Nature Beneath the Leaside Bridge: June 2021

Construction of the Leaside Bridge to connect Leaside and East York was begun in January 1927 and inaugurated on October 29 as the Confederation Bridge, in honour of the sixtieth anniversary of that event.

Photo: leasidelife.org

In the late 1960’s the bridge was widened to support 6 lanes of traffic.

Photo: pinterest.ca

Here is how it looked on a very humid early summer day.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Some botany:

Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
Water-parsnip (Sium suave)
Thimbleweed (Anemone canadensis)
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Other photos:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cabbage White Butterfly

I revisited the Giant Hogweed.

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)

MYSTERY BIRD

There are many Yellow Warblers in the Don Valley now and a few of this species: the American Redstart.

American Redstart (male)

NATURE POETRY

Sing a song of seasons,
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall.                                       – Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Nature Beneath the Leaside Bridge: June 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Such beautiful botany (and Redstart!) Thanks for the wonderful pictures, Miles. As soon as my second vaccine takes full effect (very soon!) I plan to visit this much beloved Valley again (weather and less crowded subway times permitting). I can hardly wait–I’ve missed all this so much! Thank you for enabling me to keep up with it by sharing your wonderful pictures with us!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *