Return to the Rose Garden

It's been three months since I strolled through Queen's Park lovely little rose garden.

Things are madly in bloom and the air is blanketed in the scent of roses. Happy little bees are buzzing from one flower to the next oblivious to human intrusion. 

Social distancing continues - although less stringently than it should be but I suppose we will learn by trial and error just how seriously to take the virus.

I was just here in May and the plants and flowers were giving us their all!

Now in July as some of the early bloomers are getting a little limp and pale, the second wave of blossoms are bursting with life.

The park is not the only place to have colours on display. We have a magnificent hydrangea accessorizing the corner of our building. (and doing incredibly well considering I don't think anyone pays any attention to it)

And I have a slight weakness for 'industrial' looking things and lines and angles. Our circa 1960 building provides plenty of that.

Self Isolating (images from May 27, 2020)

Will we ever see summer or it self-isolating too? This 'novel coronavirus-19' is definitely making things awkward for most folks. 
I hope the outbreaks lessen as people realize the importance of social distancing! Anyway, we'll do our best and as our beloved Dr. Bonnie Henry says; "Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe". And hope for the best.

My self isolating has giving me the opportunity to bake, to notice the beauty around the house and outside my windows and shoot my rotund orange tabby! Random proof below. :)

A walk through Queens Park, the Jewel of New West

It's been nearly a year since I picked up my trusty old NIKON.
Life was just being too shitty to feel motivated to do anything creative.
But circumstances have changed for the better and 'creative activities' are once again a joy! Started first with sedentary, stay-at-home stuff to ease back into it.
Then along came the COVID-19 Pandemic and the whole world shifted.
Confined indoors. Distanced from loved-ones. Loneliness a new companion for some. It forced me to look at what I was doing day-in day-out. Like everyone, I adapted. We're accepting that there is a new-normal and we can handle it. 
(at least most of us. some asshats - not so much.)
But restriction are slowly being lifted and well, when one can, one heads outdoors. Making sure to keep up the social distancing!

Queen's Park is a mere 5 -6 minute drive away. It's the name of a neighbourhood as well as a park. It's full of meandering paths to stroll, tennis courts, an enchanted Rose Garden with a gazebo. There are picnic and barbeque areas, a kids play area with water spouts and for all the kids-at-heart, a petting zoo.

For the first time in a long time, I left the house with my camera and the park was the only place I wanted to see after such a long hiatus from shooting.

The saying 'photos can't do it justice' stand true. But I captured memories of a beautiful sunny day after such a long and dreary dry spell.

peppers in the sun, waiting to be stir-fried

solar x-ray

majestic beauty

shiny fern

peeking out

landscaped artwork

leaning into the sun

droplets

a crowd

striped like a skunk

dazzling canopy

budding monkey puzzle tree

monkey puzzle pieces

so big it didn't fit in the frame