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.