It seems to be butterfly season although I have to admit that I haven't seen as many Monarch Butterflies as in years past. Of course I haven't been out and about as much this year either. It seems like a perfect time to look at some of the lovely butterflies that have popped up on local garage doors. The artist for this one is Megan Oldhues.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
These beautiful gates are found at the entrance to the grounds of a large home in the Forest Hill neighbourhood. It is rather unusual to find gates guarding a home in the city but this has been the home of Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players and also various actors in the past and so they may have needed them to provide some privacy. I can remember going to the door of the house in my neighbourhood where one of the hockey players lived when I was a kid. He was always pleasant but thinking back I wonder how often he was disturbed.
With everyone trying to stay isolated and stay home as much as possible many people are finding time to explore new pursuits. A good friend of mine has been spending time doing watercolour paintings and did this fabulous one of an Airedale Terrier, a breed that is dear to me. Isn't it wonderful?
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
I always mix pots of flowers in among my pots of vegetables and herbs on the roof deck and this year I have been loving the colour of these petunias. And the squirrels don't eat these!
This clock tower is found in the original wing of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre which was built in 1948. The centre has had many additions through the years and is now the largest trauma centre in Canada. The small tents down below were being set up for a market which takes place on Thursdays during the summer months.
I always find this house in the Annex neighbourhood intriguing. The structure is a typical Toronto semi-detached pair of homes like most of its neighbours but this one is not divided in the middle with each side being a home but rather the whole building must have been bought and divided so that the bottom is one unit and the upper floors are another. It is that wonderful winding staircase that grabs the attention.
Yesterday's mural is found in the Portuguese Pioneers Parkette on College St. The park honours the 50th anniversary of the large numbers of Portuguese people who settled in the area in the 1950s. The garden in the parkette honours Jose Mario Coelhe who was very active in the community.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This mural is found along College St in an area of the city with a large population of Portuguese immigrants and the mural commemorates their departure from home and arrival in their new home. I wasn't able to find an artist's name on this one.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I was having fun playing with the reflections in the double glazed patio doors. I like how everything looks a bit shaky! Trying to stay safe and islolated but going a bit stir crazy.
It seems like squirrels spend most of their day searching for food or looking for trouble by invading people's gardens. My veggies are on a roof deck and the little devils crawl along phone lines to reach up there!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This house is just down the street from the elegant old apartment building in the Annex neighbourhood which I showed you last week. It is a semidetached home and you can see the original sloped roofline visible on its attached neighbour. This was an extensive renovation with the whole roof and third floor being removed and a box addition placed on top of the second story. The whole house was gutted and all new windows and doors were put in. I'm not sure about it yet but possibly when the wood shingles age the top floor may disappear a bit.
This has been the best year ever for my crop of tomatoes even with a few raids by squirrels.The large tomatoes are Carolina Gold and the cherry ones are Rapunzel. I can't remember what the grape ones are but they are delicious! Every dinner there are sliced tomatoes with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil and feta cheese - priceless.
This is one of the art pieces installed atop of the streetcar stops along St Clair St W. The eyes and flowers are visible from both sides and help to make the stops a bit more attractive. The TD Canada Trust signs are on a building on the other side of the street. I'm not sure who the artist for this one is.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
This is the finished mural from yesterday's post which is now titled Maddy Moose. I love the vintage look that the artist has given to the utility box. You can see more of Phil's work HERE.
I was taking a shortcut last week and spotted someone working on a mural on a large utility box so of course I pulled over. The artist, named Phil, was talking to another person but stopped long enough for me to get a pic of him beside the work in progress. I went back a couple of days later to shoot the finished piece which I will show you tomorrow.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
We finally had a lot of rain a week ago and when I went for a walk the next day I spotted this pair of small child's boots on an Annex neighbourhood porch. I can picture some kid out splashing around in the puddles having a grand time!
I spotted this frog in a shady pond that had one little area of sunshine and that is where he was sitting on some weeds. It was a coolish morning so the sun must have felt good!
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This small apartment building is located just around the corner from the construction site of the 6 townhouses which I have been showing you. Somehow I doubt that the new structure will be anywhere near as classy as this building which is one of my favourites in the Annex neighbourhood. I'm not sure but I think the units are now condos.
Last Sunday I wandered by the townhouse construction site that I have been showing you and spotted some of the machinery being used in the construction. It looks like it will take a bit of work to move those I-beams into place with that little machine. This week they are starting on the upper floors now that the lower parking spaces are poured. You can see the condo project that I showed you in the background.
A lot of bloggers have been posting pics of lavender fields so I thought I would post the window boxes of lavender out front of a florist on Bathurst St. It has been hard times for florists with large events like weddings and funerals being cancelled and this place has been open only sporadically but seems to be getting back to normal hours. The window boxes always have seasonal plantings.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I was sitting out on the deck in the sunshine and then all of a sudden these clouds rolled in. We got heavy rain for about 30 minutes and then the sun came out again. Crazy!
I spotted this exotic looking lady in a laneway a while ago. She has a thoughtful mysterious air about here don't you think?
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I have 6 tomato plants and they are all covered in fruit so I have started giving it away and eating tomatoes with every meal. Not a bad thing really!
This Black Swallowtail butterfly landed right beside me as I was watering the flowers so I quickly ran for my camera as it continued to flit about the blossoms. When I came back I managed to get a quick shot just before it got into a more obscured area of my garden. They are such lovely creatures.
Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.
This happy steel bird hangs out with the Cosmos on my deck. Made from recycled metal he always has a smile even in the middle of winter!
I showed you the lovely white Cosmos that I have flowering on the deck on Tuesday but most of the Cosmos I have are bright colours like these ones. The bees especially seem to be drawn to these dark pink ones!
I spotted this mural when it was first done a couple of years ago by artist Giova and was impressed with its message and the skill of the painting. It is too bad that someone has defaced it with those bubble letters but the message still shines through.
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
I always plant a lot of Cosmos in the planters on my deck to attract bees and butterflies and this white one seems to be quite popular. I love the serrations on its petals, something that doesn't appear on all of the flowers.
I spotted this mural on the side of a store along Davenport Rd and immediately pulled over. Thank you to the essential workers in an assortment of languages is wonderful to see.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.
I also considered this shot for my theme pic of City People showing the crowds crossing University Ave at Queen St W. I had shown you a pic of this building back in June with a view more from the back (HERE). As you can see this is normally a very busy part of town but not so much now with the virus afoot in the world.
The August theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is City People which is not the easiest of topics at this time. I am heading back into my archives once more for a shot I took when I was downtown at rush hour when everyone was heading for the subway and home. Everyone was on a mission to beat the crowds.
Taking part in the theme City People. Click HERE to see more people from around the world.
