In the park

The boardwalk in Summerside is where my husband and I most commonly walk. However, recently, since the trails have dried out this spring, we walk the Rotary Friendship Park, groomed trails through a wooded area near fields on the east side of the city. On a windy day, the trees provide a lovely wind break and we enjoy the change of scenery away from the bay occasionally.

In this park,

the trails tease you to follow…always just another few metres. Walkers share the main trails with bikers while and side trails, of varying difficulties, attract mountain bikers.

There the flat countryside has been supplemented with large boulders, making trails of various levels of difficulty. The rock features are unusual for the island.

Now the trails have a hint of green along the margins, as trees and underbrush are in bud,

grass is turning green and spring colour has begun. 

Soon these fiddleheads will spread out above the forest floor and along the trails, contributing to the verdure.

The tiniest life forms are on the move again. 

These woods have lots of birds too, such as Yellow-dumped Warblers, singing to greet people at the entrance of the trail. 

Robins check through the grass along the trail. This leucistic Robin was an interesting sight.

Woodpeckers love this area too, though it has areas of devastation from post-tropical storm, Fiona. 

Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are busy drilling as walkers enjoy the trails while the birds work around them. 

Through the trees we see two male Mallards swimming in one of the ponds. 

For a few minutes in a day, we are privileged to experience life in the park, not knowing what we’ll encounter any particular day. Spring there is a revelation!