Seneca spring

Photos by Barry Wallace

It may be the end of April but there is still some snow and ice in the cedar swamps,  (photo above) along the Oak Ridges Trail, at Seneca College's King Campus.   Meanwhile, out in the open, (below) Trees Swallows have occupied every available bird-box, in the swale along the south-west corner of Lake Jonda.

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Barry Wallace   

Holland Marsh planting underway

This young Holland Marsh farmer, near Ansnorveldt, brought out from the greenhouse his first round of young cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli which will likely be planted in the black marsh soil in the next few days.   Below, further south on Dufferin Street, a newly planted field of young onions gets a head start on most of the other fields in the immediate area. 

In the bottom photo, planters start to  disembark from a mechanical planter after finishing several rows of onion-planting.   The covered, weather-proof planter was transporting almost  ten men, when under way.   

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

End of the road...

Photo by Barry Wallace

There are several spots in King Township where the road you are driving on becomes a dead-end.   In this case, the farm at the end of this road, near Nobleton, appears rather proud of its undistinguished location.

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Barry Wallace

The changing face of King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

King City is currently adding approximately 1,163  housing units to the existing 1629 units, with a further  600 to 650 units in the next year or so.   Our population will be close to doubling?   Will we even recognize the new village?   Will anyone care?   God help us all.

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Barry Wallace

1949 Daimler convertible

Photo by Barry Wallace

I photographed this 64-year-old Daimler on Thursday of this week, in front of Hogan's Inn in King City.   The owner told me that approximately 500 of these cars were built and they were all sold in Europe.   Apparently British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was one of the owners of these attractive vehicles.   Ultimately, this double-blue Daimler found its way across the Atlantic.

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Barry Wallace

Well-used mailbox on 12th Concession

Photo by Barry Wallace

Fragile - handle with care

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Barry Wallace

Spring run-off overflowing local ponds

Photos by Barry Wallace

Local lakes, farm and estate ponds and ephemeral spring ponds have well-exceeded their normal banks this spring.   Witness the pond above on Dufferin Street, opposite Seneca College's King campus.   This pond is probably 2 to 3 times its normal spring size.   Similar situations are to be found throughout King township.   Every other puddle along the side-roads  seems to have a pair of Mallard ducks finding a home.

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BtheB   

More photos from King 'old boy' Dave Hunter

KING CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL

KING CITY RAILWAY STATION

Dave Hunter of Parry Sound and one-time resident of King City has been re-discovering photos of people and places, from old family photo albums, and has shared some of those photos with me, some of which I  published here earlier this year.   Above are two more photos I just received from Dave.   The top photo shows the King City Public School (S.S. No. 2) which was established in 1873, on the west side of Keele Street in the north end of the village, overlooking the East Humber River.   I do not know when the picture was taken but am guessing it goes back to around 1900.   A hundred years later, the building has been transformed into the King City Presbyterian Church.   There are date-stones embedded in one of the present-day walls says 1873 and 1951, but  I'm not sure how many school buildings and/or additions were actually built on the site.

The lower photograph is much more familiar.   It is a shot of the King City Railway Station, taken early in the 20th century and has been displayed and published in many places over the years.   The first train to run through King City (Springhill) did so in 1853.   The railway company was the  Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway Company, later nicknamed the 'Oats, Straw & Hay Railroad'.   Thanks for sharing your photos, Dave.

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Barry Wallace

Hay rake at Pottageville

Photo by Barry Wallace

A steel seat shaped for comfort

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Barry Wallace

3rd week of April

Photo by Barry Wallace

Still lots of ice at Marylake

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Barry Wallace

Cold Creek Climbing Wall gets spring tune-up

Photo by Barry Wallace

The Climbing Wall at Cold Creek Conservation Area was being refurbished by workers on Tuesday of this week.   Handholds and footholds were being re-installed in anticipation of the many users who have made this climbing wall a favourite destination.

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Barry Wallace

Aaaahh, spring...you are at my door.

Photo by Barry Wallace

Colourful croci ~ from the iris family

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Barry Wallace

Then raise the scarlet standard high!

Photos by Barry Wallace

Red Ensign (Ontario) & the Canada Flag

7th Concession north of the 15th Sideroad

Canada Flag & the American Flag

16th Sideroad and 7th Concession

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Barry Wallace

Spring run-off

Photo by Barry Wallace

11th Concession & 16th Sideroad

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Barry Wallace

Stained glass sunflower

Photo by Barry Wallace

King Road and Weston Road ~ Laskay

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Barry Wallace

April showers...frozen

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Spring Peepers show up

Photo by Barry Wallace

Spring is taking its time showing up this year but It got over +10C today and that brought out some Spring Peepers.   The one pictured above showed up at The Waterski Park near Ansnorveldt in the Holland Marsh.   These tiny frogs are common in the eastern USA and Canada and depending on what part of the country you're in you may hear them called "pinkletinks", "tinkletoes" or "pink-winks".   Or if you prefer, you can call them by their Latin name: (Pseudacris crucifer).   Whatever you call them, keep an eye open for them because they are only 1" to 1.5" long and prefer to stay close to the ground.
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Barry Wallace  

New face at Cold Creek: Shirly Girot

I went looking for early Bluebirds at Cold Creek today but did not find any.   Instead, I found Shirly Girot, (pictured at left) the new Environmental Stewardship Coordinator in King Township's Parks, Recreation & Culture Department.   Shirly will be hanging her hat at Cold Creek Conservation Area, where she is also the Cold Creek Site Coordinator.   As I passed the education centre, Shirly called out to me and asked if needed any information.   I told her I was looking to see if any Bluebirds had showed up at the bird boxes yet.   She had not see any yet but she knew that Bluebirds do nest at Cold Creek and eagerly added that the volunteer Cold Creek Stewardship Committee had just reported the Bluebird nesting program for 2012 had shown an encouraging increase of nest box use over the previous year.   I had just received similar info from Nigel Hussey, Cold Creek Stewardship Vice President, a day or two earlier.   I was very impressed that Shirly had this news and could quote it so spontaneously.   I decided right there and then that King Township has made a great hire with this person.   When Shirley discovered I had a previous connection with the Cold Creek Stewardship and now had this blogsite, she immediately gave me a couple of flyers of upcoming events and asked if I would publicize them.   So here are a couple of events that you might want to attend in the next month or so.   The first is a Wildflower Walk on April 24 at 10 a.m. , which includes a free environmental stewardship workshop!   The second event is Springfest on May 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   Activities at Springfest will include bouncy castles, rock climbing, low ropes course, geocaching, crafts, and guided nature hikes.   There will also be King Township camps registration, bird box building workshop, rain barrel and compost bin and bat box sale, as well as food and beverages.   Admission for this event is $10 per car which includes the cost of refreshments.   Refreshments will include BBQ burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, popcorn, cotton candy, juice and water.   This event is for all ages.   Best wishes to Shirly as she brings her talents and enthusiasm to Cold Creek.
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Barry Wallace      

New address for BarrytheBirder

If you have been a reader of my other blog  (BarrytheBirder) and recently have been unable to find me, you should try the following address: www.barrythebirder.blogspot.com.   I have had troubles with a service provider, hence the new address.   Thank you for being a reader in the past and I hope we can reconnect.   Thank you also for being a reader of camera on KING.

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Barry Wallace  ~ a.k.a. BarrytheBirder

Freezing fishing is for the intrepid

Photos by Barry Wallace

A nasty wind, on-and-off snow flurries and a -3C temperature were not stopping these eager fellows from wetting their lines on the Holland River in northern King Township, between Bradford and Holland Landing on the day after Easter Monday.   This spot, on the Pumphouse Road, opposite the Art Janse Pumping Station, is so popular that it seems there is never a time when someone isn't trying his or her fishing luck here.
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Barry Wallace

   

Perfect timing

Photo by Barry Wallace

Easter Monday arrived and it was cold and windy and there were snow flurries  on and off all day.   The usual suspects were at the backyard bird feeders: Redpolls, Juncos, Goldfinches, Sparrows, four types of blackbirds and Mourning Doves.   Joining them on this special day was this Cottontail Rabbit.   There are 16 species of cottontails in the Americas and I suppose depending on where you are located, any one of the 16 species could qualify as the Easter Bunny.   Here's hoping your Easter was sweet and memorable.
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Barry Wallace