Monarch on Clover

Monarch on Clover, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.
Photos: July 27, 2013

Who knows how much longer we will see these beautiful butterflies flitting among the flowers. Their numbers have been declining. Their wintering grounds are threatened by logging. They certainly added a flash of colour to my walk - this time with a friend along the water in Lachine



The milkweed is blooming. This is where the butterflies lay their eggs so the newly hatched caterpillars have food to grow on. It is miraculous to me that these creatures fly such enormous distances to places they have never been. Those that are born here have never been to the wintering grounds in Mexico. Those born in Mexico have never been here, yet each year they know just where to go.



We were lucky to spot of a heron. It caught some dinner while we watched - a concentrated look at the water, followed by a quick stab down and then it swallowed its catch.



A family of Canada Geese swam close to shore. The young are almost the size of the parents now. They have time to gain strength before their flight south.

A great day for a walk!

On a Walk

Little Pond, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: July 24, 2013

With cooler weather my walks have resumed - up the hills and through the parks. It's quite a climb to get up to The Boulevard and then I snaked my way down through this hillside park.



My friend J. reminds me that we live on an island. It's important to see the river. So I stop to catch a glance. The air is clear as I can see long past the river to the mountains in the distance.



My walk takes me past the lawn bowlers, dressed nattily in their pristine whites. The grass is perfectly manicured to prevent unintended curves of the ball's path.



I pass by glorious gardens, some with plants I can't identify. These crinkly leaves caught my attention.

This angel hovers over the soldier - a memorial to the war dead. It made me think of The Book Thief, though this anger does not appear as cynical as the angel of death in the book.

From here it was a quick trip to the bank and then a walk home. More than 3 miles in today's walk!