Saturday Photo: Happy New Year

 

Saturday Photo: Stars...

Season's Greetings, and all that.

Here's a link to my Christmas blog, in which there is much about stars...including the sun.  https://soderstromyule.blogspot.com/
 

Saturday Photo: Ice Doesn't Reflect

 

Maybe you knew this, but I didn't.  Ice doesn't reflect  the same way that waer does. 

This morning at the Lachine Rapids, it was chilly and windy, but the terempuerature was above freezing. Nevertheless, there was a thin layer of ice on part of the pond, enough to support a few gulls, and to interfere with the reflections of the trees surrounding it.

 There is a message there, I'm sure, but it's been a busy couple of days and I can't entertain any weighty thoughts at all... It's like my brain as is frozen as that still portion of pond.  

Saturday Photo: Winter Wonderland

 Great snow for sledding this week.  A shame it is raining now, but for a while the kids (most of whose teachers are on strike) had a lot of opportunity for playing outside.

Saturday Photo: Winter Flowers

 One of the sadder things about winter here is the disappearance of flowers.  After the leaves have changed colour and fallen off the trees, the world is much drabber.  And if the snow has not fallen, there's not even the splendour of sunlight on a white landscape with a blue sky as a backdrop.

 

Except...except people fight back with flowers in windows.  These geraniums were peeking out from a window in le Vieux Québec the last time we were there.  A brave and cheering sight.

Saturday Photo: Good for 500 Years?

 Where Canada keeps its memories: Took a trip to Gatineau to lend a hand during the current teachers' strike, but I also visited the Preservation facility of the Library and Archives of Canada. Couldn't see inside, but very impressive outside. The aim is to shelter both hard copy and digital records and documents for 500 years. @dundurnpress

Saturday Photo: Visit to the Reserve

A little outing Friday to the Musée des Abénakis in Odanak on the St-François river. Very interesting, and afterwards lunch at Café Masko.

Saturday Photo: Early Snow...

 Snow this week, the second flurry of the year. My birthday is November 8, and last year was the first year since I arrived in Montreal decades ago that it hadn't snowed before then. This year, as if to make up for its tardy appearance in 2022, we had snow on the ground October 30 and again on Nov. 9. Gone now, but there are still leaves on the trees even though it's kind of cold.

Saturday Photo: Showing off at Concordia...

 
Great fun at the Read Quebec Book Fair.  Got to show off my books and talk to some interesting follks. The event was held both Friday and Saturday in the gorgeous atrium of the J.W. McConnell building at Concordia University

Saturday Photo: A Forests of Light

The way it was in the forest on the north side of Mount Royal this week.  The warm weather in September seems to have delayed the trees' gorgeous progression into autumn this year, but things are becoming lovely now.  I feel ambivalent about this, because the delay is due to climate change.  But I will take a few moments to enjoy the display now...
 

Saturday Photo: And a Cardinal in a Grape Vine

Well, you can't see it, but this week a female cardinal visited our grape vine several mornings to feast on the wild grapes growing there.

It was a bad year for pears in out little garden--only three after the squirrels got to them--but the grape vine, which is a volunteer one growing out of our compost heap, had lots of grapes.

They aren't very good to eat because they don't have much flesh, the seeds are big, and the taste is sour.  But obviously that hasn't stopped the cardinals from feasting.

That we have cardinals at all in the backyard is something new, and probably the result of climate change.  Twenty years ago they were a rare sight in the neighborhood but now are rather frequent visitors.   

I have, as you might imagine, mixed feelings about this.  Nice to see the birds, but not happy about what their presence indicates. 

Saturday Photo: More Than the Squirrels Can Eat

A shower of crabapples!  Went for a walk in Mount Royal Cemetery this morning to find that the squirrels and other critters have an abundance of goodies on the ground right now.  Looks like more than they can eat at the moment!
 

Saturday Photo: Thanksgiving Greetings from Montreal

 Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone. It's raining here--and much needed--but this is the way I like to think of fall. It's a good moment to stop and reflect on all one has...

Just in Case You Wondered What I've Been Reading...

I've been asked by a couple of websites that gives suggestions for reading to create a list or two.  

 

Here's the one  on BookList:

 

Saturday Photo: Asters to Finish up the Summer

 This has been an unusually fine year for certain flowers around here.  Early on there was clover everywhere, in every lawn, reminding everyone that plain grass is just that: pretty plain.  Now as the summer fades away with unusually warm temperatures, native asters have come into their glory.  I have encouraged them for years in my little centre city garden, but I'm glad to see that they've spread, and now dot many other gardens.  Took a drive out of the city today, and saw billows of them. 

Saturday Photo: More Housing...

 

And then there's this highrise model. 

Saturday Photo: More Permanent Housing

 This wasp nest suddenly appeared this week.  Wasn't there on Monday, I'm sure, but it was looming like a malevalent piñata on Thursday.  Wasps are really amazing in the way they can build a very sturdy shelter in no time at all.

But it's gone.  After a call to the borough, a crew came and took it down.  I didn't see that happen, but I admire the moxie that it must take to wrangle with wasps.

Of course, the beasties have a right to live among us, but just not close that our worlds collide.  Saw another nest this morning about a block away: wonder if they just moved house...

Saturday Photo: Temporary Housing?

You're right: it's bird's nest.  Almost walked past it last week on the trail at the Parc des Rapides de Lachine last Sunday, but at the last minute it caught my eye.  I've no explanation of how it got there.  Certainly the breeding season is over in these parts, and from the looks of it, many birds are already preparing for winter migration.

The nest would appear to be in good shape, so I hope that it was home to a successful family of birdlings this summer.  Would that it were so easy to house the many folks who these days are having a hard time finding a place to stay. (Almost said "keeping a roof over their heads," but looks like the only "roof" was Mom or Dad's body during the nesting time.)

Saturday Photos: Hotline, a Very Good Novel Now Available in Audio and Ebook Formats

 

Head's up: The Atwater Library and Computer Centre's book discussion group--led by yours truly-- will be talking about Dimitri Nasrallah's Hotline at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 13. The book in audio and ebook formats is available to library members from now until then. All you have to do is follow this link to borrow a copy:

https://libbyapp.com/library/atwaterlibrary

The book happens to be this year's Together We Read choice. Here's the link for more information: https://company.overdrive.com/.../hundreds-of-public.../

The meeting will be for our first in-person discussion in more than three years. You don't have to sign up, just show up.

Saturday Photo: The Battle of the Invasives

 Here are three invasive plants duking it out at Montreal's Technoparc.  The tall grass is Phragmites australis, which sets up shop at the edge of waterways  as does the purple loosestrife at the bottom of the photo.  In between is golden rod, which is a native plant and which is not really considered invasive in Canada, although in Europe and Asia it is.  

Will be interesting to see if one of these species dominates the others.  I'd like to think that the goldenrod will triumph, but we'll see.

Saturday Photo: Not a Bumper Crop But Good News Anyway

 This is the sum total of my harvest this year-two small pears. It is a far cry from years when my two trees produced more than the squirrels could eat. But I'm not displeased because the trees were badly affected by fireblight last year, a nasty fungus disease that you can't get rid of and can only hope that the tree resists.

A few branches seem to be affected this year, but nothing like before, so perhaps next year the trees--now well over 40 years old--will again provide us with some succulent pears.

Saturday Photo: Not Mr. McGregor's Garden...

The rabbits at the Technoparc don't seem very concerned about the humans walking around.  This one just stayed there for quite a while, looking at us while we looked at it.

Despite Beatrice Potter and the Tale of Peter Rabbit, the beasties don't seem to like gardens in my part of the city.  Racoons, skunks and squirrels, yes.  Ditto the occasional marmot.  But I think rabbits likea more unkempted landscape, or one that has only been wrested from wildness (or re-wildness)

Elin reports that thre have been rabbit sightings in Cité Angus, which has only recently been built on an old brownscape that had got pretty overgrown.  Wonder how long they'll last...
 

Saturday Photo: When the Sun's Not Out, At Least There Are These

It's been rainy and hot, but not so gloomy that the various sorts of sunflowers are not bursting into bloom. Lovely to see the yellow...
 

Saturday Photo: Host of Hostas....

Maybe 20 years go when I began transforming out little lawn into a wild garden, I bought three hosta plants.  They did extremely well, and I've transplanted them to several places on our lot and given many to neighbours.  

The result is a host of hostas all around. This last week the ones in the sun have been a their peak, while the ones in the shade are striving to catch up.  What a great flower--holds its own again invasives, will survive even if not watered well, and for a couple of weeks in mid-summer it flowers are showy and abundant.
 

Saturday Photo: This Is a Good Year for Clover

Don't know why this is, but the lawns around here are full of clover this summer.  Not only people's patches of grass but also the wide sweeps of lawn that many parks feature are studded at the moment with millions of white clover flowers.

Clover is good for the soil, as its roots carry nitrogen-fixing bacteria.  It is resistant to traffic, and when in bloom it is very pretty.  Therefore seeing it in abundance does the spirit good.

Has the clover always been there, but has been mowed before it flowers?  Could be that the chat about how it's good to wait to mow in order to leave flowers for bees early in the season when there are not too many things in bloom has had an effect.

Don't know, but like the trend....

 

Saturday Photo: None, Because We Were Playing...

 Taking a break this week because our youngest grandchild came for a visit.  Lots of activity, and no time to think blog.

Saturday Photo: No Sun Today, But At Least These Yellow Flowers

In this summer of smoke, I suppose we should be thankful for a showery, overcast day.  The rain will clar the air of some of the smoke from the fires in Northern Quebec, but things look pretty gloomy this afternoon.  At least the yellow speedwell is in bloom, and is enough to lift the spirit with its yellow brilliance.

Saturday Photo: Why the Quebec Flag Isn't Flying Chez Nous This Year

 En français, of course.  

Cette année je ne sorte pas mon drapeau de Québec pour la Fête nationale, que j'ai affiché sur mon balcon depuis 30 ans. Pour quoi ? Parce que je suis profondément déçue par le gouvernement actuel qui semble d'avoir l'appui de la grande majorité des Québécois.es

 

Par le passé, j'avais chicané avec des voisins anglophones au sujet de mon drapeau. J'ai insisté que la fête n'est pas pour seulement les « Québécois de souche. » Nous avons choisi le Québec, pour, entre autres raisons, son projet social qui accueillait le monde.

 

Mais les lois 21 et 96 ainsi que les propos sur les immigrants des ministres du gouvernement caquistes nient à ce progressisme du passé. Cette année je mangerais des bonnes fraises du Québec, je jaserais avec mes voisins et amis en français, mais rien d'autre.

Saturday Photo: In Case You Wondered about the Origin of the Word...

 The daisies were in bloom last Sunday at Montreal's Technoparc and along Highway 50 between Montreal and Gatineau. 

The English name comes from "dægesege, formerly dæges eage, meaning “day’s eye,” because the petals of some species of daisy open at dawn and close at dusk.

"For the same reason, in Medieval Latin, a common term for daisy was solis oculus, meaning “sun’s eye.”

 

They're cheerful, whatever they are called, which is a very good thing in these days of trial.

Saturday Photo: A Nap after Breakfast, You Silly Goose!

 They're kind of hard to see, but here's Mama Goose and four babies who are resting after eating what seemed to be a delicious breakfast.  Summer is here!

Saturday Photo: Talking about Against the Seas in Ottawa

 

Saturday Photo (a little late): Bridle Veil...

 

 

The glory continues.  This week it is Bridle Veil that is featured. 

 

Saturday Photo: The Morning of Maximum Beauty

 There are some springs when you hit it just right, and this is one of them.  The many crabapples in Mount Royal Cemetery were at the peak of their glory this morning.  So glad I took a walk there.

Saturday Photo: The Optimal Lawn

 Violets are taking over our neighbourhood!  Or so it looks this spring.  Fifteen years ago or so therewere hardly any: I rustled some from up the street and planted them in our front yard.  Perhaps others did similar things, because now most lawns are full of thm and one street over there are some glorious examples of what can happen when you don't cosset grass.

Undoubtedly as good for pollinators as lawns like this are good for the eye!

Saturday Photo: Spring Is on Its Way...

 Last Sunday at the Lachine Rapids, despite the rain, it looked like spring would arrive soon.  The sun is out now, and the temperature is going up, so it looks like last week's promise is being fulfilled.

Saturday Photo: Standing Room Only at Book Launch

 

Had a great turnout for the launch of Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters last Sunday.  It was raining very hard, but a very nice crowd of friends and people interested in climate change turned up!

Saturday Photo: Early April Morning

 The sun is rising about 6 a.m., so it was well up in the sky when we went out this morning.  Nevertheless the combination of tree, clouds and ghostly sun a pleasing, I think.

Going to rain soon...

Do April showers really bring May flowers?

Saturday Photo: Bixis are Back

Signs of Spring: bees in the flowers and Bixis on the corners! Such a change from a week ago when we were recovering from the ice storm.  No blog post last weekend because of the power outages...but what a difference a week makes!

 

Saturday Photo: Everybody out on a Springtime Sabbath

 Scene from Parc Outremont: the end of the snow, sunshine and walkers of all sorts out on a Saturday afternoon.  Pretty nice....

Saturday Photo: Lonely Bench Waiting for Spring

 Despite a little snow last night, it's clear that spring is on its way.  Not least is the fact that benches in parks are now appearing as snow banks melt.  This poor, lonely bench seems marooned in frozen water, not even attractive enough for someone slogging through the snowy park along a desire line to stop and rest a moment.

That will change in the next little bit.  Haven't seen any robins yet, but yesterday at the Lachine Rapids the first red winged blackbirds were chirping and buzzing to claim territory for the upcoming season of avian passion.

Saturday Photo: Snow Drops, or (more appropriately) des Perces neiges..

 Spring arrives next week, but the snow is receding and the first snowdrops (called perce-neige in French) have come up.  A sure sign of spring...

Saturday Photo: Sledding as the Winter Ends

Beautiful sunshine today, with temperature below freezing. Things are melting in the sun, nevertheless, and the days of sledding are numbered.  Winter is drawing to a close.

Saturday Photo: March 1, the Day the Sun Starts Shining in the Bedroom...

 Actually the photo was taken a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to report that this March 1 also saw the first forray of the sun into our upstairs back bedroom.

By the solstice there will be several hours of sunshine in this room, but during the winter there is none. Instead, we have this Stonehenge-like moment on about the first day of the meterological spring.

Saturday Photo: The Flowers of Winter

 Outside snow still covers the ground, although the days are getting longer.  Inside that translates into several house plants taking a cue from lengthening daylight and setting forth blooms.

An anthurium that had been in a north window has taken the plunge and sent out blossoms.  Nice to see this time of year.

Saturday Photo: Sunburned Knees from Last Summer

  Summer evening at Sept Iles, sunshine and sunburned knees for the old guy.  A nice memory of a good trip, something to think about as the days begin to grow longer.

Saturday Photo: Desire Lines in the Snow

 

People don't walk in straight lines, even though sidewalks and roads may try to make them.  Uneven ground, small obstacles and even the vagaries on one's gait mean that the paths we take wobble a bit at the best of times.  When getting from here to there is the issue, this means that cutting across a patch of grass or snow will likely not be at right angles to anything.

Urbanists and architects call these paths "desire lines" since they show exaclty where we want to go.  Nowhere is that clearer than in snow that's been on the ground for a few days, giving folks a chance to make their own paths.  Pity the person who went first: given the depth of the snow it woud have bee a slog.  At the time the photo was taken though folks' desires had manifested themselves in a well-trodden track.

Saturday Photo: Baby, It's Cold Outside

 After a winter that so far has been warmer than usual, we are in the deep freeze.  Windows were frosted over this morning.  Glad I was inside and not out...

Saturday Photo: An Afternoon in the Park...

 

Neighborhood park are great things, and we are lucky to have three nearby.  They're used by local daycares and schools too--and not just in the summer time.

This group of kids (from the daycare which our children attended decades ago) were doing all the kinds of things they'd do in the park in the summer, only instead of grass to play, they have snow.  Easier to build things with, softer when you fall too.  It's great that snow suits are as warm as they are:  it's rare that you see a kid who has not flung off his or her mittens who is crying with cold because the material the snowsuit is made of is so warm!  Luck us!

Saturday Photo: Zamboni on the Loose

 The photo's not the best, but it makes me smile anyway.  After a spell of terrible warm weather, winter has returned, and while it's not really cold, it's cold enough to go skating outside.  There are year's when this pond is not cleared for skating, but this year the powers that be have decided to do so.  That's  a portable ice-making machine sweeping around it.  Good fun for the kids!

Saturday Photo: The First Books Arrive....

 Wednesday the first copies of my new book, Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters arrived.  Most appropriate as storms batter California, destroying beaches and bridges and badly-sited houses.  

We are going to have to learn to live with rising waters.  Doing so will require some changes in the way we build our cities and live our lives.