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Places Très Intéressant Uncategorized

More Tree Installation

Remember way back in May, when we encountered the “trees to be planted here” signs up in Saint-Léonard? No? You know, this here?

Well, anyway, we were back up in that area yesterday, and, sure enough, some trees have been planted.… [Read More]

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Pictures Très Intéressant

Tree Installation

On my morning walk, I came across the city’s tree squad in action.

Truck o’ Trees

They were upgrading a yard just down the street from us.

Tree squad in action

Two trucks, one excavator, five workers, and about ten minutes for a new tree to go in.… [Read More]

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Only in Montréal Places Très Intéressant

Arboriculture

I haven’t written much about Parc Maisonneuve, the giant park that neighbors the botanical gardens and is a short walk from our apartment.

Aerial view via Google Earth… for scale, those two intersections at the top left and top right are 1km apart (0.62 miles)

It’s a funny old place.… [Read More]

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Très Intéressant

Confined to Quarters

Even in the frantic news cycle of late, you may have seen reports of the wildfires in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.

Scientists blame climate change for the increase in wildfires.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Only in Montréal Only in Quebec

Here It Comes: La Canicule

Canicule = “heat wave” to you and me. Also vague de chaleur. Either way–much, much hot.

Temps are going to be “dangerously high” this week in Montreal and Ontario: 30C-35C, with humidex values of up to 45.… [Read More]

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Musings and Observations Pictures

Butterfly Week

The summer season is short here. You can see the changes in things from day to day. This week, it’s the butterfly’s time.

Up at the top of Mont Royal, it was a hot and very very humid day.… [Read More]

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Experiences

Something in the air…

There’s a lot in the air these days. Unfortunately, a lot of what’s in the air is smoke, pollen, and other scary things.

The wildfires in Canada are in the headlines around the world, although somewhat surprisingly, a lot of the stories seem to take a folksy “ah, whoops, it’s like bad weather” perspective.… [Read More]

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History, Culture, and Politics Musings and Observations Only in Canada

You Don’t Look A Day Over 39 Million

At approximately 3 pm today Canada’s population reached 40 million people (according to Canada’s population clock, which really looks more like test tubes….disturbingly).

By comparison, California has a population of about 39 million packed into a lot less geographical space–lookee here**:

This is one of the many reasons we’re in Canada.… [Read More]

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Experiences Only in Canada

A Maple Rain’s Gonna Fall

Manon has already shown you the fluffy snows of June. But that’s not the only weird weather, what with the winds and the … rains?

Click to view
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Experiences Only in Montréal

Summer Snow

It has been blazingly hot this week, and yet there’s snow:

No, Hell hasn’t frozen over. These floaty bits are part of the seed release strategy for the eastern cottonwood.

Each tree can release 40 million seeds per season, so even a few cottonwoods can create quite a show.… [Read More]