Like A Mirror

 

Earlier this summer this pond in Wychwood Park was covered in duckweed but as the weeds die back the reflections have appeared. As you can tell the pond is totally surrounded by trees.

Transit Signs

 

This collection of transit signs was found along the wall in the Wychwood barn which I showed you yesterday. These are major intersections in the city and it is likely that the signs were on display in those spaces. I love the graphic look of them.

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

A Fine Reuse

This is the interior of one of the old streetcar barns at the Wychwood Barns community centre and park. The barns were built as a streetcar maintenance facility in 1913 and have been converted into a multi-use space with theatres, artist studios, event spaces and more. This is barn 2 which is used as a space for a weekend farmers' market as well as various shows and even for wedding receptions. It is a great space with all of those skylights.
 

Frozen Pond

 

The pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood was frozen when I walked by recently on the way to a farmers market. I don't think this pond ever freezes well enough to allow skating or even walking on it.

A Busy City

 

There are so many events going on all over the city that it is hard to keep track of them all. I stumbled upon this one at the Wychwood Barns but have no idea what it was for. Everyone was speaking Spanish but there were no signs saying what it was about. The stalls selling food were very busy!

A Different View

 

I thought that I should show you a different view of the Wychwood library from the one I showed on Tuesday. This one gives a better idea of how the addition is linked to the original building. I do plan on going by for some interior shots.

Library Addition

 

This is the Wychwood Library which was one of 10 libraries in Toronto funded by the Carnegie Foundation. It was built in 1916 and had a round addition built in the 70s ( See HERE). The latter addition has been removed and this modern wing visible on the right was added which more than doubled the floor space in the building. The library was closed for 4 years to undergo construction. I'll have to go in one day for interior shots to check out the new and old features.

Oasis In The City

 

Not all of the homes in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood are set close to the road that runs through it like the one that I showed yesterday. I always stop to admire this view of the back garden of this home. There are no fences in the neighbourhood so the gardens all flow into each other. It really is an oasis.

Trees Grow

 

I was out for a wander through Wychwood Park and was struck by how much these trees in front of this house have grown. I remember when they were small saplings and the house was totally open to the road. Now they have a bit of privacy. I have always liked this house which feels to be a bit Frank Lloyd Wright like whereas most of the homes in the park are Arts & Crafts style.

The Barns

 The Artscape Wychwood Barns are located in barns built for streetcar maintenance in 1913. Now the barns have been taken over by Artscape and turned into a real community hub with artist live/work spaces, galleries. offices for art & environmental groups and a huge event space which is in hall 2 behind all those windows.  This space is used for all kinds of events such as weddings, exhibits and in winter the farmers market moves into it.

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

Ducks On a Log

This log in the pond in Wychwood Park is usually the resting and sunning spot for the resident turtles but with the turtles hiding away for the winter the ducks have taken over. I loved all the soft ripples on the surface of the water. 

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

Transit Signs

These signs were found displayed along one of the walls in the space that I showed you yesterday at the Wychwood Barns. There was no info that I saw to tell us where they had originally been along our transit system but they may have been signs showing the destination of various bus routes. I quite like them all together like this. 

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

A Streetcar Barn

 This is a shot of one of the streetcar maintenance barns at the Wychwood Barns which have been renovated and now are used as a community and cultural centre. The barns were built in 1913 and have heritage protection. This hall, barn 2, is used for many events throughout the year and houses the Saturday farmers market all winter. Some of the other barns house a theatre, a community greenhouse, artist studios and also some artist homes. It is an active place.

Peek-a-Boo

 While I was walking around the path beside the pond in yesterday's post I could hear Cardinals peeping away to each other in all the trees. I couldn't spot them until this guy came down and sat near me for a few minutes and then he was off again. They seemed to be enjoying the warmer temperatures and there are several homes around the pond with bird feeders so it was a happy place for them.

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

Melting

 The pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood had been frozen over but in the warm weather we had for the first week of the year the ice was melting. The ice in this pond is never safe enough for skating but it looks tempting so luckily there is a fence around it. I like the soft reflections of the trees in the water sitting on the ice.

A Walk In Wychwood

This is the road/pathway that encircles the pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood. There are no sidewalks and very little vehicular traffic so people walk down the middle of the road. Even on the hottest days of summer it is cooler and refreshing in this area.

Reflections In A Pond

 When out for a walk on New Year's day I spotted this wonderful reflection in the pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood. We got snow the next day but I loved seeing the golden brown leaves and the grand house reflected in the pond that day. That house was the home of the late media guru Marshall McLuhan and what a fine location it has.

A Mother

The black squirrels in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood seem to have a  colour mutation that effects their tails. I have seen some like this one with a totally brown tail whereas others have 1/2 a brown tail or even just a few inches of brown at the end. This one thought I might have some food for her. She looks like she may be nursing so I guess she had a late summer litter.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures 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.

First Turtle Sighting Of Spring

I spotted my first turtle of the season last week as he sat upon a log in the pond in the Wychwood Park neighbourhood. It had been a bit sunny but it wasn't really warm so I was surprised to see him out. 

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