West Don Parkland, near Bathurst and Finch, has some very tangled and overgrown trails near the river.

Some of these go right through thriving poison ivy patches and I hope that the walkers who frequent the area know this!

There are also very park-like areas:

Every few years, we suffer from a major Gypsy Moth infestation and we are in one this summer. A single gypsy moth caterpillar can eat an average of one square metre of leaves:

Caterpillars emerge from pupae:

Even though females have wings, they do not fly. After mating, they begin to deposit eggs which last throughout the winter.

The quick-moving males were everywhere on this day but photographing them is next-to-impossible.

They have no digestive tract and and have no need to stop and eat during their week-or-so of life. This is why they seldom stop fluttering.

Other insects:

Thanks to Ken Sproule for grasshopper identification.

I came across this shrub which appeared to be a cherry:

A cherry with willow leaves? These galls are caused by insects or bacteria.

Some botany:

NATURE POETRY

A moon-flooded prairie; a straying
Of leal-hearted lovers; a baying
Of far away watching dogs; a dreaming
Of brown-fisted farmers; a gleaming
Of fireflies eddying nigh, —
And that is July!                                        – James N. Matthews (1852–1910)

Miles Hearn