SpruceHaven and Benjamin Park

26 April, 2026

SpruceHaven, St. Agatha, ON

"I feel the more time we spend in simple observation of the natural world, the more, over time, over a lifetime, we lean toward an earthen humility"

Lyanda Lynn Haupt 

     I was visiting SpruceHaven for other reasons, but took advantage of decent weather to have a brief walkabout.

     Several Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were gathering food and calling noisily.

     Soon they will have hungry mouths to feed.

     Lichens fascinate me and I wish I had greater familiarity with them. I am fairly sure the following are Common Sunburst Lichens (Xanthoria parietina), a species found frequently on deciduous trees in southern Ontario.

     One of my earliest memories of flowers involves Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris). I loved them then and I love them now.

      I was always drawn to ponds and cannot say with certainty whether the marigolds or the reptiles, fishes and amphibians were the primary attraction. The pond that I remember most vividly, where I caught newts and gathered frog spawn to breed at home, was drained many years ago and houses now sit where it once provided me so many happy hours. That is the tragic fate of most wetlands throughout the world.

     The emerging buds of Mountain Ash (genus Sorbus) are nothing short of exquisite.

     The same could be said of White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

27 April, 2026

Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

     Spring Beauty (genus Claytonia) is well named.

     As I was admiring this flower, a bee landed on it. 

     Initially I concluded that it was a Spring Beauty Miner (Andrena erigeniae), a pollen specialist on Claytonia virginica, but I am now doubting this assessment. It is probably a Nomad Bee (genus Nomada). 

     Red Trilliums (Trillium erectum) are now blooming.

     And so are Large White Trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum).

     A carpet of trilliums in an Ontario woodland brings me inestimable enchantment.

     Yellow Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) only add to the euphoria.

     I was delighted to see my first buttercup (genus Ranunculus) of the spring.

     American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) are always around, but seldom easy to photograph.

     As usual, I encountered several members of that two-legged tribe known generally as Homo sapiens. Sometimes, the subspecies disgusticus is involved; far too frequently, in fact.

     Here is a discarded dog poop bag, regularly (and sickeningly) observed.

     And here is a litter bin no more than twenty metres from the discarded bag of poop.

     It amuses me (in a sad and sinister way) when I hear people referring to humans as "behaving like animals." It would be a cleaner, better world if we did.

     Several Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) enlivened my walk.

     A Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is many times an agreeable companion.

     What a splendid bird is an American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis).

     A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) perched quietly back from the path a ways.

     I had seen a dozen Eastern Commas (Polygonia comma) over several previous days, but none had landed. Finally this individual complied and consented to rest for a minute or so while I took a picture.

     As always, American Robins (Turdus migratorius) patrolled the area, dapper and stylish, with a fine vocal repertoire, too.

     The blossom on this fruit tree is magnificent.

     It is probably a Fire Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), but I am not sure. By any other name it is still gorgeous.

     In a way, this was the Day of the Trillium, so I will leave you with one other bloom.

     Nature has been an everlasting source of inspiration to me. Even were it necessary I could never calculate the happiness it has given me. I am sure you can see why.