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
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Posted: July 29, 2013 Filed under: Animal Life, Ontario, Toronto, Water | Tags: birds, black crowned night heron, Canada, Evergreen Brick Works, flood, heron, nature, nature photography, Ontario, ponds, Toronto 3 Comments
Black-crowned night heron at the Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, July 2013
A week ago Sunday we went to the Brick Works which has been flooded twice this year from torrential rains. A little over a week after the last flood and a clean-up effort, the site had recovered quite a bit. On the way over, the wildflowers by the railroad were dense leaving only the tiniest of paths to stumble through.
Black-crowned night heron at the Brick Works in July 2013, Toronto
Shortly after arriving at the Brick Works, we saw this black-crowned night heron in one of the ponds. He or she stood hunched and still for long periods, except when catching a meal. It is heartening to see wildlife in Toronto in this place where nature is being restored so close to a major highway.
At the Edge of the Brick Works
Posted: May 20, 2013 Filed under: Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: black and white photography, Brick Works, Evergreen Brick Works, landscape, natural setting, nature, nature photography, Ontario, spring, Toronto, trees, Victoria Day, woods 1 Comment
By the Brick Works, Toronto, May 16/13
Several days ago and today, Victoria Day in Canada, I went to one of my favourite haunts–the Evergreen Brick Works. Sometimes the textures and shapes of the landscape call out to me to be photographed in black and white. These were from wooded paths around the perimeter of the Brick Works, some of which lead to ravines that wind through the city.
Path just above the Brick Works, Victoria Day, 2013
Willow Tresses over a path above the Brick Works, Victoria Day 2013, Toronto
Abundance
Posted: May 10, 2013 Filed under: Inspiration, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: beauty, blossoms, Brick Works, daffodils, Evergreen Brick Works, flowers, gardens, grape hyacinths, May, nature, plants, spring, Todmorden Mills, Toronto, trees, tulips Leave a comment
Spring in Toronto, May 2013
We’ve had a week of sunshine and warm weather in Toronto–like a dream of love. This has given way to rain and cooler temperatures which will make the plants quite happy.
Toronto garden, May 2013
Tulips after rain, Toronto, May 2013
The gardens have been bursting with flowers. Magnolias, redbud trees, flowering plums, tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths, forget me nots, periwinkles and violets have greeted me throughout the neighbourhood. Two days ago, the yellow green maple flowers began dusting the sidewalks and lawns. And at the Brick Works and Todmorden Mills, the sun and leaves of budding trees have formed canopies of light.
These have been joyful days to be alive amidst birdsong and the return of vibrant colour.
Todmorden Mills, Toronto, May 2013.
Signs of Spring at the Brick Works
Posted: April 7, 2013 Filed under: Animal Life, Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: Brick Works, canada geese, colt's foot, Evergreen Brick Works, nature, Ontario, plants, pussy willow trees, pussy willows, red-winged blackbird, spring, Toronto, trees Leave a comment
Pussy Willows at the Brick Works, late March 2013
A week ago Saturday, on a beautiful sunny day in Toronto, we decided to walk to a favourite haunt—Evergreen Brick Works. There, I saw the first colt’s foot flowers I’ve ever seen. Either I’ve been unobservant or they haven’t been that plentiful in the past. Another possibility is that I haven’t been in the right location at the right time. I also saw two large pussy willow trees which I have loved since childhood.
Colt’s Foot at the Brick Works, late March 2013
The call of the red winged blackbirds was a welcome sound as was the sight of two Canada geese. Though they are a plentiful bird whom many regard as nuisances, there they were by a pond, looking quite fine to me.
Red-Winged Blackbird at the Brick Works, Toronto, late March 2013
Canada Geese at Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, late March 2013
Since then, crocuses have been adorning early gardens and I’ve been hearing the lovely song of the robin.
After the Snowfall at the Evergreen Brick Works
Posted: February 9, 2013 Filed under: Ontario, Toronto | Tags: Brick Works, Evergreen Brick Works, landscape, nature, snow, snowfall, Toronto, weather, winter Leave a comment
Brick Works in the Snow, Feb. 9, 2013
Yesterday and the night before we got 25 – 30 cm of snow in Toronto. This was the most significant snowfall we’ve had this year, and the most we’ve had in the past five. Last year we shockingly had only a dusting here and there.
Evergreen Brick Works, after a snowfall in Toronto, Feb. 9, 2013
I went out walking in the storm yesterday. I loved seeing the fresh snow and felt a sudden sense of loss because snows like this used to be regular occurrences and not the big deal this one seemed. I was then glad I could feel love for snow, something that I didn’t realize I strongly felt. And glad I could feel this before snow becomes even more rare than it is now, as it seems it will.
Shadows and a snow covered pond at the Brick Works, Feb. 9, 2013
Today my husband and I went to the Evergreen Brick Works to take advantage of the beautiful sights I felt awaited us at this former industrial site turned into a sanctuary of sorts. We weren’t disappointed. Here are some of the photos I took.
Blue/purple shadows on the snow, Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, Feb. 9, 2013.
On a Warm November Day
Posted: November 13, 2012 Filed under: Mineral World, Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: Brick Works, Canada, climate, Evergreen Brick Works, grass, Mineral World, nature, science, Toronto, trees Leave a comment
On the Way to the Brick Works, November 11, 2012, Toronto
This past Sunday, Remembrance Day, was an unseasonably warm day of 18 degrees Celsius in Toronto–a record breaker. To take advantage of the warmth, in the afternoon we went to The Evergreen Brick Works. We walked along the railroad tracks, past milkweed and thistles and a disheartening array of tires dumped there.
On the way to the Brick Works, we passed tires dumped near the railroad tracks, Nov. 11, 2012, Toronto
At the Brick Works, we found that many people had the same idea as us and were strolling around the grounds and enjoying the day. The colours are now soft—mostly muted browns, beiges, yellows and greens.
Tall Grass at the Brick Works, Nov. 11, 2012, Toronto
Tall Grass at the Brick Works, Nov. 11, 2012, Toronto
A warm November 11th at the Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, 2012
At the North Slope of this once quarry was a Toronto Parks and Recreation sign noting the geology of the slope that reveals evidence of several ages of ice alternating with warm periods. The sign reads as follows:
-The North Slope is a geological feature of international significance.
-Professor A. P. Coleman, a world-renowned Toronto geologist, first identified the significance of this slope in 1894.
-This site was one of the first in the world to reveal a rare sequence of climate change. The deposits here indicate a glacial episode, followed by a period of climate slightly warmer than today’s, followed by another glacial episode, and lastly the climate of today.
The North Slope at the Brick Works, Toronto, Nov. 11, 2012
There’s also a drawing on the sign indicating the age of the deposits that make up the North Slope. These range from the bedrock which is 448 million years old, to deposits over 135,000 years old and lastly to the most recent ones in the top layer which accumulated 13,000 – 50,000 years ago. I like to contemplate life from this other perspective—it certainly helps with a feeling a humility.
At the Brick Works, the North Slope by the geology sign, Nov. 11, 2012, Toronto
Meanwhile, in Toronto
Posted: October 22, 2012 Filed under: Animal Life, Mineral World, Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: autumn, birds, Canada, chickadees, Evergreen Brick Works, fall, Mineral World, nature, Ontario, Toronto, trees Leave a commentI’ll be adding many more posts about my time in the Canadian Rockies. I think of the mountains every day and miss them. Meanwhile, in Toronto it’s autumn. The turning leaves are beautiful and bring me solace as I travel around the city.
Autumn Oak Leaves in Toronto, Oct. 2012
Autumn leaves through Mocha Mocha cafe’s window, Toronto, Oct. 2012
Autumn in Kensington Market, Toronto, Oct. 2012
Today, it was very warm and sunny. I returned to the Brick Works—passing milkweed in luminous seed by the railway tracks. Other people strolled about on this lovely day and I spoke to a woman who had seen eastern bluebirds at the Brick Works yesterday.
Milkweed by the railroad tracks, Toronto, Oct. 2012
Brick Works–reflections of autumn, Oct. 2012, Toronto
Brick Works, Oct. 2012, Toronto
I saw and heard red winged blackbirds, chickadees and mallards. Also, I heard what I believe were finches or warblers of some sort.
Chickadee at the Brick Works in Toronto, Oct. 2012
And at the Brick Works, I read a sign about the geology of the land here. It was good to relate my new found interest to the land close to home. And to contemplate, as I had in the west, that we live off of life much older than ourselves.
The sign reads:
The rock of this west quarry wall is shale with harder layers of silty limestone. It originated in a tropical sea around 448 million years ago. If you look closely you may see some fossils…The presence of easily accessible shale made this site valuable as a brick making operation.
Autumn on a warm day at the Brick Works in Toronto, Oct. 2012
At the Brick Works
Posted: August 7, 2012 Filed under: Ontario, Plant Life, Toronto | Tags: Evergreen Brick Works, green, humanature, nature, ponds, shrubs, Toronto, trees Leave a comment
The Brick Works in Toronto, Canada, early fall 2010.
In Toronto, Canada, there’s a green space we love to visit on the site of an old brick works quarry and factory. This place has developed, through a national charity called Evergreen and the work of people in the community, into a life giving area that attracts many visitors. There’s a farmer’s market every Saturday, a restaurant, gift shops, a garden centre, places for workshops and, most importantly, trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, ponds and wildlife.
Yesterday, we went for an afternoon ramble on a holiday Monday in Ontario. We walked down the hill and onto a path by a seldom used railroad track alongside Queen Anne’s Lace, hearty yellow wildflowers whose name I forget and the husks of thistles. At the Brick Works, we walked around the ponds, seeing a small turtle, reeds and many water lily pads with white flowers, then up onto a shady path along the edge of a wooded ravine. Here we looked down on the ponds we’d just passed and stopped to see a goldfinch and hummingbird on nearby trees and a chipmunk on fallen logs. Other walkers passed us. We came to a willow tree overhanging the path and stood under its tresses in a protected cave-like enclosure. This was a restorative humanature afternoon.
The photos I’ve posted here are from a previous year in the early autumn. Often I take my camera and binoculars along, but I wanted to be free to be in the setting without these filters. I do love photographing nature, but have to be careful that the process doesn’t take me away from the actual experience of being there. I’ve taken to stopping and being still after I take a photograph and this helps me be present.
Brick Works Pond, Early Fall 2010
of humans and nature 
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