Many years ago, the trees in Westmount’s parks had their species’ names nailed into the bark.

From the Montreal Gazette, April 14, 1920:

“Alderman Scott, Park Commissioner…said that it had
been decided to place metal tags on the different kinds of
shrubbery in the parks and also signs on trees denoting the
common name as well as the botanical name.”

Over time, vandalism caused the removal of these plaques. I was fortunate to find one, still extant, in King George Park.

The colour of the grass, in this park, never ceases to amaze me!

Overlooked plaque, presented to the the City of Westmount during the International Year of Peace recognized by the the United Nations in 1986.

A former “stream” – currently dry. I recall the City filling this stream with goldfish over the summer months.

Former model yacht sailing pond – its current use seems uncertain.

Limestone facade outside the former Bell Canada telephone exchange building on the corner of Sherbrooke & Metcalfe Streets.

One can see the shells; however, pollution & acid rain are slowly causing the stone to erode.

Camping in the park during Canada Day. I wonder how many of us understand the holiday’s full origins.

From Wikipedia:

“Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called The Dominion of Canada within the British Empire.

Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as among Canadians internationally.”

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).

From Wikipedia:

“In South Africa it is regarded as a weed because of its habit of freely suckering from roots near the surface and aggravated by cutting of the main stem.”

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata).

From: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/treebook/westernredcedar.htm

“The western redcedar has been called “the cornerstone of Northwest Coast aboriginal culture,” and has great spiritual significance. Coastal people used all parts of the tree. They used the wood for dugout canoes, house planks, bentwood boxes, clothing, and many tools such as arrow shafts, masks, and paddles. The inner bark made rope, clothing, and baskets. The long arching branches were twisted into rope and baskets. It was also used for many medicines.”

Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana).

From Wikipedia:

“It was first discovered (by Euro-Americans) near Port Orford in Oregon and introduced into cultivation in 1854, by collectors working for the Lawson & Son nursery in Edinburgh, Scotland, after whom it was named as Lawson Cypress by the describing botanist Andrew Murray.”