Mammals Of The Canadian Wild

 Close to where I left off in this visit to the Museum of Nature is the other portion of this first diorama of the Mammal Gallery, with a mother polar bear and its cub at an air hole in the ice. A seal is below, key prey for the bear.

This gallery has large and small dioramas, and they are very well done. This is a family of beavers.

From apex predators to their prey, mammals have a wide variety.

Two predators and one prey are seen here. Adolescent grizzly bears are perched on the rocks, while a pika can be seen at bottom left below the ledge.  

Across the way, something different from my last visit. This is a slab of western red cedar, over seven hundred years old when it was brought down.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Fruit

 The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for May, that theme is Fruit. See how others are interpreting the theme right here.

To begin, fruits can be made into many things. I pick up jam from a vendor at the main farmer's market. Two jars at home- blueberry jam and raspberry jam.

Last December during the Christmas market, I picked up some strudel. This one was blueberry.

From time to time I'll get a pie. Here we have apple-cranberry maple pie.

Taken in April, I came to Lansdowne Park to the farmer's market. Here at the east end of the property, we find a grove of apple trees off to the right on this central island.

The farmer's market is held in the Aberdeen Pavilion in the colder months, and through the winter, produce farmers that are still selling are those who have a good cold storage building on their farm.

One of them is an apple orchard I get cider from. I stopped by. Aside from apples, they have baked goods.

A retail business downtown, Edible Arrangements, does fruit baskets in lieu of flowers, and has been doing this for many years.

I finish with this painting from the archives, taken at the National Gallery of Canada. Eve, The Serpent, And Death is by Hans Baldung Grien, circa 1510-15. It depicts Adam, Eve, and the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Eve conceals an apple behind her, while Adam, having had become Death after eating from the Tree of Life, reaches for another apple.

From Winter To Spring In The Park

Central Park is in the north end of the Glebe, crossing the area like a ribbon. I like to document the progress from winter to spring in this area, stopping along Bank Street, which passes through the park, to photograph views on both sides as the seasons progress. 

I took these one evening in December after some snow. First I photographed the east side of the park.

And then crossed over to photograph the west.

These were my first photographs of 2026. I ventured out before dawn on New Year's Day.

When I returned in the first half of February, it was in the evening.

Here it was in March.

I returned one day early this month. Note the dog- this park is popular with dog walkers from the neighbourhood.

And then I came back a few days ago at dawn. It was a cold morning, but the snow from earlier in the month was gone, and the grass in both sections of the park was showing signs of getting green.

Diving Down Into The Abyss

 The NEPTUNE Canada observatory off the British Columbia coast, down on the floor, running tests and gathering data about the ocean. That data is sent to scientists around the world. 

Here we have a series of models of various whales.

The blue whale skeleton certainly impresses.

They are the biggest animal on earth, and the blue whale feasts on tiny animals- krill, a small crustacean that travels together. A sample of them are in the vial at right.

One last look.

I took another picture of Gaia outside.

And then it was onto the next gallery- the Mammal Gallery.

An Arctic Fox is found near the entry, though you have to look carefully for him.

Adaptation is the key for mammals to thrive. We will continue this series after the theme day.

The Depths Of The Ocean

 Life in the true depths of the oceans thrives in immense pressure, and seems to have an alien look.

This is a mock up of a deep sea thermal vent. Down in the darkness, mineral rich hot water pours out of vents, creating an environment for lifeforms to make a living off of.

Crabs, lobsters, and other creatures of the sea are called arthropods, characterized by exoskeletons.

Another glance at the blue whale skeleton.

We still know so little about the deep parts of the oceans.

One of the peculiarities of the sea is the common mola, a large sunbathing fish that is thought to dive deep for its food, and can often be seen lying on its side on the surface. A model of one hangs above.