Red Trillium at Bob Hunter Memorial Park: May 2021

Robert (Bob) Lorne Hunter (October 13, 1941 – May 2, 2005) was a Canadian environmentalist, journalist, author and politician. He was the first president of Greenpeace and was a leading voice in the ecology movement of the 1970’s.

The Memorial Park is located just outside Markham and has many trails.

Last week I saw many White Trilliums in flower;

White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

Red (sometimes called purple) Trilliums are never as abundant. They are usually found in rich, even swampy, deciduous forests.

Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)

Its foul smell attracts carrion flies that act as pollinators.

Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Other birds:

Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch (male)
American Robin before bathing
American Robin after bathing
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Canada Goose

Some botany:

Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Apple flower ready to open
Penny Cress (Thlaspi arvense)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Red Ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Ostrich Fern fiddlehead
Black Currant (Ribes nigrum)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Basswood (Tilia americana)

MYSTERY BIRD

The real clue here is the Cat-tail. In addition, the bird shows a reddish cap, an outlined white throat and a reddish wing patch: a Swamp Sparrow.

MAILBOX

Female mallard lays eggs on balcony

NATURE POETRY

O! my heart now feels so cheerful as I go with footsteps light
In the daily toil of my dear home;
And I’ll tell you the secret that now makes my life so bright—
There’s a flower at my window in full bloom.                              – Lucian B. Watkins

Miles Hearn


1 thought on “Red Trillium at Bob Hunter Memorial Park: May 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I had to mute the sound of the Mailbox contribution because I have an opera stream on right now. What is going to be done with that duck and eggs (and ducklings?) I wondered? Are they close to a body of water? Was it because there wasn’t one that she landed there? Incredible. I hope it wasn’t a case of duck-napping for “likes”. I suppose wildlife people can be called in to help at some point.
    I love the colours (and sights) of dawn in your pictures, Miles. And how wonderful to see botanicals “in the wild”! I managed to find three (white) Trilliums in someone’s garden. I am enjoying the beautiful gardens in neighbourhoods right now, so I certainly appreciated the sentiment expressed in the poem. And the birds, here–yet another variety of sparrow!! Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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