall for the wonderful trees!