Graffiti/ CDP Theme Day

Graffiti on freight car being pulled by a Canadian National engine

Some graffiti comes and goes through East Gwillimbury on a fairly regular basis.

Today is City Daily Photo theme day.  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Bolsover/ Sky Watch

Last night (September 29), Talbot River, Bolsover, Ontario

From the road, my camera peeked through some staghorn sumac bushes and other foliage to  capture the light and reflections on the river.


  To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on the thumbnail photos: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Eldred King Tract/ Nature Notes

Eldred King Tract, York Regional Forest

Most leaves here are still green but autumn is very much in the air even though when I took these photos the temperature was 31°C or 88°F.

I haven't a clue as to what this tipi made of logs is doing here as it's built around a tree and there's very little room inside...even for a kid. My friend, her dog and I often walk in the York Regional Forest and sometimes come across sculptures made of materials found in the forest. This was built in a natural clearing and could be seen from the path.

Next, a pine cone from an Eastern White Pine. We saw quite a few on the path - we've had some high winds lately.

Mushrooms are popping up like, er, mushrooms. It has been wet and rainy. Edible? Dunno, but it looks like some small animal had a taste.

Asters. I'm guessing that these are arrow-leafed asters (Symphyotrichum urophyllum) as they are common in Ontario. I should have taken a better photo of the leaves to be accurate.

Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), an invasive shrub particularly in the Ottawa area.  The berries are NOT edible.

The oak leaf is loosing it's chlorophyll. Some critter has been chomping parts of the leaf away leaving lace.

For more Nature Notes,  please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking  HERE.

Boathouse/ Outdoor Wednesday

Boathouse, Windemere, Ontario

It's hard to believe it was summer just a couple of weeks ago!

To see more outdoor photos, visit Outdoor Wednesday

Flying Low/ Watery Wednesday

Gull surveying an empty beach on Lake Ontario

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

 

Casino Rama/ My World

Doors into casino at Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario

My husband and I were on our way north to see colourful autumn foliage when we decided to take a short side trip to check out the achitecture of this casino outside Orillia on the shores of Lake Couchiching. Casino Rama is a hotel, casino and entertainment complex located 90 minutes north of Toronto on the Chippewas of Rama First Nation reserve.

According to the architects, one challenge in designing the building was to incorporate aspects of the Chippewa culture. To the left of the tipi-like structure is a rectangular building (which you cannot see) clad with metal panels featuring a 1,500- x 40-foot mural of aboriginal artwork.

Selected motifs from a small section of the art wall on the outside of the building

Here's a sample of what's included in the mural. In the largest square of this mosaic, you see a tree containing many motifs important to the people living on the Chippewas of Rama First Nations Reserve. The remaining squares show five of the motifs more clearly.

Panels featuring a flock of geese

Sorry about the wooden barrier in front of the geese. I suspect they are there to protect the mural.

More panels, these featuring deer and (I think) a wolf or coyote

Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

Mountain Ash/ Macro Monday

Water droplets on European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) branches and berries

I especially like the droplet with the berry reflection.

  To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Aster/ Today's Flowers

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

This aster is a common wildflower in fields and along roadsides across Ontario. New England asters are so attractive they are often sold at nurseries.

Bumble bees on New England asters

 As you can see the bumblebees like them too!

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Reflection/ SOOC

Looking under a bridge to the other side

Last Sunday evening, the light was perfect for capturing reflections.


  To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Painted Lady/ Camera Critters

A painted lady butterfly sipping nectar

Butterflies are still visiting my butterfly bush and I'm happily taking photos of them.

To join in the fun at Macro Flowere Saturday, click HERE.


  To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Fall Colour/ Weekend Reflections

Canal River (I think) south of Severn Falls, Ontario

Not many trees have turned orange and yellow in East Gwillimbury, but some foliage in areas to the north have. This shot was taken late in the day when the water was fairly calm.

Light reflected onto the clouds and then down to the water.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Talbot River/ Sky Watch

Mid September sunset over the Talbot River, Ontario

This shot was taken from the bridge over the Talbot River, Bolsover, Ontario.


  To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on the thumbnail photos: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Forest/ Nature Notes

Last Monday in the York Regional Forest

The weather was cool but beautiful last Monday, perfect for a walk in the forest. Oh, and perfect for riding horseback too, as you can see in the largest square of this mosaic.  Moving clockwise: dried and curled fern (most ferns are still green but this variety has retired for the year), Pringle's aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) that has turned a vibrant red,  a mauve-coloured New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), and yellow leaves on small shrub (not sure what)..

For more Nature Notes,  please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking  HERE.

Summer Into Autumn/ Outdoor Wednesday

Here in Ontario, autumn begins tonight at 11:09pm Eastern Daylight Time

This sunrise photo was taken in very late summer but doesn't it look like autumn?

To see more outdoor photos, visit Outdoor Wednesday

Sunday Evening/ Watery Wednesday

Sunday evening after the cottagers have returned to the city for another five days

The chairs are empty but the reflections are full!

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

 

Muskoka Wharf/ My World

Wenonah II, Gravenhurst, Ontario

Yesterday was a beautiful day, the last weekend of the summer of 2010, so my husband and I drove north to Gravenhurst on Lake Muskoka to enjoy this beautiful time of year. While at the Muskoka Wharf eating drop-dead delicious Kawartha ice cream, I was lucky enough to capture the Wenonah II just before it docked.

The Wenonah II takes up to 200 tourists on various cruises in this area.

RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Segwun, North America's oldest operating steamship

RMS Segwun was already at the dock, smoke still emitting from her stack. Smaller than the Wenonah II (she can carry up to 99 passengers), she was built in 1887, originally as a side-wheel paddle steamer called Nippissing II. But in 1925 it was rebuilt and renamed Seqwun, which means "Springtime" in the language of the Objibwa.

Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

American Dagger/ Macro Monday

American Dagger Caterpillar

This cute little caterpillar (Acronicta americana) was looking for a spot to spin a cocoon. When it emerges it will be an American dagger moth. Click HERE to see a photo of the moth.

When we put the caterpillar back down on our porch, it headed toward the steps, took one good long look, and turned around. It wanted to go UP not down so cossed the porch to climb up the side of the house. It's up there somewhere waiting for spring!

  To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Castor Plant/ Today's Flowers

Fruit (poisonous) of the castor plant (Rincinus communis)

Considered a striking annual in  gardens here in Ontario,  castor plant is a weed in parts of the southern United States where it is a prolific perennial.  For sure, wherever it grows it's a robust plant that looks quite tropical. This particular plant has large green leaves with red veins. 

Closeup of the spiny, poisonous fruit

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Musselman's Lake/ SOOC

Sundown over Musselman's Lake

For a few minutes the sun slipped beneath a band of thick, dark clouds.

  To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Great Crested Flycatcher/ Camera Critters

Great-crested Flycatcher

Actually this pretty bird and its mate visited my gardens for a few days a while ago and I am just getting around to posting it now.  I had never seen one before!


  To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Aglow/ Weekend Reflection

End of Day at pond just south of East Gwillimbury

Light reflected onto the clouds and then down to the water.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE! 

Horses at Sunrise/ Sky Watch

Sunrise but looking WESTERLY at horses in the early morning sunshine

The golden light and the way it shines on the clouds to turn them pink makes it worth getting up early.


  To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on the thumbnail photos: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Creekside/ Nature Notes

Growing beside a local creek on Monday

Starting with the largest square and working clockwise: high bush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum), osier dogwood berries (Cornus stolonifera), soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) still blooming, milkweed (Asclepias)) pods, and seed head of unknown grass.

For more Nature Notes,  please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking  HERE.