Summer Transportation

Summer is here and so are the convertibles, scooters and bikes. Hope these sunny days last.

Touch of Greece

Sometimes people go all out to capture a piece of their motherland. This house takes me to Greece every time I walk by. In a neighbourhood of red brick houses it really stands out.

Medecins Sans Frontieres

'Medecins Sans Frontieres' Canada has set up a "Refuge Camp in the Heart of the City" at Christie Pits park for the weekend. They are giving personally guided tours through the exhibit that shows the challenges the millions of refuges face in the world today. It is very sobering.

Annex Entrance

This is the entrance to the home from yesterday's post - the wonderful detail work from the craftsmen of old is certainly not repeated today. I love the creature at the top of the entrance and the patterning on the columns. Too bad the door itself is so boring.

Annex Home

In the Annex, the prevalent style of home is one unique to Toronto and is fittingly called "the Annex Style Home". Built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, these homes typically have large Romanesque arches and Queen Anne Style decorative items such as turrets. The streets of the Annex are filled with these homes most of which have been lovingly restored and maintained.

Modern Gate

A lovely gate protects a tiny garden yet offers a welcome view of greenery in the middle of a built-up area. The gate hints at Mondrian-like patterning.
The artist who created the gate is William Roddy.

Great Nose

This is a close-up of the hood ornament from yesterday's car. Apparently they changed the ornament for every new year's model. This one is fabulous!

'56 Studebaker

They don't make any cars with a front grill like this anymore! This is the traditional weekend for planting up your garden here and the owner of this beauty was loading it up with flowers at the local garden centre. She told me she bought the car at an auction on a whim and hasn't regretted it for a moment.

Peony Ladies

It seems to be a fabulous year for peonies - maybe because the winter was so mild this year. As I walk the neighbourhood, they remind me of ladies in gorgeous, frilly evening gowns.

Grand Portico

This is the portico at 35 Walmer Rd. It is a fabulous feature with its round openings which allow the sunlight to come through and form circles of light that are mimicked by the circles of concrete imbedded in the walkway. I plan to go back on June 21 when the sun is at its highest peak and see if they line up!

35 Walmer Rd Apartments

"The Vincennes" at 35 Walmer Rd was designed by Estonian-born Canadian architect Uno Prii and was built in 1965. Prii designed approximately 250 apartment buildings each of which is unique and shows his trademark futuristic take on Modernism. Some of the best known are in the Annex area of Toronto just north of U of Toronto.

Beauty at the Park

A local artist has added accessories to the benches at the park. Guerrilla art at its best, it humanizes the institutional city furniture and makes a comfortable setting for a beautiful dog!

Mellow Yellow Garden

This garden was a welcome sight on a stressful day. Typical of the Seaton Village area of Toronto, the front yard is all garden.

Park Sky

Sitting on the grass at the park with my furry girl enjoying the day.

Blank Slate

Three buildings knocked down and carted away in 5 days. Amazing. Construction to begin soon.

"Mooseconstrue"

This sculpture, "Mooseconstrue", is made from water jet cut steel and is located on a busy corner of U of Toronto's campus. Done in 2002 by artist Charlie Pachter it continues his moose theme including a series with Queen Elizabeth II riding a moose.

Bleeding Heart

These have always been one of my favourite spring flowers first remembering them from my Grandmother's garden. This pic was taken in my Mother's garden as she continues the tradition. Native to eastern Asia, Bleeding Hearts were first introduced to England in the 1800's and then on to N America.

Demolition

The buildings beside us are being torn down making an already stressful time worse. Life sucks sometime.

"Horizon"

This bronze sculpture titled "Horizon" was done by Walter Yarwood in 1964 and is installed on the front facade of Sidney Smith Hall at U of Toronto. It is typical of mid sixties art and suits its location on an early 60s modern building.

Lilacs

We have had a fabulous spring for flowers since our winter was very mild and now the Lilacs are filling the air with their beautiful scent. The weather has turned cool so hopefully they will last a long time this year.

Freezing at the Garden Centre

All the plants are out at the garden centre but it is so cold today (8 degrees C) that no one was there. I hope they are all frost resistant.

Open Gate

There is something very welcoming and yet mysterious about an open gate. This one could use a bit of paint.

50s House

I love it when I stumble across one of these great 50s houses in the middle of an otherwise boring neighbourhood. Not sure what the term for them is - not really ranch style. Maybe we would now say mid-century modern.

Daffodils in the Shade

These are probably the last daffodils for the season here since it has been so unseasonably warm. Found these this week blooming in the shade, framed by a wonderful Japanese Maple.

Sculpture at OCAD

This bronze and metal installation, titled "Imperfect Paradise" is situated under the Ontario College of Art and Design addition. The artist is John McEwen and it was installed in 1999. It really suits its avant garde surroundings.

Happy Flower

Spotted this flower yesterday glowing in the sun and just the width of a sidewalk away from busy traffic. Not sure what it is but it sure looks cheerful. Could it be some tulip species?

Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball

Yesterday was the opening day for the Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball team, a semi-pro team which plays its games at Christie Pits Park. It felt like a perfect summer day to be playing summer's game!

Max Gluskin House Courtyard

This pic shows the great courtyard created in the middle of Max Gluskin House by the addition.

Off to the right you can see a bit of one of the original buildings. Nice quiet spot to study.

Max Gluskin House Pt 2

This pic shows the front of Max Gluskin house and the way in which the new addition has been added onto the original Victorian house. Just above the peak of the house, you can see some of the Corten steel from the back part of the addition. This project was just completed in 2008 and has become a public favourite.