Orchid

 

My orchid has been putting on a grand show since mid March and still has one bud to open up. I love its colour.

Good Catch

 

I spotted this sculpture by artist Patrick Amiot a few weeks ago in the Yorkville neighbourhood. I really like his fun sculptures and you can see more if you click on the Amiot label below. This guy looks so pleased with his catch.

Deserts And More

 

It was the name that attracted my attention at first when I thought it was a shop selling lottery tickets. It turns out that Loteria is a traditional Mexican card game and this is a cafe serving deserts and light meals like sandwiches and salads. Another place to try out - hoping they have Mexican treats.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

New Crop

 

Our cool spring has meant a late start for many things like tomatoes but the lettuce seems to be enjoying it. We have been nibbling on fresh lettuce in sandwiches, etc. Very local produce from the deck.

Art At The Subway

 

This long mural by First Nation artist Thomas Sinclair was spotted on the Markham St entrance to the Bathurst St station. Apparently each panel references a different indigenous story. It was a pleasant surprise to see it.

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

Lilacs

 

This group of lilac bushes was so packed with flowers that I just had to stop for a pic. They were so lovely.

In A Blur

 

This was my first bee sighting of the year and I followed this guy for several minutes as he dive bombed a large pot of chives that were flowering. I couldn't catch him  staying still but still liked this shot of the high energy action so here it is.

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

Finally

 

We finally got some warm weather after the coldest May since 1967! The garden centres are all busy and well stocked now.

Renewal

 

This fine looking building is a Toronto Hydro substation that has just undergone an extensive refurbishment that seemed to last  over a year. All of the mortar between the bricks was ground out and replaced and even the stone steps were reset. The building is well over 100 years old and looks ready for the next 100.

Good Vibes

I was on the other side of the street and spotted this new cafe that has opened on Dupont St in the Annex neighbourhood. I didn't have time to check it out but plan to check out the Mexican vibes soon. On-line I found that 2 young women from Mexico own the place and it sounds like quite fun.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
 

Origami?

 

I spotted this large blue creature in the Yorkville neighbourhood. It looks like origami on a large scale and made of steel rather than paper. There was no info about it but I think it is by the artist Hacer. I like the addition of the bird up top. 

Green

I spotted this mural with all of the pleasant greens on the side of a garage. I don't think there is any message but it is pleasing to the eye. The artist for this one is ROAMto.

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

Wandering

 

I was wandering around the U of Toronto (U of T) downtown campus and ended up in this walkway in one of the newer buildings. I always like this kind of view. There were gardens off to the left so I will have to go back in the summer to check them out.

Treats For Us?

 

This group of Mallards was terribly disappointed when I had no food for them. They have become accustomed to people giving them bread which isn't good for them.

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

Rose-style Windows

 

The sanctuary from Trinity St Paul's church which I showed you yesterday gets a lot of light from these huge rose-style windows that are present on three sides of the church. Unfortunately there was a light fixture hanging in front of each one. They were really lovely even on a cloudy day but I imagine that a sunny day would make them glow.

Inside Trinity St Paul's

 

I showed you the outside of Trinity St Paul's Church back in December (HERE) and went back during our Doors Open event to check out the inside. This pic was taken from the balcony and looks down through the sanctuary showing the large organ and the set-up for a concert by Tafelmusik, a baroque orchestra that operates out of the church. The sanctuary holds around 850 people. I'll show you some of the stained glass tomorrow.

Who You Gonna Call

 

I never noticed that Ghost Bureau sign before on this Bloor St building until the frozen yogurt place on the ground floor closed. It turns out the ghost bureau is a marketing agency on an upper floor. The building could use a new paint job.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

More Shadows

 

This was a contender for my pic for the theme shot of shadows which I showed on Sunday. Palm shadows feel so tropical when our weather here has been anything but tropical.

Supporting Each Other

 

Another mural celebrating the power of women supporting women. This one was inspired by the 3 Sisters - corn, beans, & squash growing strong together. I like it.

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

June Theme: Shadows

 

The June theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Shadows and I offer this shot of a bench with wonderful shadows created by its shape. I like the bench a lot.

Taking part in the theme Shadows. Click HERE to see more shadows from around the world.

Heron In The City

 

I don't get to see too many herons in the city so it was nice to spot this one painted on a utility box. The soft colors seem to suit the scene. 

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

Fire Station 312

 

This is the Yorkville Fire Station which is one of the oldest in the city. The tower was built in 1876 but the other half dates from 1889. The whole structure has been updated and still functions as a very busy fire hall.

Spring Trees

 

One thing about spring rain is that it certainly gets the trees to pop their leaves open. It always seems to be sudden to me.

Pub On Bloor St

 

I had shown a shot of the patio of Paupers Pub back in the winter and thought that I should show you the front of this fine old building which at one time had been a bank. Paupers has been there for many years now and even has a great deck up on the roof.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

"Table Of Love"

 

I posted this sculpture a long time ago and went back recently for another look. The artists for this are Gillie and Marc and features their Rabbitwoman and Dogman having a romantic meal. I really like it and we have a local law firm to thank for having it installed outside their offices in the Yorkville neighbourhood.

Plant People?

 

I spotted this mural along a laneway and I'm sure there must be a message here but I have no idea what it is. The artist for this one is Andre Lopez. Any message ideas?

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

Sunlight

 

I happened to spot the sun pouring through a skylight at a local gallery and loved the effect so here it is.

A Private Pool

 

We have had some dry spells lately but when we do get rain and puddles form the birds take advantage of the puddles. This Robin was in the middle of a bath in this private puddle but stopped to make sure I was no risk to him.

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

More Tree Blossoms

 

There are so many trees in blossom around the city that I just had to show another. I think this is a Redbud which is becoming more common here as the climate warms. You can also see another of the Canadian flags which are being displayed like never before.

"Full Moon" Revisited

 

I hadn't really gone by this clock called "Full Moon" which is located on Yonge St for a long time and then I remembered that I had posted it  HERE way back in 2010. It was created by Wendell Castle in 1988 and it looks so 80s to me. If you go back and look at my original post you will see that the clock now needs a bit of sprucing up. A polish & clean would help.

Yorkville Library

 

The Yorkville Library is the oldest library in the city. It was built in 1907 and is one of the Carnegie libraries being built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie as one of the many libraries he funded all over the world.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Jane's Walk

 

I just happened to come across all of these people assembling for one of the Jane's Walks that took place a couple of weeks ago. There were over 150 walks organized throughout the city in memory of Jane Jacobs the renowned urbanist.  This walk was in the west Annex neighbourhood which just happens to be where Jacobs lived after moving to Toronto from the US many years ago. The walks are organized to gather people together to walk and explore the city.

Sisters

 

I spotted this wonderful mural down a very narrow laneway so it was hard to get the whole thing in. Love the message. The artist is Leslie Phelan.

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

Birds On Bloor

 

All along Bloor St in the Yorkville neighbourhood the large planter boxes have been planted up with flowers which are colour coordinated to match the birds that live in each planter. I liked these colours best.

A Crowd Of Ducks

 

The crowd of ducks in the foreground has attracted the 2 ducks in the upper half of this shot. They were rushing over to see if they were missing out on something. Spotted at James Gardens.

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

More Magnolia Beauty

 

I couldn't resist another pic of a tree in blossom. This deep pink Magnolia was spotted in a small front garden in the Annex neighbourhood. Our weather has been up and down with cool nights and I think that has let the blossoms last a bit longer this year.

Changes

 

I just happened to be going by while they were taking down scaffolding around the lower floor of this new building on Spadina south of Bloor St W. The tall building is a new student residence for U of Toronto while the small older building on the left was the site of a wonderful bookstore for 35 years. The old building is now just a reminder of its construction in 1885 and this part only survived after much resistance from neighbourhood groups to its proposed demolition.

An Unusual Name

 

Good juice box feels like such an unusual name for a vintage clothing store that I think it is worth a visit to check things out. This is another street shot along Bloor St in Korea Town.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Blossom Time

 

This large tree in a neighbours back garden puts on a great show each spring. I am not sure but I always think that it must be an apple tree. This is the view from our roof deck.

Korea Mural

 

This really long mural is found on the side of a large Korean grocery store in Korea Town on Bloor St W. The store is a great source of anything Asian that you need for cooking. Those racks in front are for the city's bike rentals but most of them were gone when I went by.

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

Hockey Playoffs

 

It is playoff season for the NHL so this sculpture by artist Patrick Amiot was quite suitable when it was displayed outside a gallery in the Yorkville neighbourhood. All the sports bars are happy this week.

Finding A Windbreak

 

It was a sunny but windy and cool day when I spotted this squirrel tucked up near the trunk of a large pine tree. With its tail pulled up along its back it made for a cozy spot to eat a snack. Squirrels always seem to be eating or looking for something to eat.

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

Past Generations of Transportaton

 

One from my archives shows two past generations of streetcars that were on display last fall during the TTC Open House  at the Hillcrest yards. The one on the left still appears during special events while the one on the right was a familiar sight until just a few years ago. The newest streetcars are a lot longer and are articulated.

Balconies

 

I love the balconies on this old house which is up near Casa Loma. It is good to get out for shots of homes before the leaves come out on the trees so I took this one a few weeks ago. I like the details up around that top balcony. This is a very expensive area so this house would be pricey.

Glasses

 

I spotted this sign in Merida Mexico one evening during my visit. I looked down a street and these glasses were glowing in the night. I think they were lit by internal LED lights. A great add for an optical shop.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Pink

 

This small Magnolia tree is always the first one to flower in our neighbourhood and once again it was a surprise to see it in bud a couple of weeks ago. Not only is the tree small, which is good for this front garden, but the flowers are also small & delicate.

Out Of This World

 

This fun mural was spotted on Bloor St on the side of a restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern food and they are known for their shawarma. The artist is ersin_artworks.

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

Corner Store

 

It is nice when it finally gets warm enough for the small markets along Bloor St to put the veggies and flowers out along the sidewalk. They are all so tidy with their displays.

A Local Pack

 

While out for a walk I ran into a local dog walker with his friendly group of canines. They were all happy to stop for some attention and a few head scratches. 

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

Beauty

 

A friend gifted me with these lovely Daffodils. There were so many blossoms! And they were such a cheerful sight to have indoors.