Tag Archives: nature

Welcome to Antigonish

Antigonish is a vibrant small town (pop. 5000) on the northeastern corner of Nova Scotia, surrounded by countryside of natural beauty.

Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games will be hosted in Antigonish July 31-August 4,  bringing over 3000 athletes, families, friends, supporters, and volunteers from across the country.  Welcome to all visitors.

This series of articles, posts and photos will share ideas of things to do, places to visit and open possibilities to explore the town and surrounding countryside.

There is something here for everyone.  If you enjoy nature and the out of doors you can enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, bird watching, camping, rowing, kayaking, beach combing, fossil hunting and fishing.

Arts and culture are a big part of the town life with art exhibits, theatre, history, music, film, lectures, and discovering local arts and crafts at fairs and markets.

There is a wide variety of places to eat out and shopping experiences.

Subscribe to the blog to receive regular updates.   Add your comments and questions in the comment box and start your to-do list for your visit to Antigonish.

Welcome to Antigonish

Sunrise – Antigonish Landing

 

 

Sunrise and rolling mist

Sunrise and rolling mist

6AM sky looking great so headed to the Antigonish Landing for an early morning walk.  What a glorious time of day to see the sun burning off the morning mist and watching the mist drifting along the estuary and up over the rolling hills.  The hills with small farms gradually appeared through the layers of mist showing new vistas as the day progressed.

 

Jeweled web

Jeweled web

Dew drops highlighting the spiders’ webs turned them into jeweled wonders.  What a combination of function, geometry, and beauty.  I even caught sight of a lovely spider waiting its prey.  Lots of bird song in the air and of course ducks swimming in the river.  A grey heron flew into a nearby tree and another flew by just keeping above the water line.

The water was so calm that it reflected the nearby Queen Anne’s Lace, Goldenrod and other wild flowers.  Apple trees and choke cherries are found along the trail.

Hills through the mist

Hills through the mist

Antigonish Landing is an estuary leading out around marsh land and islands out to the open ocean.  Rivers empty in to this tidal estuary.  The walking trail is a great place for walking and running.  There are parking places and access from just past the old train station – just cross the tracks and turn right, or continue up past the hospital and turn right at Tony’s Meats.

Photo Gallery

 

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More Information

Spring in Nova Scotia

It has been many years since I experienced spring in Nova Scotia. What an amazing season of the year.  Buds and blossoms appear and unfold into masses of flowers and leaves — all in an amazingly short time.   Even with cloudy days – it just seemed to take a few hours of sun to have things burst into color.

Each tree had its own shape of bud and unfurling leave patterns.  A joy to watch and almost a magical process since each type of tree seems to be on the same schedule.  Suddenly overnight an entire area burst into flower.

Leaf buds grew and the tiny leaves would appear and come out crisp and shiny in shades of green and reds.  The tiny leaves grow amazingly fast and within days the trees are sporting a lush green canopy.  What an amazing process to go from the sculptured bare branches to the many greens now carpeting the countryside.

The Horse Chestnut trees were particularly amazing.  The buds had a very sculptured look and each day you could watch them grow till they finally burst into the unfurling leaves and the pod with the flower.  The flowers grow to an amazing 10 or more inches long made from tiny white and pink flowers.

 

Along with the colors of course are the bird songs as the birds return from their wintering grounds and feast on the buds and bugs.   The rushing streams and rivers add to the sounds of spring and invite walks and to explore and enjoy being out in nature.

And of course the apple blossoms with their delicate shades of pinks, reds and whites.

See the new Facebook page for Out and About Nova Scotia

The videos on this page are posted on the Facebook page. Please let me know if you have any problem viewing them from that location.