Bonsai Trees

Photos: April 6, 2016

Yesterday at the Botanical Gardens we walked through the greenhouse that holds a number of bonsai trees. It is hard to imagine the care and expertise needed to nurture these specimens. This is a 40 year old Chinese Peashrub.



This Gingko is just coming into leaf again. I'll have to make a point of going back to see what it is like when the foliage is full.



(Above - a Japanese Maple - 65 years old)  I'm fascinated by the art of bonsai. It takes a lot of skill and patience. This site has a lot of information. It's interesting to see the trees undergoing seasonal changes.



This Bald Cypress is also 65 years old. How many people have been responsible for its care? On the site mentioned above, there are photos of bonsais that are 800 years old and older. It is hard to imagine the succession of people who have nurtured them - through all kinds of upheaval (political, weather...) until now. They are works of love and devotion.

*******************************
As the above photos were taken yesterday (as were my butterflies, I figured I should include one photo from today



We have had snow and rain since our visit to the Botanical Gardens yesterday. It is April; it will melt, but in the meantime I prefer to sit with my back to the dreary weather and think again of butterflies and bonsais.

Butterflies Go Free

A delightful afternoon spent at the Botanical Garden's exhibit of Butterflies Go Free.
It is simply magical to enter this space and be surrounded by butterflies flitting around.



These butterflies are hard to capture as most of the time they are resting, their wings are closed. Their blue colour is spectacular.



Some pose, staying in one spot for a long time. Others seem to be always on the move.



Some perch daintily as they feed. Others flap their wings madly to stay in place.



But each is a thing of beauty. I try to imagine why they have evolved the way they have with their intricate colours and patterns. It was not just to be admired.

I am sure I did not spot all the varieties that were in the greenhouse. Here is the pamphlet that describes them all. 

A Newly Blooming Orchid

I know I've written about, photographed, featured my orchids frequently on this blog. But the pressure of coming up with a photo a day sends me back to some of my favourite themes. I know the pressure is self-imposed. Nothing will happen if a day passes and there are no photos, but as my children will attest to, I am a stubborn person and I like to meet the goals I set for myself. So here are my orchids, again.



While I am semi-retired, I still work part time - organizing web events and giving workshops for and with teachers. I know that one time workshops accomplish little in the short run, but I justify what I do by comparing it to planting seeds. You have to be patient (just as I am with my orchids). You just never know when seeds take root, when ideas germinate, when flowers bloom, when teachers may incorporate ideas that were introduced in a workshop and make them their own. I usually don't know if my efforts have had any effect, but occasionally someone will let me know and then I feel I have been given a gift - a virtual flower. These orchids remind me that patience has its rewards but that it is always worth pushing forward for those unexpected moments of incredible beauty.

Walk on a Chilly Day

Photos: April 4, 2016

The flowers that were opened to the sun are huddling together, preserving warmth. A polar vortex has swept in - a brief return to wintry temperatures. Back to hats and gloves and scarves as a cold wind makes the air feel even colder.



I couldn't help but think this tree was smiling at me - glad to have someone to share the enjoyment of his outdoors life. Soon the daytime highs will once again be above freezing. The flowers will soon open again and be joined but the succession of spring blooms.

Cooked to Perfection

My spouse cooks a great roast chicken. I feel truly spoiled when I sit down to his chicken dinner. He starts with an organic chicken. Aside from the ethical issues of eating organic meat, I do believe it tastes better. He bastes it with oil and herbs. Our home is filled with the tantalizing aroma of rosemary. It doesn't take a lot of ingredients to make a wonderful meal. Fresh beans, some quinoa and a salad rounded off the menu (and, of course, a bit of wine).

Tulips

Photos: April 2, 2016

As far as I'm concerned you can never have too many flowers or take too many photographs of flowers. I picked up a large bunch of tulips on Tuesday and they are lasting nicely. Half are in my living room and half in my office. As spring slowly creeps in outdoors, (a polar vortex is bringing back a few days of winter temperatures), I can enjoy an indoor spring.

Car Sharing

The two cars in front are part of a fleet that are available to subscribers of the service. Montreal has several car sharing services. While I don't use them, I know many who do. I do own a car, but use public transportation a fair amount. I love the concept of a sharing society - but know, that in some cases, the developers of the sharing ideas (e.g. Uber, AirB&B) are earning loads of money providing the means to share.