When Bob and I paddled through the extensive wetlands known as Minesing Swamp, one of the highlights was observing dozens of Great Egrets at rest in a stand of long-dead trees. The sight was breathtaking! Read more
Solitary Sandpiper At Fernwood Farms In Stayner
Bob and I enjoy making annual trips to Fernwood Farms in Stayner, Ontario, for that is where we pick the biggest, juiciest blueberries that one can imagine. There had been a deluge of rain the day before we visited the farm, and a Solitary Sandpiper was making use of an impromptu pond that had formed at the edge of the cornfield. Read more
Tomato Hornworm Moths At Grand Canyon National Park
After a full day of activity at Grand Canyon National Park, we were returning late to our room at Maswik Lodge when a flicker of movement drew my eye towards the stunning night-blooming Moonflowers. We were not the only ones attracted by the glowing white flowers. Numerous Tomato Hornworm Moths, also known as Five-spotted Hawkmoths, were circling for a landing. Read more
Western Scrub Jay At Grand Canyon National Park
Bob and I had been catching glimpses of the Western Scrub Jay since our arrival at Grand Canyon National Park, but it wasn’t until we were on our early morning hike down the Bright Angel Trail that we finally caught sight of a Western Scrub Jay sitting in a tree…stationary enough for us to snap a few quick photos before we continued on our marathon hike. Read more
Black-and-White Warbler Visits Our Backyard
My husband, Bob, while in the process of putting bird food into the feeders, happened to notice a new visitor to our backyard…a Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia), a type of Wood Warbler. Read more
The Daylily Garden at Montreal Botanical Gardens
One summer, Bob and I drove to Montreal in Quebec, Canada, to take in the Mosaiculture competition underway at Montreal Botanical Gardens. The Garden had so much more to offer, including 31 specialized gardens. When we hit upon the Daylily Garden, I could not believe the number and varieties of daylilies covering endless flowerbeds…daylilies such as this ruby red beauty. Read more
Great Blue Heron Chicks At Oxtongue Lake Rookery
On a visit to Oxtongue Lake, in Ontario, Bob and I made a point of revisiting the now familiar Great Blue Heron rookery because we knew the Great Blue Herons had made their return to the nests earlier this spring. What a delight to see so many young herons once we got our binoculars and camera lenses focused on the nests. Read more
Red Fox Smells the Flowers at Montreal’s Botanical Gardens
As Bob and I were about to leave Montreal’s Botanical Gardens, after a day-long tour of the wonderful Mosaicultures garden exhibit, we came upon a Red Fox sniffing around the various plants in one specialized garden. What a surprise to find this wild creature quite at home in urban Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Read more
Mosaiculture 2013 At Montreal Botanical Gardens
When I read Sonia Day’s article in the Toronto Star, about Mosaiculture 2013, an international competition being held at the Montreal Botanical Garden, I was consumed with intrigue. Competitors from around the world had created giant living “sculptures” using plants as their medium, and the theme for 2013’s competition was Land of Hope. Bob, and I just had to go and check it out. Read more
Painted Turtles Near Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
On a beautiful sunny day, Bob and I decided to head to the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in search of birds that are uncommon in our own part of the province. As we approached Forks of the Credit Provincial Park near Caledon, along a quiet country road called McLaren Road, a vibrant green sludge drew our eyes to a pond at the side of the highway. When we spotted a turtle poking its head up through the surface of the water, we had to pull over for a look. The reptile turned out to be an Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta). Read more