Late Fall in Wilket Creek Park

We missed the height of the fall colours by a couple of weeks at least but time and again, my photographer friend and I have found that the lack of fresh bright colours actually forced us to look harder and in unusual places for photo opportunities.   We didn't have masses of reds and oranges to show but in the end, we found the subtler colours of late fall - it's really all about light.

Sakura in Toronto

The Japanese government presented cherry blossom trees to the people of Toronto to thank them for their support of Japanese Canadian refugees after World War II.  This started a tradition of sakura (cherry blossom viewing) in Toronto.  More than fifty of the trees were planted in High Park.  

On Sunday, I joined hundreds (possibly even thousands) of Torontonians on their annual pilgrimage.  It was a zoo, but the cherry blossoms were gorgeous.  They were in full bloom and in fact most have peaked and there were even some petals falling off.   The weekend before would have been a better time to enjoy both buds and flowers and a weekday would mean a less crowded and more enjoyable park - however, not always an option...

Leaves have already started to come out on some trees

Photographer's paradise

The "stars" were very much in demand, including this "bride" below... 

I've found the trunks as photo-worthy as the flowers...

This is to give you an idea of the crowds and the traffic - DON'T drive.  For many of the people here, it was an expensive parking fee - $105 - the parking control staff had a field day!

The better way...

Urban Hike - Beltline Trail

Who would have thought a hike through an urban area could be so interesting!  We joined the Bruce Trail Club for a hike on the Beltline Trail in midtown Toronto yesterday.  While I have to sometimes fight my way to the front to get some unobstructed photo shots, I have to confess walking with a group made me walk faster and not think about when I should stop.   Of course, there was also less dawdling for photos and it meant taking shots very quickly so I don't get run over by people coming up behind me!   The 12 km hike went quickly and we completed it with a total walking time of less than 3 hours.  There was plenty of time to have water breaks and an extended snack break at the Loblaws at St. Clair and Spadina.   It was all very enjoyable.

The Beltline Trail - originally a railway track ran through it.  It was well-hidden behind houses and I must have driven by it countless times without being aware of its existence.

After about half an hour on the shady Beltline Trail, we emerged onto the bridge over Allen Road - an unusual spot for me;  it would be more typical for me to be sitting in the traffic jam below!

My first glimpse of early fall colours

The beautiful Cedarvale Park

We even caught a glimpse of the CN Tower through the trees

All that remarkable green space!

Not to let us forget that we were in an urban area - graffiti on the overpass

Coffee break with musical accompaniment at Loblaws - very civilized!

Lovely flowers on someone's front lawn

A green porch curtain!

The grand Grace Church-on-the-Hill on our way through Forest Hill

What a gorgeous courtyard!

  

Cutting through the immaculate track and football field of the Upper Canada College with its familiar bell tower

We finished where we started, very conveniently, at Davisville station.