A Drive Through the Swamp

A week or two ago we went for a drive, to one of our favourite destinations, the swamp north of Shallow Lake.  We were watching for birds, but there was nothing to get very excited about, however, there were thousands of white /water Lilies.  So Mrs. F.G. drove slowly along, puling over frequently, while I pointed my phone out the window.

A good chunk of what we call 'the swamp' is really more of a marsh, with reeds and open water.  In a few weeks there may well be an Egret or Swan in this area.

A little further along the open water disappears, replaced by thousands of lily pads.

This is the White Water-lily, with thick waxy leaves that float and flowers that are open for three-four days.  On the fourth day the stem 'corkscrews', pulling the flower underwater until seed matures.  White water-lily are a main source in the diet of both muskrat and moose.

There are lots of other plants you'd expect in the marsh, like these Bulrushes.

Along the roadside were lots of Milkweed.

And the first Chicory I've seen this year.

We left the swamp behind and drove down the narrow rural road as we headed for home, with plentiful berry crops ripening along the way, including these wild grapes.

A nice view of an old barn across the fields.

Clematis

We have two quite large Clematis, one dominantly white and one purple, one growing against the side of the house and one against the shed.  They are in full glorious bloom right now.   There are another six, all smaller, but only one of them is in bloom just now, the one with tiny white flowers.

This is one I can't get to see, because it is around the side of the house where I can't get to in my heavy wheelchair.  There used to be two separate plants, both at least 6 feet high, but the little destructive rabbit nibbled one off at the base.  He didn't eat any of the plant, just snipped through the stem at the bottom, killing the whole plant.  But this one is beautiful!  

The big white one is against the side of the shed.  It's huge, with a lot of blossoms.

                                                     

My memory may be wrong (it often is), but I thought we had a lot more purple blooms in with the white.  The white blooming plant seems to have almost overwhelmed the purple one

And here's the other white clematis that's currently in bloom, with very tiny flowers, but lots of them.  Of the others we have, three have already bloomed, and two remain to bloom.

                                                

The Day Lilies have Exploded!

As I told you, once they start, the Day Lilies bloom a LOT!  As the name suggests, Day Lilies bloom for a day and then wilt, so you need to pick off yesterday's faded blooms to enjoy today's.  It makes for a great morning, going out to see what blooms have opened today!  Each stem develops a lot of buds, so can go on blooming for quite awhile.

This variety is known as Saugeen Sunrise; we bought it directly from the breeders a short distance from our former home.

Hope you enjoyed these; there will be more ion the weeks to come!

Riding Into 150 Years

It's Meaford's sesquicentnnial this year, and someone had the bright idea of painting old bicycles to decorate the downtown.  They just magically appeared and I decided to go check them out.

I immediately found them, tied to various sign or light posts downtown.  But it wasn't very clear who had done this.

I do like their choice of colours, and good paint jobs!

All of them had a basket off the front handlebars, with flowers growing in each one.  Did you notice the light blue bike across the street?

I loved the colour of this one, as well as the colourful umbrellas across the street along the Leeky Canoe's patio.  It's accessible while the restaurant is not, so I must go and try it.

It was here that I began to learn who had taken on this project - though you had to know the local logos and how to use QR codes.  I have to admit that as an old fogy I didn't, but thanks to this I figured it out!.  But it did tell me that they were tied to the sesquicentennial ('Riding into 150 Years Meaford'), and that Grey Heron Nursery donated the flowers.

Beside the nest one was a big jug of water.

And a note that said 'Please water the flowers'.

I did pursue the logos on that little sign, and looked up 'Meaford Wave', which was a new one to me.  The most I got out of it was a brief thank you to two citizens who had come forth to do this.  Bikes and paint were donated.  But it challenged me to go chasing info about the Sesquicentennial, so you may see more about that soon.

The First Day Lily!

We have lots of Day Lilies in the garden, so once they start blooming they will go on for a long time.  They are the main source of colour over the summer season.  And we have quite a few different colours, as you'll see.

Here it is, a bright orange day lily, shot through the living room window.  At least it was turned facing me!

The first of the Echinacea are out; there will be many more.

The big Mullein we left to grow by the corner of the shed is now blooming.

We have one Lupin.  In spite of the drifts of them we saw along roads in the Maritimes, Mrs. F.G. is eradicating them as they attract aphids.

These are four Foxtail Lilies, one of the most interesting flowers to me.  They should be 6 feet tall, but they're just not getting enough sun, tucked in under other plants at the front of the house.

A close look at one flower head shows you how it blooms.  One flower head has a hundred or two tiny florets that take their turns opening, running from bottom to top.  Only a narrow band, about one inch high, is in bloom at any one time (the tiny stamens with light brown tips).  It takes about two weeks for the entire plant to bloom.

One day a pair of Red Admirals were flitting around, spending most of their time on the Red Valerian.  I took a lot of pictures to get this one!

Canada Day Car Show

I never did find the list of what was on for Canada Day, but I decided to just ride downtown anyway and boy, was it hopping!  There were crowds, an old car show and music and on the far side of the harbour was more music as well as games for families, and food.  I met people I knew and enjoyed the car show.  I avoid the far side of the harbour 'cause it requires me to cross a field of course gravel! 

They closed Bayfield Street, and cars were parked down both sides.  I would have enjoyed that little yellow sportscar.

My favourite are the older cars, but I can't tell you a thing about them, sorry!

Sone were 'souped up' a little, like this very bright green truck.  I tended to ignore the cars from the '50s and early 60s, which you can see in the background.

Some interesting pickup styles.

This is a 1947 Plymouth the owners call 'Blue Thunder'.  It is a little updated, as it does have a/c!

And across the harbour are all the craft and game tents, as well as a fire truck, ladder extended, to provide a flagpole.

Happy Canada Day!

Wishing everyone who reads this a happy Canada Day!

This is my all-time favourite picture for Canada Day, taken a few years ago

at Big Bay, north of Owen Sound.  It stands on the end of the pier beside the

'World's Best Stone Skipping Beach'

Georgian Bay is beyond the flag.

We also remember our province of Newfoundland, 

for whom this is Memorial Day, in honour of about 700

soldiers who died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in WWI,

long before Newfoundland and Labrador became a province of Canada in 1949.

This year is particularly memorable for the repatriation of the unknown

soldier, representing 820 Newfoundlanders with unknown graves.

And to my American readers, Happy Independence Day.

better known I think as simply July 4th.