November in High Park
The beginning of November treats Toronto and its people with the nice, almost summer weather. High Park in the morning is just right place to enjoy this kind of days. There are still a lot of autumn colours around.
Swansea
Swansea is a neighbourhood in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, bounded on the west by the Humber River, on the north by Bloor Street, on the east by High Park where Grenadier Pond is located and on the south by Lake Ontario. Surrounded by the river, ponds and lakes it attracts a lot of waterfowl. Swans give a special beauty and appeal of this place and attract many visitors to admire them.
Spring is interesting time to observe courtship and the appearance of offspring. Swans do it nicely. They carefully treat their companions, protect them from encroachment of uninvited guests and take care of their offspring.
Swans is one of Swansea hallmarks.
Frosty Morning
It was bright, crispy, windy and cold Sunday morning. Quiet time. You can meet by that time only “early birds”. It is time for walking and thinking. Nothing and nobody bothering. The best time of the day!
Here comes the Sun
Gulls on the Ice
Ice and Trees
Bench
Reflection
Photographer
Grenadier Pond
Wooden Bridge
Cloud in the Sky
Red-winged Blackbird
Spring is coming
White Christmas
Christmas is the main and most picturesque holiday of the year. A lot of people are waiting for that dreamy time with anticipation. It is a magic time with beautiful Christmas Trees, Santa Clause Parade, wonderful decorations everywhere, Christmas songs and carols. People are excited with the Christmas shopping to make gifts for their families, kids and loves. Everybody dreams of a White Christmas like in Irving Berlin song. But sometimes unexpected events overshadow that lovely holiday.
On the night of December 22 in Toronto freezing rain broke Christmas plans for many people. In a few hours trees and bushes covered with a thick crust of ice. Electrical lines and wires could not carry so heavy weight and start to brake. Trees fell down. City and Province of Ontario dived into the darkness. In the morning about 350 thousand people did not have power at their houses.
In everyday life we do not realize how we are dependent of electricity. If it happens to lose it there is a terrible sense of discomfort. But when it goes on for long hours and days the sense of feeling discomfort turn into disaster. In the wintertime that situation is getting worse because of lack of heat. And finally short and gloomy winter daylight drives people in state of depression. Such feelings were observed during the Christmas period in many places of Toronto.
Fortunately, not the entire city was in darkness, and people could move to their relatives, friends, and acquaintances.
City and provincial authorities and services actively worked on troubleshooting, but the damages were huge and many people did not have power until December 29. Even today, December 30, the day of publication of that post, about two and a half thousand people remain without electricity.
But the world around looked beautiful. Crystals on the trees and bushes were magic. When a few days later the sun came out everything was shine and sparkling.
Snow whirled and fluttered in the air and laid over the frozen ground.
Over the past few years White Christmas came to Toronto for the first time.
The last autumn breath
The third day of November was the usual partly cloudy and sunny day in Toronto. There were no rain and wind. But it was the last chance to see the fall colour. Next day rain and wind washed all that beauty out. Now we have mostly grey and rainy November days. The nature is waiting for the white winter attire. My daily companion iPhone helped to save this day for your review.
The first picture is the Grenadier Pond with the reflection of the High Park trees in it.
The berries on the bush is only treat for birds for now.
Autumn trees and bushes are looking at themselves in the pond water mirror.
Only some of Maple trees still are looking gorgeous in the red decoration.
However most of them are almost bald.
Oaks are red as well but not all of them. Oaks are stronger than maples and save their leave longer on their heads.
That Maple is red and yellow and looking like a watercolor painted art under the fall sun.
It is going to be white and green very soon with the snow and pine tree. Good bye Autumn! Welcome Winter!
Grenadier Pond
Grenadier Pond
At the beginning of March it is still wintry. Officially we are going to meet spring on March 20.
Ice on the Pond
Sunday, March 3, was cold and grey day. In the morning it was quiet in High Park. The biggest pond in Toronto – Grenadier Pond – is still under the ice. The ice on the pond is still pretty solid, but along the bank it is already soft and full of water like a sponge.
Ice and water
People trying to use the last chance to enjoy skating on the natural skating rink but for the birds it is hard time. They are suffering from cold and lack of food. It is really pity to see them on the ice. That day I met swan’s couple sitting on the cold icy pond surface and warming up themselves. From the faraway it was looking like two small snowdrifts. Swans have hidden their heads under the wings and legs under the body. But then with the close looking I have found feathers motion under the wind. Oh!
Swans and Scater
Gentleman on guard
Walking further along the trail I’ve met ducks in the open water. Some of them have painted boring and grey landscape with their green heads, yellow beaks, and orange legs.
Ducks in the water.
Green and Grey
Colour on White
Soon it will be springtime!
World in your eyes 