A tiny garden

 On the corner of Nelson and Westminster.

Stopping at Montreal West train station

Sometimes I'll go for a walk and, mid-way, I'll be at the Montreal West train station (it's only for commuters now and run by the City of Montreal) and I'll stop and sit on a bench by the tracks for a few minutes. The sound of trains on the tracks, the smell of creosote, a train passing in the distance, these are things most Canadians used to be nostalgic about; it's not that the railways are in decline, they're busier than ever, they're making more money now than ever, it's just that urbanized Canadians don't have much to do with the railways now that travel by train has declined and fewer people work for our railways. Many members of my family worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it was a kind of tradition. 

Out walking this January morning

 

Walking along the hidden trail

The hidden trail is accessed under the Westminster Bridge, not far from here. Despite loving nature, or what is left of nature in the city, I rarely walk on this trail. An article published on 19 September 2022, "A natural path to dealing with depression", states that getting out for a walk and being in nature is beneficial for one's emotional and physical health. Those getting out of the house and walking in nature will be more physically and healthy-minded for it; any walking is better than not walking at all. The curious thing about this trail is that you meet so few people on it, I think today's walk was exceptional, I passed three people and two dogs. You know, if you can get out and walk an hour a week, or a little more than that, and you can lose five pounds, which is almost impossible for most people, you can actually lower both your blood sugar level and your cholesterol level. Doing anything is better than doing nothing at all...

On Percival Avenue

 

Always walk where it is aesthetically pleasing, it's depressing otherwise. And walk for health, it's not sight-seeing, it's staying alive and healthy, so keep it brisk! Brave words but something I aspire to follow... 

Here we are leaving Strathern Park--I don't live in the Town of Montreal West, it is adjacent to where I live--but I like walking here. Then it's a left on Percival Avenue and, for the second year, coming across these cosmos flowers. Cosmos are not perennials but they are self-seeding and quite prolific. They are the garden cosmos, the Mexican aster. One day walking on Percival I remembered that my mother's doctor was Dr. Percival, a woman doctor. Strange how things come back to you, by association or by chance.

How far did they get with burying the St. Pierre River?

Not far at all considering they were in such a rush to get construction begun and get the last remaining above ground section of the St. Pierre River buried... As of March 10, 2022 this is what they've done. By now, four months after this work was begun, maybe they could have fixed the source of the problem, private residences incorrectly connected to the waste water pipes, and possibly moved on to the next step, restoring segments of the St. Pierre River above ground. 

Any politician who championed restoring the river would have been considered a hero to the community, they would have been praised for their vision and long-term commitment and effort towards saving a little of the remaining nature in the city. Will a politician be remembered and praised because he promoted condo development? I don't think so. 

Photos taken looking over a fence into Meadowbrook Golf Course from Toe Blake Park in Montreal West.

Farewell winter 2022

It's the last day of winter, the first day of spring. Winter 2022, you will not be missed. Hurrah for spring! Any spring, this spring or spring next year!

Here is the news on the spring equinox: 

When does spring 2022 start? Twelve hours of daylight returns on Sunday with the spring equinox. The vernal (aka spring) equinox will occur this Sunday, March 20, at 11:33 a.m. EDT. On Sunday, there will be roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness almost everywhere on Earth.

Photos taken on March 10, on the path from behind an apartment building to the Westminster Bridge. 

Farewell winter, you will not be missed; if only you didn't overstay your welcome,

but you always stay too long, four months, five months (we don't like you that much),

it's too much to bear, you're not even scenic by the end,

and even two months is too long for winter, 

we tire of you, oh winter, 

which is surely a bad sign, and we are happy to see you go,

you are no longer pretty or cosy or even welcome,

and we are no longer happy as we were with the first snow,

by the end snow is just snow, dull, grey, and slushy;

farewell winter, you will not be missed;

there's a new season in town, it's time for spring.

Last day of winter at Strathearn Park

19 March 2021.