Don River Ravine in the Autumn!

Lower Don River

Off path of lower don trail

There are so many Discovery Walks in Toronto.  In a real sense the walks link people with nature in all corners of the city.  The amalgamation of the boroughs of Toronto in 2000 brought about some change in preserving our natural heritage.  The City and the Conversation Authority have worked to improve several features which included vegitation communities as well as the city's watersheds.  The pictures of the Don River you see today, look much different than that of even 10 years ago.  Believe it or not, there was a time, when the storm water and sewage ran directly into the Don, thankfully direct access is blocked by culverts, watersheds and smaller storm sewers before reaching our rivers and streams.   In fact there are at least 6 sewers plus a number of culverts that empty along the stretch of the Don.  

The Lower Don River

Environmental causes and groups crop up all over all the in and around major cities.  It's almost become trendy and fad to 'go green', save the planet, save our waters.  It's a good thing and from I see, work has paid off and will continue for generations to come.   

Humber West Trail

 Its that time of year again, when the air is a little fresher, crisper and humidity is a bad dream of the past.  Where a world of green is being slowly but surely transformed into a myriad of yellows, browns and reds.  Okay, okay I'm being a little dramatic, but autumn is soon upon us and you can see it in its abundance in our parks and trails.  There's no need to travel up north (although I wouldn't turn down the opportunity) there is still beauty here in southwestern Ontario.  In Humber West Trail park trail,  you'll see the parks and trails are being put to good use. 

A few signs going up warning parksters not to touch the "poisonous parsnip" plants.  Most of the plants are dead already.   There is so much confusion with this plant.  Cow parsnip has a few species. The tall flowering plant is either poisonous or not.  The water parsnip -- not.  The water hemlock is highly poisonous.  I just decided that I am not going near parsnip, period.  I suggest you do the same.  I couldn't stop taking pictures today because everything looked so pretty, so I am just overloading this post with too many photos!  The trail #15 North will ultimately take you as far north as Steeles avenue along the Humber Trail.  

Quick action and sharp eye prevented this little guy being a twin