Canada Day

Perhaps not the photo you would expect to see on Canada Day, but we decided to celebrate the occasion by taking an afternoon hike in the Gatineau Hills, far from the crowds and excitement of Parliament Hill. We only saw a handful of other people while we were on the trail so it was certainly a quieter way to reflect on Canada and what this country means to us. And I think it is a fitting way to spend the day, for what is it about Canada that is great if not its natural beauty?

Glimpse of the Future

Studying things close-up can amaze and delight. Just look at the astonishing texture and fluffy softness of these fiddleheads. It is hard to understand how the rich lushness of a fully unfurled fern leaf can be compressed and packed so compactly into such a tight ball. But if you look closely, you can see the texture and shape of the full-grown fern in each of the ridges in this tightly coiled stage. Spring offers us the promise of the future and if we look hard enough, sometimes a glimpse of what's ahead.

Ferns Unfurling

Is there anything fresher and more gorgeous than the look of fiddleheads as they unfurl skywards to become fern fronds?

Making the Case for Ferns

The Victorians love of ferns was greatly encouraged by the invention of the Wardian case, by Nathaniel Ward in 1834. Originally used to ship living plants and seeds long distances, decorative versions adorned Victorian parlors and were ideal environments to house ferns. My Wardian case is a simple and unassuming one.