More King City intersection improvements

 Photos by Barry Wallace

 

The north-west corner of the Keele and King Roads (top photo) is the latest part of the intersection improvements which began this summer. Previously the space was a garden tended by members of the King-Nobleton Horticultural Society.   The new treatment of the site will still feature floral displays and places to sit, but will also have a large shade feature that will make the sitting area much more comfortable, particularly with relief from the broiling sun at this exposed corner.   Slowly but surely this intersection is becoming a most welcome showpiece of the village.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Correction to blog immediately below

Please see the correction/addendum at the bottom of the Davis Park blog below.   Thanks to the King Township Parks, Recreation & Culture Department for setting me straight on the oversight.
BW

Nobleton's Davis Park Foot Path is so special

                                                                                                                Photos by Barry Wallace

There is a wonderful walking trail circling a boggy, marshy, wetland in the north-west quadrant of Nobleton that is a naturalist's delight.   The curvy triangular area is bound by Mactaggart Drive, Holden Drive and Sheardown Drive and is reached by travelling west of Hwy. 27 on either Sheardown (at the library) or on Mactaggart a little further north.   The entire area is heavily treed, including the swampy marsh area and the higher ground around the perimeter.   Nobleton is in a widespread area of Beech-Maple and Maple-Basswood forests and the photo above shows some of the towering 70 to 75 ft. maples and beech on the wetland's north slope.   The variety of trees, shrubs and other plants is quite remarkable.  

The wetlands are jammed with trees and plants and the water-views are obscured in many areas but do have a definite, lush swampy look in many places.   The area drains south through Nobleton eventually reaching the East Humber River at the Humber Trails Conservation area.

The complete circuit of the trail is currently blocked at one point, on the north side, by a fallen tree (see photo below) and one has to do some energetic struggling to get past it.   I spoke with Chris Fasciano of the King Township Parks, Recreation & Culture Department on Thursday afternoon and mentioned the blocked trail.   He said his department would check on the situation and remedy it.

Even though there are occasional glimpses of houses beyond the treed boundaries, there is a special, remote feeling to this lovely, easy-hiking path.   Naturalists, birdwatchers, and just plain walkers are in for a treat whenever they tread this trail.

Correction/Addendum...
There is an error in the description of the photo above.   I stated that the trail is blocked by a fallen tree and that it would be removed forthwith.   In fact the trail has always ended at this point.   The fallen tree does not in fact block any trail.  The folks at King's Works Department told me that there are plans to open this section of forest, in the future, to connect with the other end of the trail in Davis Park.   Until that time, walkers will have to retrace their steps to a nearby access point on Mactaggart Rd.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

New plein air paintings by 'Phil the Forecaster'

Painting by Phil Chadwick

Winds, Waves and Weather ~ Parked Yachts
Southampton, Ontario

Painting by Phil Chadwick

Buzzard Lake Sunset Shore (5x7 inch panel) 
 Kawartha Lakes

It's been a while since I showed  some paintings of long-time weatherman and former King Township resident, Phil 'The Forecaster' Chadwick.   The peripatetic and prolific plein air painter never slows down and can be found all over Ontario, in particular, pursuing his creative impulses.   Many King Township folks know him well and have collected his works, but for anyone who would like to see more of his artistic talent, you should go to: chadwick.homestead.com.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

John the knife sharpener

                                                                                                                           Photos by Barry Wallace

This is John from Vaughan, a retired construction worker and now a 75-year-old knife sharpener who was was making the rounds in King City this past weekend.   John's equipment included an old, well-worn treadle (see below), two grindstones, a file, some emery paper, and a pair of strong, experienced hands.   

John explained to me that new metal knives and cutting equipment do not throw sparks when he is sharpening with the grindstones, but he noted that old steel knives, scissors, and other ancient cutting tools do throw sparks (see photo below).   This lovely gentleman told me he has a good pension and was not in the knife-sharpening business to make a lot of money, which I can attest to, being very aware of how little he charged me.   He spent a half hour sharpening three cutting implements for me and they are so sharp I feel they should all be in sheaths of their own. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Butterfly drawn by a beautiful promise...

                                                                                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace

Cabbage White Butterfly ~ Rose of Sharon

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King City Trails - Keele Street North

Leafy trail tunnel

Teasel (or Teazel)
Plant with prickly heads that were formerly dried and used to raise the nap on woven cloth.

The scourge of spring flooding

Spotted Touch-Me-Not (Spotted Jewelweed) - Impatiens capensis

Cattail marsh boardwalk  (detail)

Wild Aster (or Michaelmas Daisy) ~ soon to be called Symphyotrichum!

Tree trunk or stream water?     Answer: water

Goldenrod

Queen Anne's Lace (close-up)

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace