Old Houses, Daffodils and Bloodroot

 One day last week I rode down Nelson Street West, the street that suffers from terrible 'alligator pavement'.  I try to ride down it once or twice a year never-the-less, just to keep in touch.

There are several small red brick homes that date from many decades ago, probably built when this was farmland on the edge of town.  This is the first, with its bright patch of Daffodils out front.

The Daffodils are right at the peak of blooming just now.

Across the street is this old home, same centre entrance, but with a peaked roof overhead, and this one has an upper porch above the door.  But out front they used to have a giant old Sugar Maple, and under it a small patch of forest floor filled with Bloodroot, and later with Mayapple.  The tree was taken down some years ago as branches started to rot, but the Bloodroot are still there and I see them every spring.

The leaf of the Bloodroot forms a protective shield around the stem in early spring, lessening the risk of frost damage to the flower.

Facing down the length of the street is this old home, same centre entrance and peaked roof.  Unfortunately hidden behind large cedar and lilacs.

But beside it is a very attractive small barn.  They've obviously replaced the siding recently.

The fourth old home, similar architecturally, is back near the beginning of the street, though unfortunately it hasn't been as well cared for.

Beside it though is a beautiful patch of bright yellow Aconite.

And just after the start of the street is this tiny stream, which flows north and under our street before draining into the golf course and out to the bay.

And just in case you've forgotten, here's a patch of relatively smooth 'alligator pavement', no problem for cars, but painful for a wheelchair!

Now that I've posted this I find myself wondering if the upstairs doors over the front porches weren't an escape route in case of fire.  All these homes would originally have been heated by a wood or coal stove in the kitchen.