October!
Posted: October 15, 2014 Filed under: Ontario, Plant Life | Tags: autumn, beauty, Canada, Kortright Centre for Conservation, nature, October, Ontario, trees 1 Comment
A glorious autumn day from 2011 at Kortright Conservation Centre, Ontario
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.
Green Point Coastal Trail, Gros Morne National Park
Posted: November 19, 2013 Filed under: Newfoundland, Plant Life, Water | Tags: beach, beauty, coastal trail, Green Point, Gros Morne Park, Gulf of St. Lawrence, hike, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, thunderstorm, tuckamore Leave a comment
Coastal Trail in Gros Morne Park, August 2013
Our first attempt to go on the boat tour of the freshwater fiord in Gros Morne did not go as scheduled because of torrents of rain and lightning. However, once the weather cleared, we went on a hike on the Coastal Trail near Green Point, south of the fiord. This cobbled beach trail is flat and runs right along the coast off the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We saw marshy ponds and passed tuckamore forests. Tuckamore is the Newfoundland word for stunted spruce and balsam fir trees that grow by the coast and in mountainous areas.
Tuckamore along the Coastal Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
On the Coastal Trail, August 2013
We did not take the full 6 km return hike, because we could see more thunderstorms brewing in the distance and travelling toward us. Since we were on totally open ground, we felt it was safest to turn around. We were among several other hikers, all of us doing the return hike in record time. This trail has stayed with me for its haunting atmosphere. I found it of great beauty.
Thunderstorms approaching–Coastal Trail, August 2013
Freshwater Fjord, Gros Morne National Park
Posted: November 4, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: beauty, Canada, cliffs, fjords, former fjords, Freshwater Fjords, geology, glaciers, Gros Morne, Gros Morne National Park, nature, Newfoundland, Western Brook Pond 3 Comments
Freshwater Fjord, Western Brook Pond, Newfoundland, August 2013
In August when we were in Newfoundland, we travelled to Gros Morne National Park in the western part of the province. Gros Morne is a large, extremely beautiful park with a great variety of land and sea scapes. The park has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.
On the tour of the freshwater fjord, August 2013
We had heard that we must go see the freshwater fjord in Western Brook Pond while we were in Gros Morne. We took everyone’s advice and booked a two hour boat tour on the Pond.
Fjords are long, narrow inlets in the sea with high cliffs arising on each side. The steep cliffs were carved out of rock by glaciers from former ice ages. Western Brook Pond once was connected to the ocean but it was cut off from it after the glaciers melted and the land, having less weight upon it, rebounded.
On the boat tour of the freshwater fjord, August 2013
We had a sunny day with a bit of wind on the lake, enough to regularly splash those of us standing excitedly at the bow to get great views of the cliffs as we travelled into their midst. Another experience of profound beauty in Newfoundland.
Freshwater Fjord in Newfoundland, August 2013
Skerwink Trail, Newfoundland
Posted: October 27, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Plant Life, Uncategorized, Water | Tags: beauty, Canada, cliffs, hiking, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, Skerwink, Skerwink Trail, Trail 4 Comments
At the start of the Skerwink Trail in Newfoundland, August 2013
Another very beautiful and dramatic trail in Newfoundland is the Skerwink Trail. Skerwink is a local name for a Shearwater, a type of bird that lives in open sea–a pelagic seabird. The 5.3 km trail is near the town of Trinity. We hiked the trail in August, often near the edge of cliffs overlooking the ocean. We took our time walking, stopping to photograph the land and sea, and to catch our breath as we climbed ever higher.
The trail is maintained wonderfully well with many stairs to help you in the ascent. I was exhausted at the end of the trail, but did not regret taking it.
Skerwink Trail along the Atlantic Ocean, August 2013
A view from the Skerwink Trail, August 2013
On the Skerwink Trail, August 2013
Climbing the Skerwink Trail, August, 2013
East Coast Trail, Pouch Cove, Newfoundland
Posted: October 14, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: beauty, Canada, coast, East Coast Trail, hiking, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, Pouch Cove, Rocks, Trail Leave a comment
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, with Pouch Cove in the distance, August 2013
On this Canadian Thanksgiving, here’s photos from our hike on the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland last August. Finding this trail was something we were certainly thankful for. On our last day in Newfoundland, we travelled to Pouch Cove–pronounced Pooch Cove–to go to an artists’ studio tour. We arrived a bit early for the tour and drove around the town. When I saw a sign saying “parking for trail” I pulled over and we got out. There was no sign of a trail, but luckily several hikers got out of another car and we got directions from them.
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
Down the road a short way, we came to a sign for the East Coast Trail that we hadn’t realized you could get to from here. This trail runs 265 km along the Avalon Peninsula. My husband had read that it was very beautiful. And here, we had happily come upon the northern most entry point without planning to do so.
East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
We hiked for around two hours, seeing vast views of the coast with cliffs and rugged rocky outcrops, some encrusted with lichens of different colours. A terrific way to end our trip.
On the East Coast Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
Rocks on the East Coast Trail near Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, August 2013
Beaver Pond–Haliburton, Ontario
Posted: October 10, 2013 Filed under: Ontario, Water | Tags: autumn, beauty, beaver pond, black and white photography, Haliburton, nature, Ontario, reflections Leave a commentThis past weekend we travelled to Haliburton county, to the northeast of Toronto. We were eager to see the turning leaves which were intense even in the rain which accompanied us during most of the weekend.
This photo is of a beaver pond we saw on private land. I am drawn to reflections in nature and loved the clear ones in this pond. Because the scene was one of muted colours, I photographed it in black and white, which allowed me to focus on the design created by the mirror image.
Beaver Pond Reflections, Haliburton, October 2013
Twillingate, Newfoundland
Posted: September 29, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Atlantic Ocean, beauty, Canada, nature photography, Newfoundland, ocean, rock, Twillingate 2 Comments
View from the trail by the lighthouse in Twillingate, August 2013
I’m not following a chronological order in writing about my travels in Newfoundland. So, today I’ll take you to the town of Twillingate which we spent an afternoon in this past August. It’s on the edge of the Atlantic and has breathtaking views near the lighthouse.
From the Twillingate Trail, August 2013
We arrived at the lighthouse in late afternoon and saw that there were trails leading down along the coast. We only went a short way a short way along the trails because of the hour. Even so, we looked out over a sweep of hills, rock and ocean that were of extreme beauty. Here’s a few photos of my favourite view.
A closer view of the land from the lighthouse trail in Twillingate, August, 2013
Bay Roberts Trail, Day 2
Posted: September 19, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, beauty, Mad Rock, nature, Newfoundland, ocean, rock, Rocks, whales Leave a comment
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
We returned to the Bay Roberts Heritage Trail/Mad Rock Trail in Newfoundland, Canada the next day, this time driving to the ocean and starting there. The name Mad Rocks comes from the rocks offshore that have been particularly treacherous for ships. Again, the beauty was intense. We stopped for long stretches and sat on the rocks taking in the ocean and fresh air.
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Aug. 2013
We had no expectation of seeing whales in August, but we were fortunate to look out over the water and see many minutes of a whale surfacing and submerging as it travelled alongside the rocks. This was a terrific experience even though I cannot identify the whale(s) we saw that day.
Narrow Rock off of Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Aug. 2013
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, August 2013
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Newfoundland
Posted: September 16, 2013 Filed under: Mineral World, Newfoundland, Water | Tags: Avalon Peninsula, Bay Roberts, Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, beauty, Canada, Conception Bay, nature, nature photography, Newfoundland, ocean, rock, rocky outcrop 2 Comments
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Newfoundland, August 2013
While in Newfoundland, we took two extremely beautiful hikes on the Bay Roberts Heritage Trail off of Conception Bay. This post shows photos from the hike we took on our first full day in Newfoundland. We were practically overwhelmed by the beauty, something we frequently felt on our travels. We walked over rolling land with sweeping views of ocean, rock, grasses and wild plants. Signs told of the history of the settlers on the land.
Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Aug. 2013
Rocky Outcrop on the Bay Roberts Heritage Trail, August 2013
of humans and nature 
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