Zest

On the back of my husband's physiotherapist's T-shirt

June 1st is City Daily Photo Theme Day and this month's challenge is ZEST.

Few people have more ZEST than my husband's physiotherapists.  They take their jobs seriously but have fun doing it.

Did you know that May was Physiotherapy Month? I probably wouldn't know either if my husband were not still a patient at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket.  Last week the physiotherapists there celebrated with an open house in the third-floor gym, inviting hospital workers and visitors to check out what they do.

I won't show you photos of the patients but here are some visitors:

Invited to swim at the open house

The hospital pool was part of the open house too. At the shallow end, nine rubber duckies and one rubber frog were allowed to float in a small roped-in area. How could you NOT feel happy seeing these enthusiastic swimmers?

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

Pony

Pony in dappled light

The pony was somewhat curious about me but not enough to move closer and check me out, so I had to zoom in with my point and shoot. Maybe next time? I know the owners but I was in too much of a rush to move in closer.

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.

Cafeteria Window

 Patio reflected in hospital cafeteria window #1

Now that the weather has turned delightfully warm, patients, visitors and hospital workers enjoy fresh air and sunshine on the patio behind the hospital's cafeteria.

Patio reflected in hospital cafeteria window #2

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Two Ponies

Local farm

It was such a pretty morning on my way to Newmarket yesterday, I took a slightly different route and happened upon these ponies totally unaware that they and the fence behind them were a photo op for today's Good Fences.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE.

Blue Jay at Feeder

 Peanuts!

Peanuts are rich in protein and fat and attract many birds to feeders.

 Yum!

This blue jay was so attracted that it hardly noticed I was only a few feet away with my camera.

Are you looking at me?

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Silo and Barn

 Silo

This old barn and silo must have been a beauty in its day but now it's slowly falling apart.

Taken from a little farther away

I would have loved to have taken a photo from a slightly different angle but there are several no trespassing signs so I was not able to, otherwise I might have sneaked up the driveway a short way. From this angle I had to shoot over distracting shrubs.

In celebration of the old and wonderful "stuff", I  am connecting to Rubbish Tuesday HERE.

Blooming Now

 Bleeding Hearts

I love the perennials in my gardens because even though I have little time to tend them right now, they are blooming anyway! These are some of the flowers blooming on Sunday.

 Globeflower

 Tulips

Tulips on the wane, but still pretty

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Tulips Alive and Well

 Tulip in my garden today

Yes, tulips are still blooming in my gardens. I know we in central Canada are WAY behind most of the rest of you garden-wise,  but I still have these (just barely) blooming in my gardens.  What would spring be like without tulips? The idea boggles my mind.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Peanut Feeder

 Downy woodpecker at peanut feeder

We have a couple of peanut feeders loved by local woodpeckers. The top photo is of a feeder that hangs from an apple tree.

Our other feeder, this one hanging from a metal stand

This feeder is emptying quickly.

Yummy peanuts

Peanuts at the bottom taste the best, right?

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.

Lines on Glass

 Tree and utility wires reflected

I'm fascinated by straight lines that turn squiggly in windows.

Concrete reflected

In other glass, straight lines are reflected straight.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Ordinary Fence, Fancy Gate

Another scene I pass by daily on my way to Southlake Hospital (Newmarket) to visit my husband. Usually there's too much traffic, but last Saturday I  was able to stop to capture this.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE.

Frequent Fliers

 Female goldfinch (Spinus tristus)

A goldfinch pair is often at our sunflower feeder. They always know when the feeder has been refilled so I suspect they hide out in one of our spruce trees. The female seems to be wondering "Are you looking at me?" Or perhaps she dropped a seed and is watching it fall.

Male goldfinch

The male here is hanging on to the wire above the feeder, a seed in his mouth.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Dilapidated Fence

 Old fencing

I pass this fencing on my way to Newmarket every day. It's still rural here but just barely. To the west is a major south-north highway that is expanding its reach north from Toronto, bringing with it urbanization and suburbanization.

Longer view

Whatever this fence once held in is long gone.

In celebration of the old and wonderful, I  am connecting to Rubbish Tuesday HERE.

Victoria Day Weekend

It's a three-day weekend in Ontario!

Today is Victoria Day, the day we here officially remember Queen Victoria.  As you can see, a few trees are leafing out, but this holiday weekend has been quite cool. Traditionally many gardeners in central Ontario celebrate Queen Victoria's remembrance by planting annuals in their gardens. But NOT this year! At least for me! It's still too cold.

 Hellebore in my garden

Hellebores are perennials, though, so they are OK with this year's cooler weather .

Closeup of Hellebore

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Yard Notes

 Wild violets #1

A patch of wild violets are happy blooming beneath the Rosa Rugosas in by side yard.

 Wild violets #2

Many gardeners regard violets as weeds. Not me! They remind me of happy childhood days. :)

 Red tulips

Yes, that's a birdbath that needs to be put back together and filled with water.  OK, I'll do it TODAY. (Don't worry, we also have a larger birdbath fairly close to this one.)

American Robin

Every morning lately, this guy serenades everyone in the yard. He's soooo happy!

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Then and Now

 Remains of last year's blossom

A well-established climbing hydrangea climbs the wall of the patio outside Southlake Hospital's (Newmarket) cafeteria. It holds memories of last year as well as hope for the year to come.

Buds of this year's blossoms

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Bumbling About

Bumblebee on periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Last week the bumblebees were out and about. I'm fond of these busy pollinators, the first I've seen this year.

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.

Hospital Pool

 Pool reflections #1

Southlake Hospital has a therapy pool with weird and wonderful reflections.

Pool reflections #2

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Hospital Rooftop Blossoms

Narcissus

Spring bulbs are up and blooming in the third-floor  garden at  Southlake Hospital, Newmarket.

 Grape hyacinths and pink tulips

Volunteers care for this garden just outside the gym (aka rehab room).

Orange tulips

Paddocks

Horses boarded here

As you can see, Nature is greening up and horses are out enjoying sunshine and fresh grass.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE.

Weathered Sign

Seen in an alley way

I was drawn to the colour and simplicity of this sign as well as the rust and weathered paint.

In celebration of the old and wonderful, I  am connecting to Rubbish Tuesday HERE.

Tea Time!

A special treat - teapot and cups 

My husband is still in hospital - it has been nearly nine weeks - but some of the staff at Southlake in Newmarket have made my husband's stay quite nice.

Jane is a special member of the staff.  So far I have never seen Jane grumpy even though some patients are slobs  messy and it's Jane's job to keep their room's spic and span.  Plus if a patient wants an extra pillow (or just about anything else in the supply closet), it's Jane who cheerfully fetches it.

But Jane topped herself on Friday when, for no special reason - except that she felt like it  - she brought from home a teapot and some teacups to serve tea to her patients and their guests.

Jane

Thanks, Jane!

FYI: This would have been a better photo if I had engaged the flash on my camera

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

May 11 Nature Notes

 Grecian windflower

With no help from me this spring, these bulbs have sprung up in my gardens this week.

 Bethlehem  Sage

 Species tulips

Daffodil

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.