Last week, we drove to Toronto to see the newly-choreographed production of Romeo and Juliet performed by the National Ballet of Canada. The dancing, the music, the sets and costumes were all exquisite and well worth the pain of driving to downtown Toronto.
We went early to ensure we were downtown in good time. That meant we had time to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and spend time in Grange Park immediately adjacent to the gallery. This is a welcome oasis in the midst of roadwork and construction sites at every turn.
Grange Park features a Henry Moore sculpture, Large Two Forms, and views of the award-winning architecture of the OCAD University campus – the black and white “tabletop” structure that stands above the main campus building on 12 multi-coloured steel legs. (OCADU = Ontario College of Art & Design University)
The back addition of the Art Gallery of Ontario is meant to blend invisibly into the sky. The Grange is the historic house visible in the right photo below, now part of the AGO.
The Henry Moore sculpture has always been a popular destination for play or relaxation.
We were happy to find a shady spot and some native flowers in bloom – Meadow Anemone.
Typical of all city parks, there were Rock Pigeons, House Sparrows and American Robins in abundance. In the middle photo, a newly-fledged sparrow (with yellow gape just visible) was being fed by the female sparrow who later visited our park bench.
The gardens were beautifully planted.
There were pollinator gardens on the OCADU campus.
Altogether a welcome respite from the hubbub of the city.
As we approach the Canada Day weekend, we have had more wildfire smoke and poor air quality to contend with. It seems to be clearing now and the rain forecast for the weekend may help remove the noxious particles from the air.
Time to celebrate more flowers from Wandering Bee
Jazz for the weekend
July 1st, Happy Canada Day!
