Westmount Park – Great Highland Bagpipes Practise

DSC00680

Two pipers practising their Great Highland Bagpipes. They were playing “The Black Bear”, during this photo, a tune I remember in regimental marches. (I am sure all of us have heard this tune).

From: http://cornemusique.free.fr/ukblackbear.php

“The Black Bear is reputedly the fastest regimental march in the UK army. This old, very popular, tune is traditionally played as a marching off parade tune by every Scottish regiment returning to their barracks after a route march or a day’s manoeuvres. This is the one occasion when they are not expected to march in step.

The tune is played fast and the soldiers march along even faster as they head for home.

It is one of the most recognizable pipe songs in the world and the idea of the massed pipes and drums marching off to anything else would be unthinkable.”

Westmount Park – Flowering Trees (Eudicotylendons)

DSC00664

An English Walnut tree (Juglans regia) on Melville Avenue near Westmount Park School.

From Wikipedia:

“In the Chinese language, the edible, cultivated walnut is called 胡桃 (hú táo in Mandarin), which means literally “Hu peach”, suggesting the ancient Chinese associated the introduction of the tree into East Asia with the Hu barbarians of the regions north and northwest of China.

In Mexico, it is called nogal de Castilla, suggesting the Mexicans associated the introduction of the tree into Mexico with Spaniards from Castile (as opposed to the black walnuts native of America).”

Old Street Lamp – The Boulevard

DSC00645

The base on an old street lamp; it isn’t the typical Washington Lamp currently used throughout the city. The bolts connecting the base to the post are covered with decorative moldings.

I recently noticed a similar lamp base (not in very good condition) on Victoria Avenue, next to the RBC Canada Bank.