South Cambie's autumn tones

Three hours, more than 40 city blocks east, north, west and south, hundreds of trees and shrubs (more likely thousands as we also walked through Queen Elizabeth Park), countless shades of autumn colours, and only one, brief rain shower at the end of it all -- a blissful October afternoon.

Sumac (Rhus) rainbow

Prickly, green fruit of the American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Burning bush (Euonymous alatus)

Another burning bush in a different light

Rich, maroon Viburnum leaves

Of birds & hedges & flights of imagination

During an afternoon walk this past January, I photographed this sweet bird (possibly a house sparrow) perched on a bare branch. Though I also collected images of seawall art, early-flowering shrubs & birch bark trees, it was my favourite "capture" of the day. And ever since that afternoon -- and I suppose for a long time before, too -- I've wondered why small creatures with feathers and wings so enthrall and intrigue bipedal, ground-based humans like me. Well, I suppose there's an obvious clue in the phrase bipedal, ground-based humans. But I'm also continually looking for more scientific as well as poetic reasons. So one night, when I had trouble sleeping, instead of counting sheep, I read words on birds and wrote this post for The Hedge Society:

Our Daily Bird: 13: Flights of Imagination