For The Bees & Butterflies

 This is one of the locations for a Butterflyway garden. Many of them in the city have an old canoe placed in the centre of a garden plot and the whole area including inside the canoe is planted with native flowering plants. This one is located outside of Harbord Collegiate and looks like it has been there since 2018. I have been spotting gardens along boulevards and along laneways as more and more people join in the movement to help these creatures.

Butterflyway

You find these signs for the David Suzuki Foundation's project scattered about the city. The project is a movement to provide habitat for bees and butterflies in neighbourhoods throughout Canada. I'll show you one of the habitats tomorrow.   

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

A Frog Pond

 This is the other side of yesterday's utility box this time featuring a lovely frog sitting by a pond. Frogs & turtles are good to see in the middle of the city.

An Urban Turtle

I spotted this wonderful turtle on a recent wander. The artist for this mural is Nixo street art and I will show you the other side tomorrow. There seem to be more and more utility boxes being painted.  

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Lots Of Room To Skate

 This was taken before we went into a stricter lockdown so I am not sure if the rinks are still open or not. Even before there was a limit to the number of people on the ice and distancing was being enforced. It was still nice to see kids enjoying themselves.

"Anything For Me?"

This squirrel was really hoping that I had a treat for her but as soon as she realized that I didn't she lost interest in me and scurried off.   

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Merry Christmas

This pic was taken last year when we were still allowed to go into a church! Have a Merry Christmas and let's all hope for 'normal' sometime in the New Year.

Merry Christmas Eve

This Frosty the Snowman looks very happy to wish everyone a  great Christmas eve. It will be a strange Christmas for us all.

A Christmas Moose

 I spotted this moose in its Christmas sweater in a front garden which even has a swing for the kids. The moose's arms move in and out for a hug! He looks so friendly.

Welcome

This is a nice group of creatures to welcome you for a visit if we were allowed to visit people. It is still nice to see them though!

One By One

 Leaving Christie Pits park after taking yesterday's pic I passed by this very long mural painted on the foundation of the park swimming pool. The One By One Movement is an organization whose goal is to work towards ways of decreasing violence in the community. Each letter has a portrait of someone working towards that.       

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

 

 

 

 

Winter Basketball

I'm continuing with my walk that I have been showing the last few days. These guys were practicing basketball on one of the courts at Christie Pits park. You wouldn't think that it was cold from the look of them but the court is in a bit of a valley and the sun was strong so it was rather toasty down there.

Social Distancing At The Dog Park

On the same afternoon as yesterday's post the dogs were keeping their distance from each other at the off leash area in another park. I think it was just a coincidence as they soon were jumping all over each other.   

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Cold Lunch

 A week and a half ago on Sunday afternoon it was 0˚C but sunny and not too windy so I headed out for a walk. The parks I went by were all full of people, some even sitting on the grass having distanced conversations and others like these three enjoying lunch in the sunshine.

Modern Concert Hall

Contrasting with yesterday's vintage church, directly across the street from it you will find Roy Thomson Hall. It was designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson and built in 1982. It is now the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as well as the location for many other events and concerts during 'normal' times.

Vintage Church

 This is St Andrew's church which is found downtown at the corner of King St W and Simcoe St. It was built in 1876 and now has heritage protection. As you can see it has become surrounded by office towers but the recent building boom of condos has meant that more and more people are joining the congregation. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Manor Gate

 These are the gates into the grounds of an old manor home just north of Casa Loma. They are never closed but do offer a bit of elegance to the area.

Milking Time

A friend told me about this great painted utility box on St Clair Ave so I made a point of going by to see it. Whoever thought of painting it up this way was so clever with the small box holding the guy and the big long box holding the well accessorized cow.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

An Annex Beauty

 This has always been my favourite house in the Annex neighbourhood probably because of that wonderful rounded glass window area above the door. I noticed when I went by in October that there is a historical sign out front now which tells how one of our past prime ministers, Lester Pearson, lived here in a 3rd floor flat in the 1920s. I wonder if he was a student then? He went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Honking

 I was out for a walk and could hear honking behind me and managed to get my camera out and focused enough to catch this flock of Canada Geese heading overhead. They were heading north so must be tough winter residents here. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Finding A Place To Practice

While walking along a roadway that runs beside a railway track I could hear music and soon came upon this fellow playing a tuba. He was in a lot being used for construction storage and looked quite comfy having brought a blanket to sit on. I assume he lives in one of the nearby houses or condos and needed to find a place to play without disturbing others.

Another Snow Pic

This pic was taken just along from the bridge which I showed you on Tuesday. It always feels so magical outside when the snow coats all of the tree branches.

A Sign For The Times

The F. W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre is part of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and while walking around the grounds last week I was struck by the idea that so many of us are feeling anxious now. Let us all hope that things improve in the new year with a vaccine.   

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

A Bridge In Snow

I showed you this bridge in autumn last Thursday and after I took that pic we got snow. So here we see the bridge the morning after some snow. It was not very cold, only about -2˚C, so the snow really stuck to the trees which is always lovely.

Hot Dog!

 I spotted this painted utility box on the U of Toronto campus. It is a popular spot for food carts as students rush back and forth from classes. And the hot dogs are always good. The artists for this one are Steven & Wigg.  

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Strange Seating

I've shown you a couple of different types of seating found along King St W and thought I would show you this highly unusual one. It is made from plastic tubes stacked up to form patterns and one small bench area towards the right side. I doubt that it is very comfortable.

So Much To Do

 Autumn is such a busy time of year for squirrels with things to be harvested and buried and nests to be winterized. This good looking black squirrel was rummaging in a lawn full of leaves and did come up with some sort of treasure that he ran off with to hide away.  

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Affordable Housing

 This building was just finished in the last year and was purposely built as affordable housing with money coming from various levels of government. It has 82 units of various sizes and is at least a start towards providing housing that is safe and affordable.

A Bridge in Autumn

 For most of the year this bridge which crosses a creek in the west end of the city is partly hidden by the leaves on all the trees around it but now we have a good view of it. Soon we will have a snowy view of it.

Fire Station 311

Fire Station 311 is found just off Yonge St south of St Clair Ave. When it opened in 1911 it was Fire Station 24 and horses were used to pull  the fire wagons. Times have changed and the city has grown a lot but the station still looks grand.  

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

December Theme Day: Comfort Food

The December theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Comfort Food and mine may be a little unusual. Soda crackers have always been a comfort to me and I always have some nearby in times of stress and for added comfort a nice cup of peppermint tea is just the thing.  

Taking part in the theme Comfort Food. Click HERE to see more comfort food from around the world.

Hotrod

This is a perfect mural to paint on  garage door. It is a tough looking hotrod but I'm not sure who the artist is as there seem to be a lot of names sprinkled about it including Dudeman.  

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

More Carvings

This is the pink carving that was visible behind yesterday's bear. The pink one features a narwhal with its huge horn and another creature which may have something to do with Inuit stories but I really don't know.  I like the little grey seal in the foreground.

Stone Bear

Right next to the seating and planters I have shown you the last 2 days there was this display of what is probably Inuit stone carvings. This bear was fabulous but there was no info at all about artists or anything else. I'll show you the pink piece in the background tomorrow. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Steel Seating

These rather unusual seats were found just across from yesterday's planter and bench. It is interesting that they used raw steel in what is a very slick office tower. I like the look.

Steel Trees

While wandering around in the financial district on a Sunday morning I explored the concourse of one of the office towers and discovered this rather unique seating and planter. It was lit by wonderful skylights and the plants looked quite healthy as did the steel trees along the planter.

Country Saloon

I had no idea that there was a country saloon downtown until I happened upon the Rock N Horse saloon during an early Sunday walk. Judging by their sign they have everything country when they are open which we all hope will be soon if the Covid numbers go down.   

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Autumn In A Park

 Most of the leaves are gone off our trees now but I still have some shots of the lovely colours that were around as the season changed. This is a view down into a park that is in a bit of a valley south of Bloor St W.

A Protected Garage

I happened upon this garage with its mural painted by the artist BrunoSmoky and thought the fierce fish & that face would certainly keep any vandals away. You can click on the Smoky link below to see more of his work.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

An Autumn View

This was taken a few weeks ago when we still had some green leaves around and the colours were just starting to peak on some trees. The planter and the stone wall it is on are part of the wall that surrounds Spadina House. It is such a lovely time of year.

Lunchtime

There are many people who travel about the neighbourhood scattering seeds for the pigeons despite all of the signs asking them not to.  This location near Bloor St is a popular place and the pigeons were joined by a squirrel who was managing to get a few kernels even though the pigeons refused to move out of his way.  

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Over The Moon

These two benches were located beside all of yesterday's chairs along King St W. At first I wasn't sure what they represented but it feels like the one on the left is a crescent moon and the other is a full moon. And of course that is one of our streetcars passing by in the background.

Pull Up A Chair

This is the scene along King St W across the road from yesterday's building,  the Royal Alexandra theatre.  I took this pic early on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago before the frost hit us so I'm not sure if there are any flowers left. I imagine the chairs are removed for the winter.

The Royal Aexandra Theatre

The Royal Alexandra Theatre is found on King St W and like all other theatres here it is quiet these days. Built in 1907 it has heritage protection and has been renovated and updated extensively inside. The play that was on when it closed in March was "Come From Away" which is based on the true story of how almost 7,000 passengers and crews from 39 airplanes were grounded in Gander Newfoundland on the horrible day of 9/11. Gander is the farthest east airport in North America and the transatlantic flights were all halted there on their way to the USA. The town has a population of around 10,000 and the townsfolk came out en masse to feed and house all the visitors.

 Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.  

More Skaters

This is the other side of yesterday's utility box where we find more skaters in a bit more extreme positions. They all look like they are having a good time.

Skating

When I first saw this mural on a utility box I thought the figures were dancing but a closer look revealed that they are all wearing skates and are at a skate park. The artist for this one is V. Rosas and I will show you the other side tomorrow.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Really Large Semi-detached Homes

The Annex neighbourhood has a lot of large homes and a lot of really large semi-detached ones. This is a good example of the large ones. The right house is the part under the peak on the right while the left side seems to have had an addition put on towards the back making it even larger. These homes were single family homes when built and many became divided into flats through the years but the trend now is to turn them back into single family homes - really large ones.

Alert

 This hawk was spotted on one of the cool mornings we have had and is all puffed up to stay warm while it watches carefully for any prey. I'm not good on IDing hawks so have no idea what kind it is.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Vintage Light

This old light fixture was spotted on the ivy-covered wall of a private school just off Davenport Rd. I think it deserves a visit after dark to see how lovely it looks alight.

Bishop's Block

These are the two townhouses referenced in yesterday's sign. These very old buildings were constructed in the mid 1800s and then dismantled and rebuilt in 2010. They sat at this corner looking sad for many years before that. They are now surrounded by a hotel which wraps around them.