Crothers' Woods (additional photographs)

Awesome open fields with wild flowers

Some time just before dusk last Thursday (August 18th) we had a weather storm watch, but I had an itching to go out for a ride and decided to take my 

A paved trail that I had to follow...

chances anyways.  I had read more about 'Crothers' Woods' and was amazed that this area of the valley was relatively 'untouched since 1787'! I mean I don't want to insult anyone's math abilities, but that's over 2 centuries ago and in the heart of Toronto.  That's rare here.  So that in and of itself was a reason for me to go back.  I saw a few guys on mountain bikes here and there tackling the steep walls and extensive gullies, pretty amazing athletes to do feats like that.  Then I walked my bike up a hill and followed a road that was freshly paved and curiously and comfortably rode along it until I came a dead end with a backhoe and roller.  I really hope I won't be seeing a thoroughfare coming through here off of Bayview avenue, but it is Toronto and the city has to do what they have to do I guess.  I can't complain though since there is so much park and forestry left here any ways.

just before dark and checked Leaside bridge more closely

So I turned around and went back the other way to the top of the valley passing by some dog walkers and spotted a large bird (couldn't make it out) and then the clouds rolled in and looked somewhat angry but nothing really panned out.  It was getting darker so started back  home on the trail and instead took a closer look at Leaside bridge, close to the Don River which was about 50 metres away from the bike trail.  I noticed an animal moving ahead (without my glasses I don't really notice much :) so I went in walking my bike to take a closer look.  Camera ready I saw a bunny that just stood there.  He (or she) must have stayed put for dummy to take a perfect picture.  I must have taken about 5 different shots of it trying to get the best 

Overlooking the valley below

one.  I laughed to myself thinking I'm probably taking a picture of a piece of wood.  But one of the setting on the camera let off a flash, and the bunny was gone in a flash! The picture you see here is the best of a bad lot.  I also never seen the Don River from the Leaside bridge before and the graffiti on the walls of bridge showed me I wasn't the first to discover its beauty.  Night coming soon, I left to go home and the skies waited for me to open the lobby doors before opening up and letting out a downpour for the next hour or so, cooling off the temps to a more comfortable degree. 

Don North Trail (Edwards Gardens)

Edwards Gardens / greenhouses

surrounding gardens

upper level of the gardens

The furthest northwest point of this particular part of the trail you will enter the beautiful botanical gardens (a former estate) called Edwards Gardens.    As you can see its easy to be a great photographer here!  This was site of another saw mills once owned by Rupert Edwards and in 1944 he made  this site his country home. Unbelievably, I had read that there was a time when this land was actually neglected!  But thankfully the city of Toronto had bought the land in the mid 50s, and Edwards Gardens was born.  Today the botanical gardens are in full bloom in the spring and summer months.  There is a fully functioning garden as well that is used to grow fresh fruits and vegetables which are donated to the homeless shelters.   My favorites will always be the weeping willow trees and there were quite a few here.  Awesome and beautiful shade trees they are ornaments to any garden in my opinion and there is no other tree quite so lovely. 

The weeping willow

functioning garden 

This pretty much covers the bike trails in and around Toronto.  There are plenty of foot trails that are easier to access without a bike too, but I won't be covering them on the blog.  There are plenty of great sites around already that cover hiking trails in Ontario :)