A garden on the corner of Terrebonne and Mayfair

I've walked by this house, on the corner of Terrebone and Mayfair, for years. I usually stop in the summer to take photographs of honey bees in the hydrangea but the owners have transformed their property into a beautiful garden, no grass, just many different types of plants. Earlier this summer, when I was planning what next to do with my garden, I bought a hydrangea to fill in a place as you enter the side gate, only today did I realize that the hydrangea I bought is the same type as found on this corner. I look forward to having more honey bees in our garden because of this. 

Stopping by St. Philip’s Church

 It was at this moment that I discovered how much honey bees love asters. Summer has ended and the bees are preparing for a long winter, they are bringing in the last pollen and making the last honey that has to last them until next spring when they can, once again, leave the hive in search of pollen and nectar. This is serious business. 

The Village Plaza in September 2015

 

Now the Village Shopping Plaza and the Robert Burns Pub are a ruin, closed, derelict, and slated to be torn down and a high rise mix of apartments and commercial buildings will be built on this site. 

Revisiting the hidden trail

 

Walking to Meadowbrook Golf Course in mid-August

 

Walking to Meadowbrook Golf Course in September 2012

I took these photographs twelve years ago and there have been changes to this short walk to the golf course; trees adjacent to the road have been cut down (I don't see any newly planted trees as they claimed they were going to do). More people are playing golf here than ever. There are more dog walkers and a dog run for people with dogs. Some people on bicycles, but not many. And the rest of us are walkers, walking because we like it and for health reasons. Compare these photographs from 2012 to previous August 2023 walk to Meadowbrook Golf Course.

The hidden trail

 The joy of being in nature.

Return to the hidden trail

First walk this spring on the hidden trail which is on a ridge above the train tracks from the Westminster Bridge to Meadowbrook Golf Course. Access to the trail is below the bridge on the north side.

And, of course, wonderful sounds: birds singing, a train passes (a Canadian sound we all know), water running down to the tracks, and always more birds. 

But I am not impressed with all of the stuff that has been dumped in the area beside the trail: old tires, BBQs, garden junk, people think the world is their personal garbage can. BTW, we don't say "trash" here in Canada, it's just plain old "garbage".

And now there are notices posted saying this area will become part of a larger nature trail through this area. I heard of this before, it seems to be a joint Hydro Quebec - City of Montreal project, to clear the way between different sections of electrical pylons and create new trails that are connected and cross this part of the city . . . they say it will be the country in the city. It's a good idea, I guess, but I don't like losing this trail as it is. However, everything changes -- the St. Pierre River is covered over, the trail will be changed, and so on --. And how long will it be before this happens? At the rate government moves it will be years. So, for once, not worrying.