I’m not a great fan of white flowers but these prove the exception. Almost as pretty in bud as in flower.
Tag Archives: Urban Landscape
CHIPPING SPARROW
There were several sparrows feeding on the ground but the smaller chipping sparrow stood out with its distinctive markings and smaller size. It’s a migratory bird and nice to see back in Spring.
HONEYSUCKLE
Let’s just call it Honeysuckle 😏
(See comment below)
This plant is an attractive but invasive species introduced to North America in the late 1800s from Asia. Unlike the native honeysuckles they leaf out early and remain in leaf into the fall. Like many invasive plants, they are hardy and outcompete native plants for space and nutrients. They are pretty though and a common sight each spring.
THIS OLD HOUSE IN MAY
I often return to this corner of my neighbourhood and this house in particular. I love the warm red brick and during spring and summer. wild and cultivated flowers take their turn in the sun.
BREAK TIME
Every spring some house sparrows build their nests in the eaves of a downtown building. I saw this female on a nearby lawn.
NEIGHBOURHOOD FIND
I’m not sure if this was once a trellis or a part of a garden gate. Just a little treasure in someone’s yard.
THIS OLD HOUSE
I often photograph this old house. The tree is slow to bud but casts some interesting shadows on the wall. You can see some green shoots on the lawn too. The weather shot up to 29 C/84 F today (last week we were digging out from an ice storm 😏).
SUMMER’S EASE
When I took this scene I pictured it in black and white. A lazy afternoon in summer.
ANTICIPATION
Waiting for the kids to return.
A LOOK BACK
On this grey afternoon a warm summer scene warms things up a bit.
SIMPLY DANDY
As the days get shorter and colder, seeing a last dandelion is something to relish!
NOVEMBER SCENE
I liked the partial shadow of the branches against the white wall. Quite stark and what a typical November looks and feels like. This year is not the usual though it’s been warm and sunny and some flowers are still in bloom.
SEEN ON A WALK
People often keep their Halloween Pumpkins out long after the holiday is over. Given the artistry involved I can see why.
OCTOBER ORANGE
These flowers are a perfect pumpkin orange. All decked out for Halloween (and taken just a few days ago).
LIGHT AND SHADOW
I pass by this spot quite often but I like it best in fall when the ivy turns colour and the trees cast long shadows.
JAILBIRDS
These little sparrows landed on a fence right in front of me. I was lucky to get this shot, as a dog walker passed by a moment later and they flew off.
COMING UP ROSES
It’s hard to believe I took this last week. These late bloomers sure are hardy.
TIME PASSAGES
This building is a landmark on a gritty downtown street corner, sandwiched between an alley and apartment building. It’s been a Bible depot, reading room and gathering place. When trying to find out more about it, I learned that it had closed permanently. Perhaps another victim of the times.
TENDER CARE
Many older apartment buildings on downtown corner lots have small gardens that look to be maintained by the tenants. Someone had fastened this endearing little sign to the wall.
ON THE WIND
It’s been very windy over the last few days and the trees are beginning to lose their leaves. This maple leaf was caught on its way down. I took it with a small f/stop so I got this attractive background.
COOLING DOWN
Gardens in fall take on many forms here. This one had a more subdued display than some others in my recent posts. Still, with -C nights and +10C days it’s still looking pretty fine. I even saw a butterfly on a walk today.
FIREWORKS
We’ve been having a spectacular autumn. You don’t have to go into the countryside to enjoy the fall colours. Every tree in the neighbourhood seems to be celebrating the season.
SEPTEMBER SUNFLOWERS
I took this yesterday. Summer’s not quite over.
SEEN ON A WALK
I saw this piece of driftwood on the windowsill of an old house which made for a fine display cabinet. The sea, wind and sun produce some striking art.
FLIGHT OF FANCY
Not the usual geese in flight but a fanciful weathervane on the roof of a former church.
ALL THE USUAL SUSPECTS
I thought this was a curious looking set up and took the shot.
THERE’S ART EVERYWHERE
I liked the curves and lines of this ladder that leads to the building’s roof. A piece of functional art.
SEEN IN A LANEWAY
The owners took some thought with the back entrance of their home. Quite pleasing to the eye.
SLIGHT SHIFT
I went for a walk in our neighbourhood today, a familiar route but one I hadn’t taken in the past few weeks. I noticed that the variety of flowers in the gardens had dwindled and what remained was looking tired. The weather is still hot and summer is still with us but the feeling of a long lazy summer stretching out before us is no longer there.
CONEFLOWERS
Coneflowers or echinacea are among my favourite summer flowers. They are hardy, long lasting and attract many pollinators. Pretty perfect!
CAT WATCH
The window was rain streaked but it didn’t block the cat’s view of the street. It seemed content to stare, so I took my photo and left him to it.
GARDEN TIME
Despite how quickly the days are moving along, scenes like this serve as a reminder that there’s still plenty of summer left!
AGING WELL
The rain and wind had bowed the peony, it was still beautiful though.
A CUT ABOVE
Pigeons are common and not very popular given their messy ways. A liked this one though, a very handsome bird.
WINDOW ON THE PAST
The window display was quite elegant on its own but the reflection of the old building across the way enhanced it a little more.
CITY ART
This wonderful mural by Ottawa artist Christopher Griffin, appears on the wall of a downtown building. It’s on a busy street, so I wonder how many people have seen it as they drive by. When I’m on foot I always stop to look at it and today I had my camera.
UNCONVENTIONAL
I liked this flower, one I don’t remember seeing before; its beauty a little unconventional.
FLAMINGO FANFARE
Frequent viewers have likely noticed that I haven’t been featuring many birds lately. Sticking closer to home, sightings have been fewer – but then I stumbled upon this small pink flamingo. Not as rare as you might think in our urban environment 😏
PEACH MELBA
I’ve only seen this colour of rose in one small corner lot garden. It’s their time to bloom and still some buds to come, so I’ll be back.
SUN GLOW
The sun struck the back of the chair and made it glow. I just had to take the photo. I was shooting with a 105mm lens (hoping for some insect photos that day) so I was pretty happy to get the shot.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 