A Silent Don Valley Parkway: August 2021

A few days each year, the Don Valley Parkway closes for maintenance or for a race. It reminds me of what it would be like if a great river dried up now and then. Of course it doesn’t become truly silent as there is a constant stream of vehicles on their way to performing various tasks.

Today I prowled about and had a look at both the highway and some of the surrounding nature.

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Some botany:

Hairy Galinsoga (Galinsoga quadriradiata)
Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepela)
Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
Common Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Rose (Rosa)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Tansy (Tanecetum vulgare)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Apple (Malus)
Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
White Sweet-clover (Melilotus alba)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

MYSTERY BIRD

This is clearly a chick. A Baltimore Oriole chick.

Baltimore Oriole chick

MAILBOX

Hi there. I am sending you this article in the off chance that you did not know about this whiffling thing. That chance would be .01/100. That’s the least amount that you probably don’t know this , but my math may not be correct!

Whiffling: The Art of Flying Upside Down | Amusing Planet

SONG LYRICS

Why aint’ it always summer ?
I could sleep late
And stay up till midnight catching dew worms for bait
Now i’d be combed and curried 
And worry again
Who wants to put their shoes on
Not me my friend! – from the Musical Anne of Green Gables

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “A Silent Don Valley Parkway: August 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    A Baltimore Oriole chick! I considered a couple of possibilities, but that wasn’t one of them.
    Great scenes, beautiful botany. It’s always amazing to experience the DVP empty and relatively silent.
    Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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