We are just back home and still sorting through our photos. Before we left for our stay in Shrewsbury near Rondeau Provincial Park, we wanted to go back to Solitude Nature Reserve to see the array of early spring wildflowers we had seen there a year ago. As it turned out, spring is more advanced this year. Many of the early-blooming flowers were finished and the trees were leafing out.
Still, we were not disappointed. To our delight, the woods were were full of birdsong. The best were the Wood Thrushes’ melodic songs, described on Cornell’s “All About Birds” website as a “flute-like ee-oh-lay“. We identified 19 bird species, mostly from their songs. The leaves provided ample cover for most of the birds, although Glenn managed to capture a few:
Can you find the Chipping Sparrow?
Red Trilliums bloom earlier than the Large/Great White Trillium variety (Trillium grandiflorum). Both the Red and White Trilliums were plentiful, but in decline. As they age, White Trilliums turn pink.
Trilliums weren’t the only plants in bloom…
Marsh Marigolds, ferns and Skunk Cabbage grow well in the wet conditions.
Other wildlife:
Stay tuned for news and photos of our time away.
Music of John Sebastian
What a day for a daydream! With the music of the Lovin’ Spoonful in my head I remembered a charming video of John Sebastian and the MonaLisa Twins. It leads this YouTube playlist.
While following suggestions for other content, I found a concert film from 1966 that includes Ray Charles, Joan Baez, The Byrds, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Petula Clark, Bo Diddley, Donovan, The Ronettes, plus Ike and Tina Turner.
That reminded me to look for the famous TAMI concert film from 1964 which ends with James Brown showing the Rolling Stones how to excite an American audience. This colorized version has improved sound over other videos.
