The spring weather has finally warmed up which means that I can go for longer walks without wishing I hadn't made such a foolish decision to leave the comfort of my fireplace! I strolled along the newest portion of the Rouge Urban Trail, from Reesor Road to Durham 30 and back. The trail is easy walking, and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs too, and of course bicycles. Lots of families out with their bikes enjoying the sun.
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| Teasel - Dipsacus fullonum - this is a dried flower head from last year, still spiky and sharp. Teasels are actually part of the honeysuckle family. The spiky heads were formerly widely used in textile processing, cleaning, aligning and raising the nap on fabrics. |
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| Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara - one of the first splashes of colour to appear along the trails after the snow melts. The leaves, which appear much later than the flowers, are supposed to resemble the shape of a colt's foot. Not a native plant, and was probably introduced from Europe with the first settlers. |
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| Rows of a crop that may be Winter Wheat, but I'm not certain. I just liked the uniformity of the rows, and the first real green I have seen since winter left. |
I didn't know that teasals were part of the honeysuckle family. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Spring settles down with you and you have many, many more walks to come.
Looking forward to many walks in the country, however, as of today we are back in an even more stringent "stay at home" order.
DeleteYour plants are way ahead of ours. So nice to be able to go for longer walks again.
ReplyDeleteNice sunny day today, and rain forecast tomorrow, that should turn everything green.
DeleteOh, thank you. I took pictures of yellow flowers on my walk and didn't know what they were. Coltsfoot. They were growing on the side of the road. A mass of them.
ReplyDeleteNice bright yellow, they really stand out among the dead grass.
DeleteNot only is it warming up, but the winds have now been less ferocious for a few days.
ReplyDeleteGentle breezes, so much nicer than trying to stand up in a gale force wind!
DeleteI haven't seen coltsfoot since I lived in Europe. And I've always thought how inventive the earlier textile workers were, in using teasels.
ReplyDeleteI bet there's some coltsfoot somewhere near you, it seems to be everywhere, first flower of the spring.
DeleteHow nice to get out for a walk Shammi, even better that the weather is warming up, enjoy 💛
ReplyDeleteLove to walk the new trails, but sometimes it gets a bit crowded!
DeleteGreat that you can get outdoors again. I have to say, though, that that teasel looks quite lethal! Love the sweet little coltsfoot flowers :)
ReplyDeleteYes, teasels are very very spiky and sharp!
DeleteIsn't it wonderful to get out and just breath the fresh air?
ReplyDeleteSo happy you could do that and see the firsts of spring.
I didn't know that teasels were part of the honeysuckle family. From delicate and fragrant to sharp and prickly..fascinating.
Sue
The Province of Ontario has just started a new stringent "stay at home" lock down, too many covid infections, so may have to abandon long walks for a while.
DeleteColtsfoot in Russian are called Mother-Step Mother. One side of the leaf is cold and smooth, the other side is warm and fuzzy.
ReplyDeleteThat's the best flower name I have ever heard!
DeleteTerrific shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I hope to be out with my camera in the country ASAP, in spite of this new lock down.
DeleteI suspect that you can still continue with your walks since you are permitted outside for exercise, and even golf courses are open. Spring is quite well advanced now and there is much to be seen and heard. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI'll be out walking as soon as this rain stops! Meanwhile it's lovely to see the grass getting greener with every raindrop.
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