Cats in Winterwear

Stone cats in the front lawn of a nearby house in our neighborhood.

Christmas 2021

Christmas decorations in Danforth Village area.

Winter Peacock

 

An unusual Christmas decoration in our neighborhood.

Ready for Work

A fluffy squirrel from today's walk. Looks like a gentleman going out for work in his shaggy overcoat braving the harsh weather.

Alone in the Park in Snowfall

I am walking alone in the park in light snowfall. Not a single soul is in sight. Just soft thud of dropping snowflakes, a low howl of passing wind, and a gentle crunch of snow under my shoes are filling my senses. It is a strange feeling as if the whole world has slipped into a state of deep slumber.

Preparations for Christmas

Preparations for Christmas in the neighborhood.

Language Monument

This monument was completed in April this year in Dentonia Park, East York but its plaque has only been added recently. It commemorates the right of all people to speak their mother tongues. This monument is a small-scale replica of the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The original monument in Dhaka goes up to a height of 14 meters.

Life is just a blink

Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly: Life is just a blink, huh?

It’s… its one heartbeat in the entire lifespan of the universe.

Just don’t really think I understood that before.

Commander Saru: How we choose to spend our moments in the short time we have … matters.

Star Trek: Discovery S4:E2 Anomaly

Image Credit: JPL, NASA (Spitzer Image of Star Factory W51)

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day poster at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 on Dawes Road, East York. 

This day is observed in Commonwealth countries to commemorate the end of the First World War and to honor armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

Car Art

This car in the parking lot of Shopper's World, Danforth, reminded me of Truck Art in Pakistan. The owner was kind enough to let me photograph the inside of the car too.

Busy Bumblebees

Moss Rose

Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a common sight in Pakistani gardens and it is locally known as "گل دوپہری". In fact, it is such a familiar flower over there that I always thought of it as a native species. So I was naturally overjoyed to find it here. But a little googling tells me that this succulent plant is actually native to South America. This sun-loving plant is also known as the Eleven o'clock flower, Mexican Rose, and Sun Rose in various parts of the world. 

Yellow Dahlia

Dahlia is my favorite flower. It is one of the most versatile flowers in nature. It symbolizes elegance, dignity, and creativity. 

Its tubers were cultivated for food by the Aztecs civilization in Central America. It is also the national flower of Mexico.

Sibley Avenue Laneway Murals

These murals are in a laneway behind Sibley Avenue towards the west. The second mural is by Jessey (Phade) Pacho.

Cat and the Squirrel

Domestic cats kill millions of birds and small animals every year in Canada. Wildlife conservationists advise cat owners to keep them indoor and to adopt preventive measures like putting bells and bright color collars around their necks. But cats are stealthy. At a number of times, I have seen domestic cats giving a chase to a squirrel or an unsuspected bird. 

These metal cutouts on a fence in our neighborhood are perhaps an effort to warn squirrels of such a lurking danger. 

Skyscraper or Mammoth?

I have never seen such a huge sunflower in a garden before. A google search came up with a few contenders like Skyscraper Sunflower, Russian Mammoth Sunflower, and American Giant Sunflower.  However, all these are said to be 12 to 14 feet high. This particular one in our neighborhood is much shorter, barely touching 8 feet. Perhaps, it is due to specific soil conditions and the environment. Still, it is something unique that needs to be admired.

Outside the Box at Pharmacy Ave & Denton Ave

Artist: Sam Roe

Program: StART Outside the Box Program by the City of Toronto

Year: 2021

Red Admiral

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) on Coneflowers. Dorsal and ventral views.

Bicolored Sweat Bees

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bees on Cone and Firewheel flowers.

Colour and Wellbeing on Danforth

"Colour is the language of emotion and a tool powerful enough to help repair spaces and minds."

 Jacquie Comrie

The Mural was created in the summer of 2019 for Golden Pizza, Danforth Avenue.

Outside the Box near Danforth and Westlake

 

Artist: Heidi Berton

Program: Outside the Box, Destination Danforth

Dated: October 2020.

A moving mural

Artist: Kizmet Gabriel (for a local brewery)

Title: Hydrahedron

Year: 2018

This is truly unique and eyecatching. Why don't all delivery services hire artists to decorate their vehicles? This will make the city much more colorful and interesting.

Urban Wildflowers in July

Last month I covered a few wildflowers that I photographed along the Tylor Greek Trail. But these hardy plants are not just limited to the open spaces. There are a lot more of them hiding in plain sight within the city along sidewalks, around car parks, and untended front lawns. They just require a tiny bit of dirt and moisture to secure a foothold and flourish.

This list is not exhaustive. I am sure that many more are lurking around.

Common Chicory or Blue Dandelion

Field Mustard

Cowbells (Bladder Campion)

Field Bindweed

Perennial Sowthistle

Wild Carrots or Queen Anne's Lace

Bouncing-bet or Common Soapwort

Creeping Bellflower

Smooth Brome or Russian Bromegrass

Monarch Butterfly on Viper's bugloss

Fowl Bluegrass

Bull Thistle