While my car was in for servicing, I wandered about alleys near Eastern Avenue and Carlaw Avenue.
In my early adulthood I worked in downtown Toronto and became interested in the plants that grow in little laneways and out-of-the-way streets. Until the pandemic, I regularly led walks into these places and have a great fondness for them.










MYSTERY PLANT
At the conclusion of the post, I will identify it.

Some botany:


























Some birds:




TODAY’S MYSTERY PLANT
Garlic Mustard is in the top five of invasive species in our area.

MAILBAG
Thanks to Yvette Matyas for these fine Green-winged Teal photos:



NATURE POETRY
Oh, how fresh the wind is blowing!
See! The sky is bright and clear,
Oh, how green the grass is growing!
April! April! Are you here? – Dora R. Goodale (1866–1953)
Miles Hearn
Thanks for the virtual weed walk, almost as good as the real thing!
As someone whose walking these days is necessarily (COVID-related prudence) confined to city streets and alleyways on my once-a-day extended walks with my dog, I can well appreciate how interesting and beautiful these can be from the point of view of plants, trees, gardens, houses and other features. I actually correctly “guessed” the “mystery plant”–one of the few I know really well by name, but mostly by seeing it in the Don Valley, it is more unexpected here! It was also great seeing the birds featured, and of course, an additional thanks to Yvette for the terrific pictures of Green-winged Teals. Thanks, Miles!