A richly textured neighbourhood

New neighbourhoods can be fine places to live. Solidly built homes, well insulated, all services buried. Small homes mixed with large homes with medium height apartment buildings also present. Streets have limited traffic, the curved streets do not lend themselves to through traffic, and sidewalks in front of homes are common.

Admittedly it is possible to walk to some retail businesses but my guess is very few do. People walk for mostly for pleasure here or, if they are young, they may be walking to school. The school is close.

When it comes to driving, those living here need only make a very small trip to reach everything normally needed. This may be the suburbs but living here does mean being forced to do a lot of driving. Many journeys are less than two miles.

Preparing for a Halloween that may not happen

The Michaels Store, which specializes in craft supplies, is getting ready for Halloween and encouraging its customers to get ready as well. The store is filled with Halloween themed articles but, and it's a big but, but will there be a Halloween this year. Will kids run from home to home shouting "Trick or treat!" There are good sign that it may not happen. Folks may not want the little kids crowding their porch and shouting loudly and kids may not want to participate.

No fall fair this year

Fall is time for fairs. London has a good one. The land where the fair is held sits essentially unused all year, Then for about ten days early in the fall every year a fair comes to town. Amusment rides fill the space and excitement reigns. 

But not this year. I cannot recall the last time that the fair failed to open. Generally, it simply never happens but COVID-19 has changed all that. That virus has managed to change so much that at this moment a cancelled fair seems a small thing.

Former gravel pit, now a place to play

It was a gravel pit. It was closed and filled. Today it is great place to play. (This photo was snapped by the little girl's mom using a cell phone.)

The Canadian "flag" and proper etiquette

There is an official etiquette for flying the Canadian flag—but these rules are not mandatory for individuals or organizations outside of government. 

Still, many believe it is best if the rules are followed. But many folk do not know the rules. Clearly the business flying these flags beside Wharncliffe Rd. S. leading into London is in the dark about flag etiquette.

First, the position of the maple leaf on these "flags" is wrong. The leaf looks right with a quick glance but it is on its side. Oops! 

Second, the flag should never be used as a tablecloth, seat cover or a piece of clothing. Using it for what is essentially advertising, attracting the attention of passing motorists, is a highly questionable use.

Oh well, the Canadian flag gets a lot more respect today than it did when first unveiled, should I say unfurled, back in 1965. At the time, it replaced the Red Ensign, not Canada's national flag but well loved just the same.

Folk looked at the bold red stripes the patch of white with a stylized, red maple leaf and saw not a flag to salute but something more akin to a beer bottle label. I had teachers in high school who actually said that in class. Shocking.

Black scallop variety of ajuga reptans?

Is this the black scallop variety of ajuga reptans? Maybe. But, it could also be the burgundy glow cultivar of ajuga reptans. Although calling it a cultivar may be too generous. Also known as bugleweed, ajuga reptans is a ground cover that can quickly become an invasive nightmare.

I don't remember the purple leaves of this ground cover in any lawn when I was a child. Today, here in my London, Ontario, neighbourhood, it is everywhere.

Am I going to work to eliminate it from my lawn. My neighbours will apply pressure to encourage me to get rid of it. I will bow to the pressure but I am beginning to question the wisdom of expending a lot of energy doing battle with highly successful plants. I'm beginning to think we backed a loser when we decided to grow grass.

Think of creeping charlie or ground ivy. Native to Europe, it was brought to North America as a garden plant with a pleasant scent when cut. It quickly became a headache, forming dense mats of vegetation in lawns and elsewhere which resisted removal. It grew, expanding its territory, without our help. Any plant like that is a weed and war was declared.

Creeping charlie, bugleweed and even clover were all once treasured plants. In some places bugleweed is still be sold. I confess to be fond of clover in my lawn. Why? It's green even when the rest of the lawn is yellow from lack of rain. It looks good from a distance.

Maybe we should let the plants growing wild in our lawns fight it out and let the best plant win. I wouldn't put much money on grass coming out on top.

This home is a mystery

This home is a mystery and has been ever since I moved into this neighbourhood some thirty years ago. A few years back it sold but the mysterious quality that surrounds the place seems to have been part of the sale. For instance, not many home have a Viking ship sculpture prominently displayed on the front lawn. This place does and always has.

No one knows the home's age. It's old and very solid. A rare concrete block construction, it looks like a place that was  built to last. Even the windows are set in concrete frames rather than the more usual wood.

The four Greek columns on each side of the front porch and the two columns bordering an upstairs window give the home a slightly classic look despite the concrete block construction. I'd love to see the inside. I'm sure when it was built it had lots of wood inside. I wonder if it still has it original doors and trim.