At Loyola Park, a quiet place

 

The garden in early June 2023

Photographs taken early June 2023. 

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. 

Last walk on the hidden trail for this year

Although we've had a few mild days, the cold is upon us and it makes life a lot less enjoyable. While I am usually happy to go for a morning walk, now, hearing that it is -10 C outside, I think it might be a good day to stay indoors, or go for a shorter walk and buy a few groceries on the way home. There is really nothing appealing about cold weather, not our cold weather. And it was cold a few days ago when I went for a last walk for this year on the hidden trail. The usual conviviality of walkers and dog owners was gone, it was all women dog walkers and me. The dogs enjoyed barking at me, and what of the women? I ignored them as I hurried along, cold, colder, and getting colder still. 

Note: these photos were taken at least two weeks ago, before we had all of the snow we now have, and it's still falling.

"Dark August" by Derek Walcott

Dark August

     By Derek Walcott

So much rain, so much life like the swollen sky
of this black August. My sister, the sun,
broods in her yellow room and won't come out.

Everything goes to hell; the mountains fume
like a kettle, rivers overrun; still,
she will not rise and turn off the rain.

She is in her room, fondling old things,
my poems, turning her album. Even if thunder falls
like a crash of plates from the sky,

she does not come out.
Don't you know I love you but am hopeless
at fixing the rain ? But I am learning slowly

to love the dark days, the steaming hills,
the air with gossiping mosquitoes,
and to sip the medicine of bitterness,

so that when you emerge, my sister,
parting the beads of the rain,
with your forehead of flowers and eyes of forgiveness,

all will not be as it was, but it will be true
(you see they will not let me love
as I want), because, my sister, then

I would have learnt to love black days like bright ones,
The black rain, the white hills, when once
I loved only my happiness and you.

Gardening

 Photos taken end of July 2022.

Your Inner Hermit enjoys gardening

 Photos taken the end of July 2022.

This is Lythrum "Terra Nova", more commonly known as Purple Loosestrife

Hollyhocks

Foxglove