Thursday, May 8, 2014

The Park Before, During, And After

"You never know when the devil might come calling." ~ Farley Mowat, 1921-2014

A terrific quote from a great writer and a good man. Rest in peace, Farley. The world needs more people like you.

Yes, spring is not merely a rumour here in the Great White North. Central Park is a ribbon of parkland in the Glebe. Before the building of the Canal, a creek would have run through this low ground; Patterson Creek does end further east in the park from here. From here at Bank Street, cutting across the park, this area on the east side still had snow in early April.


It didn't take long for the snow to start melting as days went by and the sun got stronger. Pools of meltwater started forming on this side.


And this shot is from early this week.



On the west side of Bank Street, we had much the same situation in early April: snow covering the ground, but the early signs of melting already going on.


This part of the park is particularly low, so melting tends to create a shallow lake here until the ground absorbs it.


Ducks and geese seem to love it. And dogs can be found splashing their way around what's usually dry ground.


What a difference time makes. This shot was also taken earlier this week.



35 comments:

  1. Beautiful series, William! I love the colours and contrast!

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  2. Love the sequence of images of early spring!
    So good to hear that a good man enjoyed a long life.

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  3. It's amazing how fast spring comes once it starts heating up a bit. That shade of green is fantastic!

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  4. Ah, yes, green! Finally! It's looking like spring here too, though I hear that we are expecting snow this weekend.

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  5. Great to see it's spring overthere too now. Wonderful to see the changing of the colours.

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  6. The greening of Ottawa. Lots of patience required, I see.

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  7. finally! wow, it's so green already!

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  8. Linda: thank you!

    Merisi: thanks.

    Halcyon: I was surprised by the amount of green this week.

    Tamera: snow would be welcome!

    Jan: thank you!

    Revrunner: it is a slow process..

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  9. Great series of shots! I like that sort of comparison.

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  10. Nice to see all that green, William. (Although I know you do LOVE winter too.)

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  11. Well there you go: spring! I hope you're going to continue showing us how it changes into summer and then autumn!

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  12. I'm surprised how fast snow melt is absorbed by the earth...and how quickly it greens up.
    Jane x

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  13. Nature doth have a way of rehabilitating itself. What wonderful contrasts! Super shots!

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  14. great melting and green-up phases!

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  15. Love these shots William. Great job!

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  16. How amazingly different throughout the year! Great post.

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  17. Wow look at the green--Love it. So glad Spring is finally arriving your way. Feel that lovely sun. MB

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  18. Forgot to say I like the new header too. MB

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  19. I love the progression in these shots. Spring is slowly making it's mark.

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  20. @Tanya: that really astonished me.

    @Furry Gnome: thank you!

    @EG: it's that obvious?

    @Ciel: oh, yes, from time to time I'll photograph in this park again.

    @Jane and Chris: it seemed to be early spring grass last week, still brown, and then just like that, green.

    @Lowell: thanks!

    @Tex: thank you!

    @Luis: thanks!

    @Jose: I'll have to remember to take comparison shots in the autumn.

    @MB: it's still a bit cool first thing in the morning. And I was prepping a post for a few days down the line and decided to post one of the pics as the new header. I'll keep it up for awhile.

    @Sharon: that's what I was going for!

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  21. I find it wonderful to see the green finally!

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  22. Finally some green!!! Not much here as I look out the window.
    Like your new header!

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  23. What difference some green makes! Nice series, William.

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  24. A literally heart-warming sequence and a terrific quote!

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  25. Doesn't take long does it, once the weather starts warming up. Lovely shots and a great quote from Mr. Mowat.

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  26. Interesting sequence, William, wonderful contrasts!

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  27. Doesn't that green look bright when you contrast it to the shades of winter? Plants don't waste much time when the conditions turn right. Nice comparison shots.

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  28. I don't believe it! Grass! There is green stuff up there!

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  29. @RedPat: hopefully the white stuff will be back soon.

    @Jackie: I knew the header I wanted, it was just a matter of waiting for the right sky.

    @Marleen: thank you!

    @VP: I wonder if I could use it for a novel introduction...

    @Denise: just as long as it doesn't get humid!

    @Karl: thank you!

    @Kay: it was quite a contrast!

    @Norma: yes, we do not live in igloos and cast our elderly adrift on ice floes.

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  30. Amazing what a week of sun will do. I love looking at photos of Ottawa.

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  31. Judging from the comments, everyone enjoyed the contrast of colors. I particularly gravitated to the green. We are now seeing green here in Minnesota and I cannot wait 'til all the trees are leafed and the grass is green like the marvelous shades in your photos.

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  32. Looks like spring really has come up there!

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  33. @Deb: it really brightens things up.

    @Kate: the leaves are yet to start showing themselves here too.

    @Cheryl: it's coming along nicely.

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  34. The change is quite dramatic!

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