Hello

 I spotted this woman with the nice greeting on a corner in Little Italy. We all can use a bit of pleasant welcoming these days. The artist for this one is Vivian Rosas and it was done in 2019.

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

Redbud

Climate change seems to be having an effect on some trees and plants that are now able to survive in farther north areas than normal. The Redbud trees seem to be one of them. I never remember seeing them years ago but now we are treated to the lovely sight of them in bloom each spring.

Sparrow

I had been trying to get a shot of this White-throated Sparrow as it bounced around on a lawn but it kept moving quickly until all of a sudden it stopped and looked right at me.  I then got my pic! 

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

Reading

I'm not sure if this young woman was studying or reading for pleasure but she certainly was concentrating on her book.  I passed by twice and she was still at it even with all of the kids playing in the background and other people just passing through the park.

An Orange Mystery

It is a mystery to at least me as to what this lovely plant is. I spotted it in someone's garden and had to stop for a pic.  I'm sure someone out there has the answer!

Pens

While out wandering around a couple of weeks ago I happened upon this stationery store. I had no idea it even existed and looking through the window you could see lovely displays of paper etc. Of course like all the rest of our stores it is closed now during our lockdown. It is a place to visit when normal comes back. 

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

Lilac Time

We got some very warm weather last week which encouraged all of the lilac bushes to break out their displays. Hopefully they don't disappear quickly in the heat. This little bush was right beside a Redbud tree for an added bit of colour.

Revitalized

This old building on St Clair Ave was looking rather rundown and uncared for until a local architect bought it and did a total renovation to house her firm as well as some tenants. I like all of the different shapes of windows but what really attracted me was the shadows painted by each window. I love that the shadows go in different directions. I hope this qualifies as a mural. Now the building looks like a treasure on its corner.

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

More Pop-ups

 I went back to the shop on Bloor St W in Koreatown to see if there were anymore pop-up cards in their window. I love the one with the penguin parents and their baby but the tree in the other one is lovely too. It is so fascinating to try and figure out how they fold up flat.

Lunch

This black squirrel was keeping an eye on me but kept eating away on some tasty tidbit. 

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

Construction Progress

 This is the site of the old Honest Ed's store and actually the whole city block that was owned by the Mirvish family. The towers are proceeding at a fine pace and the landscaping plans for the park that is to be included in the project have just been released. There are also going to be community garden areas and market place spots and most surprisingly the towers will all be rental apartments which we really need here.

Hopping

 I can't remember the last time I saw a Hopscotch game on the sidewalk, especially one drawn so well. We played this game all the time when I was a kid. I like the touch of the rainbow at the top!

Still In Lockdown

 This is the Cafe Diplomatico, one of Toronto's most loved restaurants and patios. It has been a mainstay on College St since 1968 and in nice weather it is hard to get a seat out on that patio. We are in lockdown until June 2 and so this view on a recent Sunday is not about to change until at least then. So many places are closing for good.

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

"There Was A Crooked House"

Another laneway house spotted recently is for the birds. This cute bird house was probably quite lovely in its day but could use a bit of paint and straightening. It is still a nice one though.

Bloorcourt

The Bloorcourt neighbourhood is the area around where Bloor St W and Dovercourt Rd meet. While running an errand lately I spotted this lovely mural running down the side of a building on Bloor.  I like the Cedar Waxwing that the artist included but I unfortunately forgot to check for the artist's name.

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

A Fine Aroma

This is a Purple Leaf Sand Cherry blossom which has one of the most lovely perfumes especially in the evenings. A slight breeze can fill a whole garden with its sweet aroma.

A Muddy Turtle

 This Painted Turtle looks as if he had to crawl through some mud to get up into the sunshine but he was certainly enjoying the warmth on his back. I took pics from a lot of different angles and he paid me no heed.

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

Finished At Last

I showed you this laneway house under construction last September (HERE) and went by recently to see it finished. I quite like it. Because it is built out to the property line they are not allowed windows on the side but I think there are large skylights. It would be great to have a tour of the inside.

A Cool Spring

 We have been having a cool spring but one advantage of that is that the spring flowers are lasting longer than normal. I have watched these tulips open up when the sun comes out and then close back up when we get another blast of cool weather with a bit of rain. Summer heat will be here soon enough.

Flower & Fruit Market

This corner store on Bloor St W in Koreatown is just a block away from the one that I showed you a couple of weeks ago. This one always has a lot of flowers for sale especially at this time of year when we are starting to plant up our gardens. 

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

Catching Up

 It was a cool morning but the sun was out a bit when I saw these women on a bench by the duck pond at James Gardens. They were totally engrossed in their conversation so the ducks were not getting any attention.

Protect The Gorillas

This is a new mural that popped up in a laneway off Dupont St. It was done by the ACK Crew along a long wall and each of the crew did their stylized signature on the wall. The lane was too narrow to get it all in. Gorillas need all the help and attention they can get to survive!

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

A Watery Entrance

The St Clair Water Reservoir is located at the corner of St Clair Ave W and Spadina Rd. It was completed in 1930 and holds enough water to provide the whole city with water for 3 weeks although there are other reservoirs around town. This is the entrance to the lower portal of the reservoir and it is one of the few times I have seen it without a vehicle parked in front of the doors. Even utilitarian structures were given great style in those days!

Grazing and Lazing

 While I was wandering around one day in James Gardens I spotted a lot of activity in under the trees. There were several Canada Geese poking around looking for tasty bites to eat while several Mallards were trying to use the same area to catch a nap. They all seemed to be getting along alright.

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

Golden

 I felt the need for something lovely after so many months being locked down so went digging in my archives. This is the ceiling in the entrance hall of the Ed Mirvish Theatre on Yonge St. The theatre was built in 1920 as a cinema and vaudeville venue and opened under the name Pantages. It had many name changes through the years until finally being named after Ed Mirvish who was a great theatre impresario and also owned Honest Ed's. At some point in its history all of this gorgeous decoration was covered up with drywall until the theatre was finally restored back to its glory.

A Lazy Tree

I spotted this tree at James Gardens and was intrigued by the way it splits from a centre core and then each side branch lays down on the ground to grow outwards.  There are grasses in the same plot which haven't sprouted yet which makes the tree's shape more visible than it is in summer.

Greatest Patio

A local restaurant has had the fence around their patio painted with quirky creatures and this sign. It is a nice patio but we are in lockdown still so it is not allowed to be open now. At least the restaurant itself is surviving on take-out orders. 

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

White Magnolia and Steel Flowers

I was going by James Gardens and stopped for a quick walkabout while trying to stay socially distanced from  people. There were a few couples taking pics of themselves under this sweet little white Magnolia tree so I waited my turn. There are a few of these steel flower sculptures scattered about the gardens so even in the depths of winter there are flowers to see.

City Creatures

 Raccoons and pigeons are two of our most common urban creatures, maybe being outnumbered by squirrels. This mural by Colin Turner Bloom (aka ColinMakesArt) was found on a local garage. It has a real urban look about it.

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

Busy Woodpecker

 This Downy Woodpecker was very busy jumping from tree to tree in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood. I thought this pic gives a good view of the markings on his back.

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

May Theme: Earth

 The May theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Earth and for this I offer a shot of the deep red soil found in PEI (Prince Edward Island) which is our smallest province. I took the shot a few years ago when we were free to travel about and visit friends. The soil in PEI is so red because of the high iron content.

Taking part in the theme Earth. Click HERE to see more examples from around the world. I will show you a critter tomorrow instead of on the usual Saturday.