Memorial Square

I’ve been to this square numerous times with our granddaughters in the autumn. Their dance classes are across the road from Memorial Square and I’ve often spent time in the square with one of the girls as we waited for a class to start or finish. Recently, driving by, I noticed the water lilies in the pond there and decided to take some photos. 

This square is in the heart of Summerside, an older part of the city, a block from city hall and the library. The United Church borders the square and other churches are nearby.  

It is a place of beauty in the summer with a water feature which includes a waterfall and a small pond with water lilies. 

The area is peaceful, a lush green with blooms of various kinds.

It is a memorial to the residents of Summerside who lost their lives at war. A short distance away, a statue stands over the landscape. 

The blooms of the water lilies are like stars come to earth in this special place. They shine in their own special way.

Their colours range from rose to pink, yellow to orange and white. 

They are numerous in the pond, capturing one’s attention as you approach the feature. 

I sit in the quiet and watch as the setting fills my senses. The trickle of the waterfall is joined by the sounds of birds in the trees while the wind gently stirs the leaves. Small children laugh as they quickly run through the square while a senior with a cane takes her time as she goes.

An early July morning in Memorial Square is a reminder what others fought and died for, what Ukrainians are fighting for today. Is peace in this world an illusion?

   

Exploring the southwest shore

My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed our exploration of the southwest shore of Prince Edward Island this autumn. One of our recent excursions took us to Howard’s Cove, a natural cove which is now a boat basin. In the many areas of exposed shoreline on the island, boat basins have been built to offer protection to fishers, their boats and gear. At Howard’s Cove, the natural protection afforded by the little cove was developed into a boat basin for the area.

There is a tiny light, not quite a house,

which overlooks the cove where three feathered sentinels were on watch that day. 

Nearby, weathering of the red sandstone cliffs along the shoreline have resulted in a sea stack which is a sentinel of the earthy kind, albeit a slowly disappearing one.

A trail runs across the western edge of the shoreline from the lighthouse and we followed as far as muddy conditions would allow. Lobster pots look to have found a winter home along the trail. We will return! Such a shoreline trek is among my favourites.

We drove further along the shore until near Miminegash, we heard a pond full of Canada Geese above the radio in the car with closed windows. They called us to stop for a look and listen.

In Miminegash, another boat basin is positioned along the shoreline, this one has a damaged run into the basin. 

It was busy in the basin so we proceeded further along the coast, looking for access to the beach. We drove down Shore Rd and weren’t disappointed as the road ended at the shoreline and our little table once again came in handy.

Our lunch of beef stew as we sat by the stream that crossed the beach was delicious! As we ate, five shorebirds entertained us with their antics as they fed along the water’s edge. 

The three Semipalmated Plovers were easy to identify but the other two, not so much. Surely those five have headed south by now!

My husband and I headed in opposite directions to explore the beach after lunch. The erosion on this beach is dramatic, as two layers of red earth erode at different rates. It may have something to do with the amount of water which flows over the embankment. 

And don’t those bird houses stand out?

Waterfalls are a rarity on the island and a trickle down a bank is an unusual sight especially with faces shaped by the water.

Off-shore, I saw a black bird I thought was a cormorant bobbing around in the water. Looking at the photos later, it was obviously a non breeding Common Loon, a first for me.

While we were walking, a crab boat came from the west and we watched with interest as the fishermen checked their pots. In the photo below, you can see one of the men measuring the crab to ensure they don’t take undersize animals.

The final photo is my favourite of the day. Every now and then, moments of beauty align and, if you are really fortunate, there will be a bird in the frame.

  

Heritage Roads

While our quest of cycling the entire Confederation Trail this year continues, every now and then my husband and I like a change from riding that trail. We decided to try one of the Heritage Roads on the island, old red clay roads through scenic countryside which were busy roads in days gone by. We decided on the Perry Road in central Prince Edward island.

We passed through Millvale on our way to the road and stopped at the waterfall there.

The pond, name unknown, has a fish ladder alongside the dam. 

Geese floated on the pond, two parents ushering goslings between them. A cormorant, in the centre of this photo, balanced on one foot, is watching the proceedings.

The Perry Road is lined with farmers’ fields, many of which are covered in dandelions. 

We are suspicious of grassy fields without dandelions and wonder what is used to control the pretty blooms.

This central part of the island has rolling hills 

which were a challenge for us and our bikes. 

We only rode a few kilometres before we turned back. However, autumn colours will call us back for a hike on this road in the fall.

We drove to Cavendish to have lunch in the Grove, always a favourite place for a picnic.

The veil

Our recent visit to a Heritage Road in central Prince Edward Island took us past a watershed conservation area overseen by the Trout River Environmental Committee. The non-profit group wants to “restore the natural integrity” of that watershed.

The waterfall, like a veil over the face of the pond, made us stop. 

In this area, boats appear to launch, people stop to fish,

and a ladder helps fish swim up river. 

A lone cormorant swam on the far side, periodically diving and resurfacing meters from his original place.

Overhead, tree swallows flitted in the air; their antics made us stop and watch. One of two bird houses in the area was broken on one side and straw could be seen through the opening. The birds availed of these homes.

The sound of the water was calming as was the scene. We will visit again, maybe to fish and have a picnic with the kids.