Blog vol 2. 49 A week off and start of hiking season.
I took my own advice yesterday, and I must say it was good advice. My wife, the kids, and I went on an excursion to the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), one of the gems of Hamilton and Burlington. We spent the morning at the Arboretum, which has a lovely collection of magnolias in bloom, as well as a series of trails to varied ecosystems. The lake, the trees, the daffodils, all so lovely…
We met up with many species of birds; we even met a person who was volunteering for the RBG counting bird species. And so many of my favourite bird, the Red-winged Blackbird. There is a boardwalk that has been built into a marshy area, called the (you guessed it!) Marsh Walk that has lots of Red-wings.
The male appears quite plain, then he calls, puffs out, and shows off his coloured shoulders, quite striking. Plucky birds, it is heartening to see them come together in groups to badger larger birds that fly into their territory.
Another highlight was the Grey Doe Trail that cuts through the centre of the sanctuary with some of the tallest and biggest white pines that I have seen in this region. You feel like you have stepped back in time while in their majestic presence. The very hilly terrain creates a beautiful backdrop for these giants.
It is so wonderful that a group like the RBG has gone through the trouble and has had the foresight to establish these reserves, maintain them, and make them accessible to the public.
On our way back to the car we walked through one of the Magnolia gardens, so refreshing and therapeutic.
We drove home, did our Deer Tick check, and started planning for our next hike.
I won’t bore you with a lecture on the health benefits of exercise and the great outdoors, neither will I extoll the wonders and gift of sight…
til next week,
the good doctor
