Travelling Shells
Posted: March 8, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Books, Water | Tags: Atlantic Ocean, beach, Caribbean, coast, collection, coral, New Jersey, ocean, seashells, shell, shells Leave a commentWhen I was a child, I loved collecting seashells along the New Jersey coast. I’d walk the beach, small bucket in hand, and find tiny rainbow coloured clam shells, the occasional little conch, scallop and mussel shells. There was also a round snail-like shell whose name I forget. I had a book, written in 1955, that I’ve kept to this day. I read it many times, pouring over the line drawings and photos.
This love of shells has remained with me throughout my life. They’ve travelled with me to the various apartments I’ve lived in. The majority of shells and bits of coral in the glass jar in this post are ones I found on beaches in the Caribbean during the 1970s and early ’80s when I used to visit relatives there. There’s also the odd shell from other wanderings plus 4 or 5 interspersed that I bought in the ’70s while travelling in Florida.
Fresh Snow at Kortright–2013
Posted: March 6, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Water | Tags: kortright centre, Kortright Centre for Conservation, Ontario, snow, winter Leave a commentLast year, in February, I photographed the fresh snow on this walkway at the Kortright Centre for Conservation, around an hour north of Toronto.
Kortright Centre for Conservation, February 2013.
Todmorden Mills in Winter
Posted: February 24, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Inspiration, Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto, Water | Tags: birds, Canada, nature photography, Ontario, snow, sunlight, Todmorden Mills, Toronto, trees, urban nature, woods Leave a commentLast week we had some warmer days and on a sunny afternoon, Wednesday the 19th, I walked to Todmorden Mills Heritage Site just off the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto. I knew it was my chance to see the wooded wildflower preserve while the snow was still on the ground, ahead of predicted above-freezing temperatures and rain. As always, my mood improved greatly walking in this beautiful setting. I heard chickadees and, I believe, a cardinal above the traffic. And I loved seeing the late sunlight on the snow, trees and rail fences. Here’s some photos from that day.
A Past Winter–2
Posted: February 17, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Toronto, Water | Tags: 2008, nature, snow, Todmorden Mills, Toronto, winter Leave a comment
After a snowfall, I took this photo at Todmorden Mills on New Year’s Day 2008. It was a day of extreme beauty.
Fresh snow at Todmorden Mills on Jan 1, 2008, Toronto
A Past Winter Scene
Posted: February 14, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: bare branches, birds, black and white photography, Toronto, trees, urban nature, window, winter Leave a commentHere’s a photograph I took in 2009 of birds, trees and the houses across a laneway. I think I’ve mentioned before that in winter when colours are more muted I look to the shapes of bare branches for beauty in the city.
From the window, January 2009, Toronto
Tracks and Ivy in the Snow
Posted: February 7, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Toronto, Water | Tags: ivy, shadows, snow, Toronto, tracks Leave a commentFor the past few years, we’ve had relatively mild winters in Toronto without regular snow. Not so this winter. Here’s a couple of photos I’ve taken after the last snowfall on Wednesday.
Tracks in the shadows and sun, Toronto, February 2014
- Ivy after snow, Toronto, February 2014
Sun and Snow
Posted: February 4, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Sky, Toronto, Water | Tags: Brick Works, Evergreen Brick Works, snow, sun, Toronto Leave a commentWe went to the Brick Works on Sunday after a wet snow on Saturday. We started out under a cloudy sky that gave way to blue patches, then to bright sun. We were among other walkers, a cross country skier and many frolicking dogs.
Clouds and blue sky above sumach at the Brick Works, Toronto, February 2, 2014
Bright sun at the Brick Works, Sunday Feb. 2/2014
Melting snow on branches at the Evergreen Brick Works, Feb. 2/14
Pigeons, pigeons
Posted: January 30, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Ontario, Sky, Toronto | Tags: birds, birds on wires, electrical wires, grey day, pigeons, Toronto, winter 3 CommentsThe other day I was viewing photos I had taken around a year ago to see what winter was looking like then. I came upon this image of pigeons on electrical wires on a grey day. They congregate near a tiny park outside a subway station in Toronto. I love these birds. They are a familiar and often undervalued sight in the city. But I enjoy seeing them on my walks, being careful, however, not to walk directly underneath them!
Pigeons on the wires, December 2012, Toronto
Dreaming of Larkwhistle
Posted: January 28, 2014 Filed under: Animal Life, Inspiration, Ontario, Plant Life | Tags: beauty, Bruce Peninsula, cat, flowers, garden, gardeners, John Scanlan, kniphofia, Larkwhistle, Larkwhistle Garden, Ontario, Patrick Lima 5 Comments
Larkwhistle Garden, June 2012, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
I’m taking a break from the cold and going to Larkwhistle Garden in my mind. Larkwhistle is a terrific garden on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario that has been created and gardened by Patrick Lima and John Scanlan. For decades, they have opened the garden to visitors in the summer. But last year, they decided to end those public visiting days.
Kniphofia at Larkwhistle Garden, 2010
Larkwhistle Garden, September 2010, Ontario
We have gone to this place of beauty for years since travelling to the peninsula and it remains with me in memories of flowers, birds and grace. And with thanks to Patrick and John for what they have created and generously shared.
Larkwhistle Garden’s resident cat, 2010.
Ice Crystals
Posted: January 21, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Toronto, Water | Tags: Canada, cold, ice, ice crystals, January, Toronto, winter Leave a commentWe’re back to a cold snap in Toronto–around -20°C–which is cold for the city. Here’s two views of a window with beautiful ice crystals this morning.
Ice Crystals on the window, Toronto, January 21, 2014
Ice crystals on the window, Toronto, Jan. 21/14
of humans and nature 
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