Three stages of the White Balloon Flower...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

It seems to me that the backyard flower gardens have been a little unpredictable this summer.   However, our White Balloon Flowers are doing really well.   The photo above shows the three stages fairly well, I think.   There are buds (pale green) in the background on the right, a yellow bud about to bloom at the bottom right, and lovely white blooms at left.   These flowers stand out so well ... like a flock of white butterflies, particularly when bouncing on a breeze. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Away from King for a few days...

                                                                                                        Photo by Barry Wallace

A week at Rowntree Beach on Nottawasaga Bay, just north-west of Midland, was so special last week.   A nice cottage on the beach, grandchildren who loved the water, cold white wine at lunch and dinner, two good books to read (written by my daughter Auralee)...who could ask for anything more?

Also seen were many Black Swallowtail butterflies (photo at right) on the beach and back up into the woods behind the shoreline.
Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

New tenant for old bakery...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Stephen Lecce constituency office in King City

I had a note from King City Councillor Cleve Mortelliti last week that recently elected MPP for King/Vaughan Stephen Lecce will locate his constituency office in the old former bakery building on King Road in the centre of the village.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Small hovering spaceships in the garden...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Daylilies ~ the joy of July

Photos by Barry Wallace 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Centennial Park ~ Jane Street

Photo by Barry Wallace

New picnic shelter and washrooms

A new picnic shelter and washrooms are nearing completion at Centennial Park on Jane Street, between the 16th and 17th Sideroad.

Photo: Ontario Bike Trails.com

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

At Round The Bend Farm Market...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Manure spreader re-purposed

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New toy for the garden...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Here's the newest addition to the back garden.   We've never had one of these pretty glass globes before.   I guess the trick will be to resist getting more than one and overdoing it.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King Heritage & Cultural Centre...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Impromptu art installation

The King Heritage & Cultural Centre is the home of a children's summer program and the scene above, of kids' backpacks, occurred as their young owners headed outside for an activity. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Range Rover Evoque convertible ...

Photo by Barry Wallace

I've mentioned a few times, in this blog space, that I think every second car in King Township is a Range Rover.  Last Thursday, while doing my grocery shopping at Coppa's I spotted my first Range Rover Evoque convertible in the parking lot.   They've been making these convertibles since last year but this is the first time I've seen one anywhere.  This adds one more degree of confusion about which Range Rover to buy when a win Lotto Max.   I'm sure I'll come to grips with it when the happy time occurs, however.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Now on at King Heritage & Cultural Centre

Photo by Barry Wallace

Abstracts by Sharon Kirsh

Abstract paintings by King artist Sharon Kirsh are on display at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre in Kinghorn until August 25, 2018; Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The old bakery in King City...

Photos by Barry Wallace

 Workers are busy restoring the old King City Bakery, a.k.a. the McLeod Bakery, on the King Road in the middle of the village.   The historical plaque pictured below also identifies the building as the postmaster's residence 165 years ago.

 The northern section of the historical wood portion of the building and all its windows are being repainted in traditional colours.   The remainder of the large site will be part of a residential housing proposal at some point in the future.

Please comment 

if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Nobleton & King City Garden Club

 Photos by Barry Wallace

ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR

The Nobleton and King City Garden Club's Annual Garden Tour was enjoyed this past Sunday and the weather was perfect for it.   In addition to the usual garden treasures, Arts Society King participated with works of one or more local artists at each location...an inspired combination.

This sprawling, quiet garden on Kingsworth Road in King City (photo above) seemed to be bigger than the public parks in the village.

Every garden should have a zipline for the kids, right?

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Pink Water Lilies on Nobleton Lakes Drive

    Photos by Barry Wallace

Drive into Nobleton Lakes Golf Course, past the clubhouse, and on the north side of Nobleton Lakes Drive you will see the pond above, which contains numerous pink water lilies, which are charming.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The Toad and the Grackle...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

I'll let the photos speak for themselves, other than to say the Grackle interrupted the toad's bathing, but the toad turned his back and waited for the Grackle to move on.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The Roost Cafe ~ on Keele Street

Photos by Barry Wallace

There a few places to enjoy a cuppa in King City, but the back deck or the blue chair at the bottom of the garden, at the Roost Cafe on Keele Street across from All Saints Anglican Church, is hard to beat.   They serve ice cream at this time of year also.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Red Currant Jelly...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Just made a fresh batch of red currant jelly 

I picked several quarts of red currants in the backyard on the weekend and Linda made several jars of of jelly on Tuesday which was the best ever, I think.  The first jar went to Rob, the electrician across the street, who had just made a small repair to a light in the basement and wouldn't take any money for the job.  Linda guessed he might accept the red currant jelly as a small thank-you gift  He immediately reciprocated with a jar of his own homemade rhubarb/strawberry jam.   So I'm back in his debt again, but we can share some tasty treats on our toast each morning.   Ahhhh, summer!

Please comment if you wish.   

Barry Wallace

Snapping Turtle eggs saved on 15th Sideroad

Photos by Barry Wallace

Buried turtle eggs hopefully protected

I'll let the words on the sign below speak for themselves...

This goes above and beyond the call of duty and some person(s) should be highly commended. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New entrance sign at north end of village...

 Photo by Barry Wallace

 Southwest corner of Keele St. and 15th Sideroad

This very large and attractive stone signage has appeared at the north end of the village across the street from Marylake.  I dropped into the township offices to inquire about it and was told that the signage construction, on the site of the old Cairns farm, was the work of the subdivision developer.  Very attractive indeed!   Would that more developers/builders showed this kind of neighbourhood inclusivity.
Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Sweet Peas doing well this year...

                                                                                              Photo by Barry Wallace

Our perennial Sweet Peas (Lathyrus latifolius) are doing quite well this summer (see photo above).   Sweet Peas are native to southern Italy, the Aegean Islands, Cyprus and Sicily.   When they showed up in Europe in the late Victorian period, their appearance caused "a floral sensation".   Unlike edible peas, Sweet Peas are generally not edible.   They are usually available in pastel shades of purple, blue, pink and white.   Despite numerous and constant attempts at hybridization, no yellow Sweet Peas exist.   Linda regrets somewhat the absence of fragrance of perennial Sweet Peas, however.

Please comment if you wish.     

Barry Wallace

Kingcrafts founded in 1950 by Lady Flavelle

Photos by Barry Wallace

A King tradition of arts and crafts 
for almost 70 years

The Kingcrafts studio is located at 12936 Keele Street in King City and is open Monday to Friday from 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., as well as Wednesday, Thhursday and Friday evenings from 6 - 9 p.m.

Please comment 

if you wish.

Barry Wallace