It is too bad that the irises don't last longer but they certainly are spectacular when they are in bloom. This is actually a compact miniature iris - love the colour.
After leaving my dentist's office I spotted yet another decorated utility box, this one in the Yorkville neighbourhood. The painting on this one is very subtle with a pale background of green images and then pale grey images on top. It is hard to make out but the words Good Fun are repeated all over it.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I pass by this church fairly often and always admire the lovely modern style it has, especially the steeple. This is St Ansgar Lutheran Church and I think it was built in the 1970s but couldn't find any info on the architect.
Taking part in Inspired Sunday. Click HERE to see more religious buildings from around the world.
This female Mallard had just come out from rummaging around in the bottom of a muddy pond and it looks as if she needs to do a little grooming!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I took this pic last week and then realized that I have shot this scene before but from the other direction last year (HERE). I think the tulips were at their peak this year and you also get a view of the stone wall around the back garden.
This building was the coach house for a funeral parlour and was built in 1910 and has heritage protection which means that the exterior can not be changed without a long approval procedure. It is has been in the midst of a conversion to a super residence for the last few years. It even has its own parking spot behind that fence - a rare thing downtown!
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
When you have a 1960s bank building and you gut it, add rusty metal sheets to the wall, steel tables, and comfy banquettes you can end up with a great place for a few beers and something to eat. And since this is Canada, always have a hockey game going on the TV in the background!
Taking part in Sigs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world!
I happened upon this little group of White Trilliums recently and was surprised to see them holding their own in a bed of Periwinkle and ivy. The Trillium is the official flower of Ontario (our province) and it is also the official symbol of the province and can be found on many documents and signs. It is illegal here to injure a plant in any way but even so they are endangered in some areas.
Another utility box that references the history of its location, this one is located in the Weston neighbourhood. Weston was the site of the CCM (Canada Cycle & Motor Company) plant until it closed in 1983. The company was formed in 1899 and produced most of the bicycles that Canadian kids rode through until the 1960s. I had 2 of them! In the winter the workers at the plant made ice skates from the scrap metal from the bikes. The artist for this one is Robin Hesse and she made a great choice using the Penny Farthing image, don't you think?
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church taken last week on a warmish day with many leaves finally showing on the trees. Even the wind almost cooperated to give the Canadian and Greek flags a lift but it is hard to catch two flags at the same time! I couldn't find out why there were two saint's names honoured.
Taking part in Inspired Sunday. Click HERE to see more religious buildings from around the world.
I was sitting on a park bench having lunch on one of our rare warm days recently when this fearless Canada Goose decided that I should share a bit. It took a while for him to give up!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters.Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I was wandering around the Yorkville neighbourhood and came upon this rather unusual sculpture which looked so powerful sitting there in the sun. I could find no artist name on it at all!
It was actually warm enough last week to sit in a park and eat lunch outdoors in the sun for the first time this year - the temps dropped again for the weekend. It is wonderful seeing all the tender green plants coming up and I loved the shadows playing near this bridge in James Gardens.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
The patios around town are ready for some action but we have not had much warm weather. Hopefully that will start to change this week. This patio at the Bedford Academy in the Annex neighbourhood was looking quite pretty a week ago and judging by the signs they have lots of good beer on tap!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I took this pic last week and you can see by all the petals on the ground that the Magnolia blossoms are almost finished here. The pink flowers go well with the pinkish stonework of this Forest Hill neighbourhood home.
I was wandering down a laneway off Dundas St when I spotted this wee black squirrel. This is the kind of graffiti I like!
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I was wandering in the Yorkville neighbourhood and went down a walkway between two buildings and came upon this wide open space that is accessed by a narrow driveway from the street behind. It is an entranceway hidden away behind the buildings on two parallel streets. I can only guess at the cost of those condos in this pricey area!
There is something wonderful about a cat in a store window. They get to watch the world go by and the world gets to see a friendly soul. This guy is probably about 2 years old now and lives in an antique store on Bathurst St. Usually he ignores me but this time he posed quite nicely! I like that white blaze on his nose.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
Our cool spring seems to have pleased the Daffodils this year since they seem to all look very luscious and are lasting a long time. This is a new planting in a local park so hopefully they will multiply through the years.
We are finally seeing spring blossoms around town and I spotted this Magnolia tree in bloom while traveling through the Forest Hill neighbourhood a week ago.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
This is one of a few fire stations in Toronto that are located in the middle of residential neighbourhoods and were built to blend in with the surrounding homes. This is Fire Station 425 and it was built in 1930 in the Swansea neighborhood.
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I was walking past a fairly upscale cafe recently and was surprised to see an assortment of planters made from old car tires. They were all done in an assortment of black with painted white ones and all had beautiful arrangements in them. That's one way to recycle old tires!
This painted utility box is located at the corner of St Clair Ave & Keele St in the Junction on what had been the site of the Ontario Stockyards which was the largest livestock market in Canada until it closed in the 1990s. There were also many meat-packing plants in the area which have also now disappeared. The area is now occupied by the Stockyards Shopping Mall and many large businesses like Home Depot. I like the reference to the area's history that this one makes.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
This is one of those things that I have photographed several times trying to get a good shot. I've done it at night, in shadow, and in the sunlight like this but there always seems to be so much reflection in the pic. I'm finally posting this one despite the reflections of bike, van and building. The whole head is formed out of window screening laid over a framework of some kind and it has been on display in this window belonging to an artist studio on Bathurst St. Cool isn't it?
This little chipmunk had been stuffing its face with seeds for several minutes until it finally decided to take them to its pantry and then come back for another load. They are so cute!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more critters from around the world.
I do sometimes get out of downtown Toronto and this house is one I spotted in the Etobicoke neighborhood which is in the west end of the city not far from James Gardens. The view from the back of this house overlooks the St George's Golf and Country Club which is one of the top 100 golf courses in the world. The Tudor Revival home was built in the 1930s by the developer of the golf course and the neighborhood for himself and he chose the site well. When the leaves on the trees come out this one will be very hidden from the street.
I showed you a pic of this clock tower back in the winter (HERE) and finally stopped one day when heading north on Avenue Road to get this shot of the view while driving. The school has been here a long time and so the very busy road actually takes a big swing around the school property before continuing on its route! This is Upper Canada College, probably the most exclusive private school for boys in the country. The fence on the right protects the tennis courts.
Taking part in Good Fences. Click HERE to see more fences from around the world.
I spotted this sign in the Junction area recently and wasn't aware of the company but apparently it is a relatively new craft brewery that has beer available at several area bars and restaurants. I'll have to give it a try! And yes that is snow piled in the corner.
Taking part in Sigs, Signs. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is the entrance to the Wembly Apartments, a mid-rise apartment building on Spadina Road at St Clair Ave. The building was constructed in 1921 in Tudor Revival style and has been given heritage designation so the exterior will stay the same although the interiors can be updated.
I took this pic of this utility box on Bloor St a while ago so I'm not sure if it is still as pristine as this but it certainly stood out at the time. The artist is Jerry Silverberg and he did it in 2013.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
The theme day for the City Daily Photo Blog community for May is "Smell". I thought of flowers of some kind but we really don't have many flowers open yet this spring so I settled on this very odoriferous display case of sausages found in a local grocery store which has wonderful specialty areas within the store. The strong whiff of garlic from this won out over the cheese display!
Taking part in the theme day, Smell. Click HERE to see more examples from around the world.
