Flynn Rapids at Bass Rock in the Muskoka River are raging along today. I could fall asleep soundly to that watery spring music. Swollen rivers are an iconic sign of spring arrived. And so too are the woodland daffodils, the fattening buds on the old wild apple trees edging the river and the wild strawberries shooting outward in search of new ground to grasp. The lichen has exploded with thousands of new miniature shoots reaching skyward - one patch dipped in an impossible shade of emerald green which I have witnessed nowhere else in nature. Ducks are sailing placidly ignoring the heightened pace of the Muskoka while other ones flap overhead quacking together in pairs.



I picked a branch of silvery pussy willows along the Muskoka River today. Do you remember the childhood pussy willow song - each line rising one note higher than the last?

I know a little pussy
Her coat is silver gray
She lives down in the meadow
Not very far away.
Though she is a pussy
She’ll never be a cat.
She is a pussy willow.
Now what do you think of that!
 [And back down the scale with...]
Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow! MEOW!

Spring greetings to you all from Muskoka! 

Spring in Muskoka

March 6th, 2012 - Seagulls out on Muskoka River
They congregated there in great numbers for several days!

As a result of a leg injury last summer, there hasn't been too much opportunity to get out hiking and to take photos. But I have a cane now and nothing today could hold me back from getting out along the river to enjoy the spectacular - and unprecedented for March - spring weather.

I wiggled my toes in the freezing river which is raging with melted snow from the far north. Got my first mosquito and black fly bites, sited the first crocus.  The strawberry leaves along the river road are breaking through the forest cover and the gone-wild lilac leaves are greening and waiting to burst open - maybe even tonight. Also saw the unmistakable prints of a bear probably out for a spring walk to get the kinks out of his / her limbs from a long winter slumber and hunting for food - no doubt there are little ones to be fed waiting in the winter den.  To me, this is the best part of spring - warm days, very chilly nights and lots of hope for beautiful long summer days ahead.

Hopefully tomorrow I can manage the camera too and I will take some pictures for you of our very lovely and most welcome 'spring break' here in Muskoka!

Cheers,
Gillian
Thanks for walking with me along the footpath.

Details of Rail Bridge Rivets

I love looking at the enormous bridge structures about town,
 the peeling paint, the strong graphics of the rows of rivets.
It all holds the historical importance and necessity of the railway in settling Muskoka.


The link below will take you to the Muskoka photos for the first 1/2 of June.
I hope you enjoy some of them!

http://www.crackers.gilliancards.com/MuskokaCardsYesterdaysPhotos.htm

You can find "Today's Muskoka Photo" HERE
or
"Yesterday's Photos for June" HERE  along with zooms.
or

to receive the "Today's Muskoka Photo" photo links posted daily.