Black Locust

The local Black Locust (robinia pseudoacacia) trees are blooming and when I walk near one of these trees, the perfume in the air is very strong.... sort of jasmine and vanilla and honey mixture, lovely.  Bees love these blossoms, and honey from black locusts has a distinctive flavour.  The flowers don't last long, but they are edible, and the trusty internet is full of forager recipes for salads and stir-fries and cookies and muffins. I haven' tried cooking the flowers, but I admit to chomping on a few when I thought nobody was looking. Mmmm nice and sweet!

Homeward Bound

 Driving home from the Blue Jays baseball game.

Oldest grandson Callum has passed his driving test so he was behind the wheel, with his dad riding shotgun.  A new experience to drive in Toronto traffic at night. I was in the back seat, keeping an eye on things. Always good policy to have a competent back seat driver!

Magnolia

It seems to be a bumper year for magnolia blossom around here. There are trees on every street absolutely loaded with the blossoms, all variations of purple and pink and white. They don't last long.

This yellow magnolia grows beside the pond near my house. It had no blossoms last spring as an early ice storm killed the flower buds. But this year it's making up for the loss. 

Note: That heron beside the pond looks intriguing but sorry, it isn't real, it's made of metal. But a real heron arrives most evenings and walks around the water's edge hunting for dinner.

Art Show 2025

Our annual Lemonville Group of Artists 2025 Art Show and Sale is over for another year, and was considered a success, even though the economy isn't flourishing right now.  A total of 23 paintings were sold over the 2.5 days.... actually a good number considering we are 14 people, a mixture of amateur artists, some have been painting for most of their lives, and some are beginners.

Three of mine are shown here, the lone tree with the purple sky in the first photo, and the long grass habitat and the blue reflection in the second pic. 

There's a lot to do to put on a show like this. We use a local Community Centre, and the Town workers  install the lights and the picture hanger wires, and set up the tables for us.  The art works are hung on Friday afternoon, ready for the opening at 7pm. Of course lots of advertising needed, signs to be installed in the neighbourhood, snacks and nibbles and lemonade to be provided to our patrons, wrapping for the sold pictures, soothing music in the background.

I was astonished (and very pleased) that I actually sold four pieces. It's very satisfying to think that something I created will be hanging on the wall of someone's house. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Coltsfoot

The first dash of golden sunshine after the snow has melted. Coltsfoot.  Tussilago farfara.  A flower in the daisy family, flowers appearing before the leaves.  Claims that a tea made from Coltsfoot can treat respiratory infections, sore throats, gout, flu, and fever.  I haven't tried it so far, and probably never will.

The leaf is supposed to be the shape of a colt's foot, hence the name.  Some other names are tash plant, ass's foot, bull's foot, coughwort, farfara, foal's foot, foalswort, and horse foot. 

Sugar High?

I filled the hummingbird feeder with sugar water and hung it up a couple of days ago, probably a bit early, but I see there are already some Ontario sightings of Ruby Throated hummers according to the Hummingbird Migration Map (which suddenly isn't working properly, I don't know why). EDIT UPDATE: now it's working!

But guess who decided to take advantage of a free treat, yes, Billy the tree rat er.... cute fluffy squirrel. I think he's addicted to sugar, I'll have to send him to Sugarholics Anonymous. He deserves a bad tummy ache after draining the feeder dry.  I hope he doesn't tell all his friends. So far he's the only one showing up.

Did you know..... the term to describe the fear of squirrels is Sciurophobia.

Wall Art

The local Art Gallery's current exhibition is one of the most important exhibitions of the year. It's when the students in all the elementary schools in town get a chance to show their talents.  

Just a few of the offerings.... lots of colour and texture and shapes. All kinds of subject matter. And lots of proud children showing their parents the artwork up on the wall.

I love this PositiviTREE with its important messages. Some great stuff on show, thank you to all the art teachers who have the ideas and give so much encouragement to the kids towards their creativity. A successful art exhibition!