as I walk Toronto

Wilket Creek forms one of the many ravines in the city. The northern part has been buried; it surfaces just south of York Mills Road and flows south until it joins the West Don just north of Eglinton. Edwards Gardens is part of the park system along the creek and that is where I met a friend the other day.  It was her part of town and she was my guide for the day.  The magnolia trees were at peak bloom and the fragrance of their blossoms filled the air.

below: Magnolia

below: Three magnolia buds ready to open up.

below: Other trees and shrubs were also laden with blossoms

below: Volunteers working in the Teaching Garden, preparing the beds for planting.

below: Some of the different types of trees that grow here – three different bark colours.

below: A willow tree by Wilket Creek

below: Dawn Redwood tree (aka Metasequoia tree)

below: Parts of the gardens were closed for repairs to the banks of the creek and the path alongside it.

Walking the ravine north from Edwards Gardens is impossible – unfortunately, that stretch of the ravine  is not open to the public.  A gap in the system. We rejoined the creek at Windfields Park.

below: A rock stuck in a hard place, where rocks usually aren’t found.

below: Yellow wildflowers, Lesser Celandine which is apparently an invasive species.

below: A tennis ball in the wild.

below: Two birch trees, probably Silver Birch because of the brown bark of the younger tree that will soon shed to reveal the white bark below.

below: Yellow trout lily. The flashy red parts hang downwards so they are hidden close to the forest floor. The flowers are difficult to spot but the mottled green and brown leaves give them away.

below: Bloodroot flowers

With thanks to Iskuhi for walking with me and teaching me the names of some trees and wildflowers. … and for some playing with sunlight and shadows (because that’s what photographers do!).