UofT Grounds website: https://www.fs.utoronto.ca/services/grounds/

• Note about interview

Johnson, Peter. Personal interview. 22 November 2024.

• Peter Johnson has been with UofT Grounds for over 25 years.
  • The land where the black walnut trees are planted were empty when Johnson started working for UofT.
• The trees were planted in May 2004. They were a couple of years old before they went into the ground.
• The trees were donor requested, dedicated to Beverly Bennett, wife of Avie Bennett. These are “her trees.”
  • She also donated the maple trees north of Back Campus.
  • Avie and Beverly were UofT alumni. They lived closed by and would walk by campus.
• The trees are simple to take care of. They are native trees, and the squirrels love them.
  • The trees don’t put off a whole lot of fruit.
    • One black walnut can last a squirrel a whole week.
    • If squirrels don’t get to the fruit, the trucks [from Tower Road] drive over them.
• The undergrowth was planted as a landmark project. So far, neither the trees’ shade or toxicity have killed off the undergrowth.
• During the turfing of Back Campus, these trees were fenced off.