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.