Kortright Centre–Early Winter
Posted: December 30, 2012 Filed under: Animal Life, Ontario, Plant Life | Tags: blue jays, Canada, cardinals, chickadees, Kortright, Kortright Centre for Conservation, nature, Ontario, owl, painting, roots, Stream, Toronto, trees, woods Leave a comment
Boardwalk at Kortright Centre for Conservation, Dec. 2012
A few days before Christmas, I went northwest out of Toronto to the Kortright Centre for Conservation near Kleinburg, Ontario. We had had no snow in Toronto at that point. Our first was on the night of Dec. 26th. At Kortright we found a dusting of snow in the woods.
Another view of the Boardwalk at Kortright Centre, Ontario, Dec. 2012
Stream at Kortright Centre, Ontario, Dec. 2012
As ever, this humble, yet beautiful, 800 acres of land lifted my spirits. We hiked through the woods to the stream noting familiar, well-loved trees and hills and my favourite old roots from a fallen tree beside a trail. I’ve photographed these roots in all seasons over the years. And I’ve also painted them from several angles, bringing the peace of the near countryside into the city as I painted.
Old Roots at Kortright, Ontario, Dec. 2012
Painting of Old Roots at Kortright by Lily S. May, 2008
We continued on, and I believe we saw an owl in the woods. A bird with a large wingspan flew onto a tree too far away for me to clearly see his or her details. But the silhouette seemed to me one of an owl. I have heard of daytime owl sightings at Kortright in the past, but had never before seen the bird. Earlier we’d seen a cardinal and blue jay at feeders outside the café and, as we hiked, we heard the calls of chickadees.
Winter Solstice in Toronto
Posted: December 21, 2012 Filed under: Toronto | Tags: bonfire, Canada, Kensington Market, light, Toronto, trees, winter solstice Leave a comment
The crowd in Alexandra Park for Winter Solstice, Toronto, 2012
Tonight I went with friends to the Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade. This year, because of the rain and drizzle, there ended up being no parade that we could see. There were people wandering about with wonderful handmade lanterns wondering what was happening until word spread to head over to Alexandra Park. There, we came upon a lively band and were in time to see a huge bonfire and, perhaps, acrobats twirling flames. I say perhaps, because all three of us ranged from very short—me—to moderately so and could barely see over the throngs of people. However, I caught glimpses of the roaring fire and sparks and had a fine unobstructed view of nearby trees lit from below by the intense orange light. Though soggy, this was an enjoyable, abbreviated celebration marking the longest night of the year and ushering in the return of light.
Tree lit by bonfire in Alexandra Park, Toronto, Dec. 21, 2012
Athabasca Falls
Posted: December 11, 2012 Filed under: Canadian Rockies, Water | Tags: Alberta, Athabasca Falls, beauty, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Icefields Parkway, Jasper, nature, rock, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, water Leave a comment
Athabasca Falls, September 2012
On this, another day of grey skies in Toronto, I have returned to memories of the Rocky Mountains in September. One of my favourite places was 30 kms south of Jasper, Alberta, off the Icefields Parkway—Athabasca Falls. We went there twice, the second time on a day when we were not exhausted by beauty and could take leisurely time there.
Athabasca Falls, September 2012
Here’s a few photos of the rocks and the water that has shaped them over time. A wonderful and healing tonic!
At Athabasca Falls, Sept. 2012
Through the Train Window
Posted: December 6, 2012 Filed under: Animal Life, Plant Life, Toronto, Uncategorized, Water | Tags: blurred images, Canada, Go train, grass, Lake Ontario, nature, Ontario, ring billed gulls, shrubs, Toronto, train window, trees, trees and shrubs Leave a comment
Grasses by the GO Railway Tracks, east of Toronto, December 2012
I took the GO Train out of Toronto this past weekend, heading a little east. As always, I enjoy the wild, overgrown places you can often see by railroad tracks. I focus on them in the sterile-looking parts of the journey. In the same way, I look for trees and bushes interspersed among uniform suburban developments, bleak factories and storage bunkers.
Gulls in a parking lot at a GO station east of Toronto, December 2012
Through the train’s window, I saw these plus ring billed gulls resting in a station’s empty parking lot and views of Lake Ontario with waves rolling in on the wind.
Through the GO train window near the Rouge Hill Station, Dec. 2012
I’ve taken to photographing trees and shrubs at times while the train is moving. I enjoy the resulting blurred images that are often surprising.
As the train pulls out of the Rouge Hill Station, a photograph of trees near Lake Ontario, Dec. 2012
The photos here show the cloudy day it was, filled with the muted colours often associated with melancholy, while softly holding the season.
Trees and bushes near Lake Ontario, Dec. 2012
of humans and nature 
Recent Comments