Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Sunday in the park with tornwordo

I just had to go for a walk to check out the trees. Autumn sure announced itself with pomp, and announced it very early this year. We almost had a frost a couple weeks ago, so that must have pushed the ignition button.

It has been so cloudy lately but I think that makes the colors pop more. Unfortunately, the camera produced a lot of drab pictures. I played around with settings and found (once I got home) that the "brighten subject" function worked better than the "outdoor cloudy" setting. Some trees just scream yellow.

The white squirrels in Parc Lafontaine. I just love this tree too - it's right out of Harry Potter don't you think?

I picked up a bag of peanuts too and in honor of Elizabeth, who reminds us that people matter, I took a video of myself trying to emulate her "Squirrel Whisperer" ways. Seriously, she's like snow white in the park and all the squirrels climb into her lap! I didn't really want them on my lap, but this is the first time I've been brave enough to let them take food from my fingers. (Or maybe it's the first time they've been brave enough)




Here's another shot where that "equalize relative brightness" function worked out nicely. This is on St. Denis street just below Sherbrooke St.

I couldn't really capture how much this little treelet shouted yellow. I always forget what that building is there. It's at the corner of Cherrier.


I liked the view up Mount Royal and the splashes of orange in the forest. Soon the whole top will be auburn.

Much like the color of these trees lining what I think is Roy street. These are actually more yellow looking in real life. As I said, I was playing around with settings.

This tall skinny tree with the fancy makeup was all hidden in a back alley. He's all sticking his head up and crying, "Check me out!"

18 comments:

Mel said...

I need to get out and get some foliage pics myself, though tonight here it's been uncomfortably warm in the house - no sea breeze and still muggy from the weekend.

I just booked lodging in your gaybourhood for a conference next June. It'll be my first visit to Montréal in 13 years and David's first ever, so I'm very excited.

Rick Bettencourt said...

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. What a cute little video of the squirrel.

Anonymous said...

It seems with Torn and the Squirrel it was one was scared and the other was glad of it. The Pigeon wanted a peanut too but he would need it to be hulled since he doesn't have any teeth.
It is very cool here too. Maybe I'm crazy but with global warming shouldn't it be warmer longer in the fall? ed

Petie said...

I bet the tree gave nice view. I would love to have that in Bangkok but I figured it's the trade off for us having perpetual Summer :P

The squirrels seems to be a lot friendlier in Hyde Park though ;)

Birdie said...

The colors peak in the third week of October here at 40 degrees latitude. The green is beginning to fade, but no colors have emerged quite yet.

I've never seen white squirrels before. Are they common?

CoffeeDog said...

Our Montreal office is on Sherbrooke.

I like the pics of the alley and the white bldg w/the blue windows.

Polt said...

Im not much for trees, but I LOVE the architechture of some of the buildings on your shots!

Plus, I'm a big surprised the pigeon didn't fight the squirrel for the nut. THose big city pigeons can be pretty rough.

HUGS>..

Rox said...

I am surrounded by poplar trees and they are showing more and more sky every day. *sigh*

Love the squirrel video!!

Anonymous said...

Greatful for your great pix. Never seen a white squirrel before-fascinating!

Anonymous said...

At first I thought that the squirrel video was cute, but then I remembered that you're gay. What a sick fuck! You were just trying to lure him into your disgusting lifestyle!

Anonymous said...

I've always been fascinated by the change of seasons and how the timetable for the leaves' turning colors is so region-specific.

Here in Northern California, there is only the slightest hint that Fall has arrived at this point. This should change by the end of this week when cooler temperatures (and even rain!) are forecast.

It's amazing how squirrels come in a variety of colors. I've never seen a white one til now!

We've got dark-hued squirrels here in The Woods that are almost BLUE, along with the more common brown ones.

My adventures said...

That anonymous comment is hysterical! Exactly what part would the squirrel play in your disgusting lifestyle. I'd like a story on that. Get creative, there will be extra points. Try not to make it too perverse though, as you never know if other squirrels are reading this blog and I'd hate for them to stop taking nuts from all us gay guys.

Mark in DE said...

Lovely photos! Indeed, fall has arrived in Montreal. It is still green here in DE. Loved the squirrel video.

Mark :-)

dantallion said...

Beautiful pics, Wordo. You captured autumn in Montreal quite nicely

J-o-h-n-n-y said...

The season of change is here, can't wait for the north winds to blow to my neck of the woods.

Hey, lovely autumn pictures......:)

Anonymous said...

Regarding the squirrels, feed them and they're your friend for life. They love peanuts too.

Speaking of season change, I note the prime indicator here isn't the trees starting to turn colors or dropping their leaves, it's the dead squirrels in the road.

I guess they too know that winter is coming so they go out and forage for food and in the process get themselves run over.

Greg said...

The fall foliage is creeping into our lives out here on the Cape, as well. Beautiful tree shots...and I love the squirrel video, even if you are trying to lure him over to the Dark Side with your nuts...

Patrick said...

This is reminding me to get out and see the trees here, in case they've started to change yet (we're usually a little bit behind you guys, of course). I also have never seen white squirrels before. Close to my parents house there is a colony of red squirrels with black masks. We don't see them anywhere else. Genetics is fascinating.