The joy of summer

Prince Edward Island is a windy place though in the heat and humidity of summer, the island breeze makes it bearable. Two days this past week however, we had winds approaching 70 kilometres an hour. It was hard to keep a hat on unless it was tied down. We walked early those days, as usual, glad for the breeze in spite of its velocity.

It was interesting to watch the birds on such days. On the way to the boardwalk, one would know from the flock of landed gulls that the wind was high. They stand into the wind as did the two Black Ducks 

and two Yellowlegs in the salt marsh that day. One female Green-winged Teal was too hungry to care about the wind.

On a calmer day, a Great Blue Heron was feeding just outside the marsh in the bay, in the same area as in the first photo. 

Quite a difference in conditions those two days!

Later that same morning I saw five other Herons along the north shore of Bedeque Bay. One was particularly beautiful, 

standing on its own, watching for its breakfast to swim past. Two others were preening as a gull flew over.

While the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker chicks appear to have fledged this past week, squirrels have been entertaining us. I have watched them among the trees in the same area 

and have seen them carrying peanuts away from the nearby bridge where walkers leave them. One squirrel was barely visible along the forest floor, carrying a nutty treasure.

By the time I arrived at the bridge myself, a man was passing out peanuts to the Blue Jays and other birds in the area. I watched as a squirrel came along to take a peanut and head back to the same area I had come from. 

Our golden grand-dog has spent an extra long weekend with us this past week and will be leaving for home later today. We will miss her.

If a senior wants to stay active, a dog is one way to do it. Some days we did two walks, trying to use up some of that young dog energy. As I’ve written before, Daisy will keep retrieving a thrown ball, stick, or frisbee until your arm drops off. 

We always walk the Confederation Trail with Daisy, letting her off lead when we can.

The section of trail we frequent doesn’t have as many apple trees as other parts of the trail. However, this crabapple tree is loaded with apples already though we haven’t tried them.

The wildflowers along the trail always catch my eye.

Also, the buckwheat growing in several fields along the route is in full bloom 

and looks so beautiful through a hedge of wildflowers. 

The wheat, rich in colour now is easily recognizable from the trail.

Finally this week, after spending so much time with Daisy, I realize how much joy she finds in the simple things. 

I wish you such joy!

Exploring Prince Edward Island

Bedeque Bay was featured this past week as we walked the boardwalk in Summerside. One day, a sailboat caught our attention with the layers of colour and pattern in the setting. The human element looked tiny against the natural elements. 

On a particularly windy day, six kite surfers played across the Bay near the lighthouse. It looks like fun but I cannot ever imagination wanting to try it, at any age. They are courageous people!

Our friend, Helen, is in Prince Edward Island visiting her son and his family for several weeks. Helen is from Australia and made the long journey on her own this year as her husband, Frank, was unable to travel. We missed him.

Helen introduced us to Hyde Pond last week, an area we were unfamiliar with but will visit again. 

The walk along the trail is a beautiful one any time of year and one can imagine a walk there in the autumn colour. We will find out.

Nearby, Canada Geese and Mallards, including young goslings and molting birds, were safe from predators in the fenced area of a settling pond. 

That day, Helen provided a delicious lunch which we ate across from Charlottetown, overlooking the harbour and the city from Rice Point. A cruise ship had delivered tourists that day, as is common this time of year. 

I always enjoy the view of the Hillsborough Bridge across the Harbour.

My husband and I were biking last week as well and took our first picnic lunch with us on bike. We stopped at a covered picnic table about 13 kilometres from home, in a marshland area which has a pond if we’ve had enough rain. The water level in the pond was the highest we’d ever seen. We had heavy rain numerous times in spring.

Though the wind was the predominant sound, Green Frogs called from around the pond, hidden by the vegetation. The chorus was loud and almost continuous, as if the amphibians didn’t stop to breathe. Nature’s chorus was in fine voice in the wilds of Prince Edward Island.

We had lunch and enjoyed the serenade as we watched Tree Swallows dart through the air catching theirs. Red-winged Blackbirds called out as they flew to nearby trees, surveying the scene.

After lunch, we stood on the bridge over the pond and watched as Swallows picked insects from the surface of the water, swooping down, picking up an insect and continuing on their way. The birds barely slowed as they snatched their prey from the water. A Water Strider didn’t have a chance against those stealthy birds.

Twice during our time there, Great Blue Herons flew over. We have seen them feeding in the pond on previous occasions. From the tiny Swallows to the huge Herons, avians enjoy the area. 

In the ditches along the Trail, Blue Flag Irises were in abundance. 

Similarly, Daisies filled the edges of the Trail.

Along the more shallow edges of the pond, Water Arum, with its single white petal, waded in the water.

The wind in the trees, the call of the frogs, the blooms, the birds enjoying the habitat, made the experience priceless. The world and all its troubles didn’t exist for a few precious moments.

On the way home, we stopped to take in the verdure. 

Along the trail in places, Dame’s Rockets adorn the way and are worth a closer look too.

Also lupins are still blooming along the roads and trails. They are such a treat this time of year.

At home, the first peony is blooming. Yay!

P.S.

On the world stage, the news is bleak. We escape into nature most days which helps distract us. One feels helpless regarding the world situation so we work to make our little part of the world better. There is always a way to help others in need even in one’s own area. Simply giving a compliment can brighten someone’s day. A smile is a kindness which doesn’t have a price tag.

As our daughter says to the children, “Be kind. You don’t know what someone is going through.”

August’s bounty

The golden grand-dog, Daisy, adapted to life with seniors as we became her caretakers for the past ten days. Less than a year old, the pup has so much energy whereas we don’t. However she adapted and so did we.

The Confederation Trail was our go-to site instead of the beach some days and Daisy’s delight in the trail was obvious when we let her run free. 

We always put her back on lead if walkers or bikers happened by. The dog’s freedom on that trail was a glory to behold. She jumped and moved as if she was dancing.

We frequented a section on the trail I have come to call The Orchard since it is lined with apple trees on both sides. 

It is not unusual to see apple trees along the Confederation Trail, but the number of such trees along both sides of that section of trail in neighbouring Miscouche, is exceptional.

Not to be outdone by the apple trees, Mountain Ash trees are common there as well. The berries, which Newfoundlanders like ourselves call dogberries, are ripening now and are abundant. 

Old wives tales have it that abundant dogberries mean a harsh winter. Oh well, it gives us more reason to enjoy this month.

There is a barn in the area and occasionally we saw a horse there. The horse preferred the shade most days.

Along the roadways and the trails now, Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrot is in its prime and the gardener who planted these wild blooms did a great job with this bed near the parking area by the trail.

Thistles have gone to seed and fluff is blowing around in the summer breeze. Goldenrod is in its prime too.

Sometimes the smallest things stand out in a large open space. We’ve noticed individual filaments hanging from the trees in some areas. Once a row of caterpillars hung on one such filament. They floated in the breeze as they clung to the filament. It was a surprise to see them hanging over the trail.

Meanwhile we are eating produce from our garden. Green beans, tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, green peppers, basil and garlic all grew well and we’re enjoying nature’s bounty. The vegetables go from the garden to the plate in a matter of minutes and are so tasty. 

August is sharing her bounty with us in so many ways.

Summer breeze

After falling off my bike each of the last two years, I have been reluctant to ride again. However nervous I am, my husband is more so. He was behind me both times I went down and he can’t get the images out of his mind. Three summers ago, we rode across the island and back, a distance of 450 kilometres. The following year, I had the first fall.

I have worked up the courage to ride again however. My injury from the fall last April healed by the end of last autumn and I was ready. We started small, riding around a nearby neighbourhood during the day when there wasn’t much traffic. 

We added a few kilometres every day as my confidence grew. Then we tried the Confederation Trail again.

The day we rode on the trail, it was overcast but the sun was determined to break through the cloud cover. Summer light was bright but not brilliant as on a clear sky day. I concentrated on the riding, however it was impossible not to notice the green glow all around. We stopped to take it in, the wind rustling the leaves and the birdsong. Sitting there on our bikes, one felt at peace in a setting where worldly cares don’t exist. 

Riding along that trail, pushing through the fresh air, creating your own breeze in addition to the natural one is a great pleasure and privilege. You are serenaded by the birds and, if you’re lucky, you see the songsters cross the trail occasionally. Robins are frequent visitors. We’ve seen hares, foxes and squirrels too.  As I rode along that day, a chipmunk ran into its burrow along the side of the trail.

The above photos were taken with my husband’s cell phone. I don’t take my camera on the bike out of an abundance of caution!

We also walked the boardwalk near the marina in the harbour at Summerside this past week. 

The marina is busy again this summer. Beyond the breakwater in the distance, two sailboats caught the July breeze. 

Along that section of boardwalk, an apartment building is under construction along the shoreline. There are three huge shipping containers on the edge of the construction site. Wildflowers softened the look of the ugly containers.

People encroach on nature but she adapts…for now. Meanwhile we enjoy the summer breeze every chance we have and don’t take a minute for granted.