Etobicoke is "E-Taupe-i-co"

I was at what used to be the Hob Nob last week.  It was the local coffee shop for more than 25 years, but closed a few months ago.  There's not that much grunge on the Kingsway - even the back door to the lane is elegant in shades of taupe and beige.  That seems to be the national colour of the houses in the Kingsway.  The area was designed and built by architect Home Smith in the 1920's and 30's, in the English tudor style.  

While I was taking some macros of the Hob Nob back door, a fly came into the shot, and even the fly seemed to be aligned with Etobicoke's colours.   Here's its 15 minutes of fame.

Dogwood Kousa Blooming

Blooming right now is the lovely and delicate Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa).  It blooms later than the Florida type varieties which bloom before the leaves come out. My brother Brian Bergman (lily hybridizer) and Frank Kershaw (horticulturalist) have trees in bloom right now. The fruit that sets from these blooms is itself an interesting sight, and is edible. 

I hope you get to see this delicate flower!

Fringe Tree

I live in Toronto near Royal York and Bloor Street.  Just south on Royal York at Meadowcrest is a magnificent Fringe Tree in bloom - it looks like it is more than 50 years old.  In the Sweet Olive family, the flowers are distinctively scented.  It is worth a drive by to see this lovely small tree in bloom - it's just 2 doors in from Royal York on the south side of the street.

Wisteria Alert

Frank Kershaw alerted me to a very large wisteria at Islington and Rathburn, on the east side street.   The wisteria is growing on the power/light poll and runs the full length with blossoms to match.  He says it is Wisteria Sinensis, the Chinese Wisteria.  It has extra-long blossoms, the sign of Chinensis.