Dawn Redwood is a head-turner. She’s tall and beautiful, boasts a thick middle, shapely limbs and a patchy red complexion.

Oh, and Dawn is a tree.

The Great Toronto Tree Hunt kicked off April 22, giving tree aficionados a chance to gush about their favourite tree and spurring lackadaisical Torontonians to start paying attention to their leafy surroundings.

“We want to show just how much Torontonians love their trees,” said Janet McKay, executive director with LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests), the not-for-profit organization behind the contest, put on in partnership with the city, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Ontario Power Generation.

Between now and May 31, Ontario residents 18 years of age and older can nominate a tree in one of five categories: beauty, uniqueness, survivor, size or heritage potential.

As of April 3, 27 trees, accompanied by nominators’ compelling stories and descriptions, were already posted on the LEAF site.

One nominator showcased his tree’s uniqueness — a growth-covered giant growing fatter despite fences pressing in on both sides.

Another praised the “Majestic Silver Maple” at Bloor St. W. and Dufferin St. “with its large limbs reaching up to the sky.”

One avid poster recalled taking her young cousins on tree hunts and admiring an imposing beech tree.

“We always stop to look at the grace and beauty of this precious beech tree. We stand in wonder and always end up by saying, ‘Awwwww,’ ” wrote Edith George.

After savage beatings in recent years — Mother Nature whomped Toronto’s trees in the December 2013 ice storm and the emerald ash borer is slowly but surely killing 860,000 Toronto ash trees — the contest gives trees some much needed love, said McKay.

“Sometimes in the midst of a crisis, there’s an opportunity,” she said. “This is an opportunity to share some inspiring stories.”

For example, a potential nominee in the survival category could be a tree that had its limbs torn off in a storm but remains standing, one with roots pushing up through a paved road, or an old elm tree that has not yet fallen victim to chainsaws and bugs.

McKay said trees often get taken for granted — something she became acutely aware of just last week when while out for a walk with her dogs in the Junction, she noticed a grand old silver maple she admired was now a stump.

“I just wanted to cry to be honest,” she said.

McKay hopes the initiative gets Torontonians thinking about trees and developing a better appreciation for our city’s canopy.

“(I hope it gets people) feeling that sense of ownership a little more deeply and taking that time to look up, take a picture and really connect with (the tree),” she said.

For Torontonians who want a behind-the-scenes glimpse at possible shortlisted trees, LEAF is co-leading a Jane’s Walk on May 2 in Old East York. The walk will follow a route dotted with notable trees and a local historian will point out possible Tree Hunt candidates, said McKay.

To send in a submission, nominators must include brief story about why the tree is great and attach a photo taken by the nominator. The application is then submitted on the LEAF website at www.yourleaf.org/treehunt.

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Between June 1 and June 15, the public has the chance to vote for their favourites. Judges — a mix of tree experts and photojournalists — will use that shortlist to chose the winners.

The five winners, one in each category, will be announced at a ceremony on June 24. Each winner will receive a $250 prize.

McKay hopes every Torontonian will nominate a tree — or five. There is no limit to the number of nominations a resident can submit.