Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, though built to serve as the final resting place for Torontonians of all faiths (it was one of Toronto’s earliest non-denominational cemeteries), was, from the first, envisioned as much more than just a place for the dead. It was planned to also function as a place of recreation for the living, and was designed by landscape gardener H.A. Englehardt. Its varied topography is augmented by special plantings and the inclusion of winding pathways. Wandering through this space can be a lovely experience, especially in the spring when some of the many flowering trees and shrubs are in bloom. If you feel a little weird taking your exercise in a cemetery, don’t. The Mount Pleasant Group, which manages the cemetery, encourages it. They even offer 1, 3 and 5 km suggested route maps for walkers and runners on their website.

The variety of plantings in the cemetery is of special note to anyone with an interest in trees. Over the years, the number of plantings has increased and now the cemetery is said to be one of the finest arboretums in North America. If you’re interested in learning more, on May 26th arborist Jack Radecki is presenting a guided tree walk starting at 2 pm at the Yonge Street gates. The walk is free.

Other free programming is also available at the cemetery. Starting in July, students of the Royal Conservatory perform every Saturday at 5 pm in the Visitation Centre. Special memorials are held throughout the year, tied to events or burials within the cemetery. For example, on May 26th they are having a 99th anniversary memorial in remembrance of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland.

The cemetery runs as a not-for-profit business and like all cemeteries in Canada must put aside a portion of revenues to a Perpetual Care Trust Fund which ensures that the grounds will forever be looked after. According to their website, Mount Pleasant’s fund has the highest balance per developed acre of any cemetery in North America, which means that not only are they able to keep the grounds beautiful and well-maintained, but they will likely always be so.

Toronto Islands

An absolute must for any visitor to Toronto, and a great way for those of us who live here to reconnect with our city, is to see the city from the water. While there are several options for accomplishing this, I highly recommend a visit to the Toronto Islands. While the islands offer many different things, here's my favourite way to experience it. Note that I don't usually have kids in tow when I head over there, so if you're taking your little ones, this may not be the best itinerary.

Start by getting yourself to the Toronto Islands Ferry Docks at the foot of Bay Street. The ferries switched to their summer schedule at the end of May so service is pretty frequent. A round-trip ticket costs $7 for adults, with reduced rates for students, seniors and children. On weekends in the summer the wait time for ferries, especially if there is an event on the island, can be over an hour, so if you can go during the week, you'll find the wait a lot shorter and the island far less busy. Plus evenings are a lovely time to go, so if it's a choice between 6 pm on Thursday and 1 pm on Saturday, go on Thursday. The ferries run quite late so getting back won't be an issue and you'll have the added bonus of seeing the city all lit up. If you really do want to go during the peak weekend time and the lines are crazy, consider taking a water taxi. Toronto Water Taxi operates from York Street Slip, which is just a short walk west from the ferry terminal. They charge $10 per adult each way, $5 per child, but have a $30 minimum per boat per trip (not usually a problem on busy weekends). As you are not required to show a ticket when boarding the ferries on the island, you can save yourself the return taxi fare by hopping on the ferry.

At the terminal, there are 3 different ferries, going to different parts of the island (although off-season they will sometimes combine service to Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island). I recommend taking the Hanlan's Point ferry, then walking the length of the island and taking the Ward's Island ferry home. This provides two main advantages: 1) as Hanlan's Point is the furthest west, it gives you a nice long ride along the harbour providing you with the best views of the city, plus as the dock at Hanlan's Point is very close to the island airport, you get an up-close view of the planes taking-off and landing, and 2) walking the length of the island is a great way to see it. The distance, depending on how much you meander and explore, is just over 5 km.

Each section of the islands has a different personality. I love the tranquility of Hanlan's Point. There are big green spaces for picnics, playing ball or just relaxing, and as most families flock to Centre Island, it's usually pretty quiet. The main path offers lovely views of water and wild, as well as some great glimpses of the city. Many of the trees, including the lilac bushes (my favourite!), are huge and if you're interested in trees, you can pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour to trees across the island, or print out a copy from The Canadian Tree Tours website.

The most lively part of Hanlan's Point are the beaches. There is both a clothing optional and clothing mandatory beach and they are big gorgeous stretches of sand, with the bonus of a view of the city. If you have concerns about the water quality, you should know that Toronto takes part in the international Blue Flag program, which is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Denmark and which sets international standards for clean, safe beaches. The City had to be evaluated against 27 criteria and Hanlan's Point beach, as well as Gibraltar Point, Centre Island and Ward's beaches were all granted Blue Flag status (plus some other city beaches not on the islands). Water samples are taken daily at each beach to ensure continued safety, and results are posted online - so check the site, then go ahead and jump in!

As you get closer to the middle of the island, it starts to get more built up. You'll pass the Gibraltar Point lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes, as well as the Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, the water filtration plant, and the island school. On your right, sticking out on the lake side, is the Pier, which I just love. If you have the time and the energy, you can detour inland and cross over to Centre Island. Centreville, the amusement park, is the big draw here, especially if you have kids. Even if you don't, I highly recommend taking the Sky Ride. It gives you a bird's-eye view of a small sliver of the park and it's relaxing and fun. Right next door to Centreville is Far Enough Farm, one of my favourite places on the island. There is a limited number of animals here but it's a great space. Like Riverdale Farm and High Park Zoo, it was facing closure due to budget cuts, but acceptance of a recent donation by the operator of Centreville will keep it open awhile longer. There has also been an offer to match funds from private donations, so if you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, visit the Parks and Recreation website. If you happened to bring a picnic along, Centre Island has some of the best spots for picnicking with a view of the city. 

If you want to continue your trek to Ward's Island, you'll have to retrace your steps back to the lake side of the island, as there is no connection between Centre Island and Ward's Island (or, if you're tired, you can always head for the Centre Island ferry dock and return to the city). If you continue your walk, you will soon have a choice to take the main paved path to Ward's Island, or veer off to the boardwalk. While both have their appeal, I generally prefer the boardwalk, especially on hot days - there's lots of shade and usually a wonderful breeze off the water. You'll know you're getting close to the end of your walk when you begin to see houses - Ward's Island has a small but vibrant residential community.

If you have some time to kill before the ferry, consider stopping in to the Island Cafe, just steps from the dock. They now have a liquor license so you can celebrate your visit to the island with a nice cold drink.

High Park Zoo

When I visited High Park recently to take in the beauty of the cherry trees in bloom, I also made a point of visiting the High Park Zoo, which is located almost in the middle of the park. It is free to visit and is open from 7 am until dusk every day of the week. Contained within are an interesting collection of, for the most part, large ungulates, some native to Canada, others not, although there are some odd exceptions to this. I was most excited about seeing the West Highland Cattle - I had no idea there were any to be seen in Toronto! Here are pictures of some of my favourite animals from the day:

To increase the educational value of your visit, take a moment to read the Who's Who panel on each enclosure and learn a little bit about the animal inside. For example, did you know that a group of West Highland cattle is called a fold, not a herd? I don't know who designed these signs, but I think they're wonderful!

And if you like your animals cute, small and fuzzy, you might want to attend the free Sunday Walking Tour in High Park on Sunday June 3 as it will focus on the new animal babies at the Zoo.

The zoo made headlines recently when the City of Toronto announced that it was eliminating the zoo's operating funds from the budget, leading to fears that the Zoo would close in mid-June when their current funds run out. Friends and fans of the Zoo immediately went into fund-raising mode, and then in mid-April, it was announced that the Honey Family Foundation had come forward and would match funds raised up to $50,000 to help keep the attraction going. If you would like to help, you can either donate on-site, or online. Donations made by June 15, 2012 will be matched by the Foundation, although they have also indicated that they will match donations again in 2013 and 2014. While this doesn't solve the problem of funding in the long term (or help Far Enough Farm, located on Centre Island, which is also losing its funding and has yet to find a corporate or charitable benefactor), it does buy the High Park Zoo some time to come up with a feasible long-term plan.

If you do visit the High Park Zoo, please avoid the temptation to feed the animals. While it might seem like a great way for you or your kids to interact with these creatures, your kindness may make the animals sick. 

High Park - Cherry Blossoms

If you feel up for a walk this weekend, you might want to consider heading over to High Park to take part in the Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami, or viewing the cherry trees in bloom.

High Park has an extensive collection of flowering cherry trees which usually bloom in late April or early May, but which, due to our remarkably warm weather so far this year, are flowering a bit early. The collection of trees, which are not native to the area, began with a donation of 2000 Sakura trees (Japanese flowering cherry), a gift from the citizens of Tokyo back in 1959. They were a gift to the city in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese -Canadians following World War II. This planting was followed by others of other varieties in 1984, 2001 and 2006.

Many of the trees were planted in the Hillside Garden and along the east side of Grenadier Pond. I suggest walking down to the Pond from the Grenadier Restaurant - it's spectacular. And very popular. We went on an early Thursday afternoon, and we had lots of company!

For more information about the history of the trees, and about the tradition of Sakura Hanami, visit the High Park website. The staff of the High Park Nature Centre also posts regular updates on the state of the blooms, so you can check how well along they are before you leave home. Keep in mind that the Grenadier Restaurant opens at 7 am, and offers a weekday early bird breakfast special. If you plan to go on the weekend, and like me, enjoy a later start, they also offer an all-day breakfast which is still really reasonable.

Cloud Garden Conservatory

Tucked away on Richmond Street, just west of Yonge, is one of Toronto’s hidden gems: the Cloud Garden Conservatory. It’s a tiny little garden encased in a glass house, and once inside, you feel instantly transported to the tropics.

This is one of my favourite places to kill time when I’m in the downtown core, but if you’re not specifically looking for it, it can be easy to walk right past, which probably explains why it’s never really crowded. Set on the north-eastern corner of the small parkette that runs between Richmond and Temperance, the glass house is often concealed by trees. That, combined with the fact that the glass walls don’t descend to street level, make it easy to walk by and miss it. But for those who are determined, it’s a wonderful spot to kill an hour.

Inside, there are palms and ferns and creeping vines, and a rich, earthy smell. Sounds are muted - depending on where you sit the dominant noise might be water hissing through pipes, or a fan blade rhythmically knocking a palm leaf. If you can find a seat – they’re very limited – it’s a very relaxing place to read a few pages, or just lose yourself for a bit. The high humidity usually means that the windows are clouded with condensation, blurring your view of the real world outside. But be warned – it also means you’re going to get dripped on occasionally. The only things missing are birds and monkeys. I wonder if the City would consider adding a soundtrack if I wrote to them?

The Cloud Garden Conservatory is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation and is open Monday – Friday from 10 am to 3 pm. Wheelchair access is weather permitting.

Discovery Walks

This past weekend was gorgeous and I took full advantage by doing one of my favourite things in the city: walking. Toronto is a great city for walking. With a little time and some comfortable shoes, you can take in the sights of the downtown core, explore some fantastic neighbourhoods, appreciate the diversity of the waterfront trails, or take in some nature in the many parks and valleys that criss-cross this city. For me, the hardest part is often deciding where to go.

To encourage pedestrian exploration and show off its parks, the City of Toronto has developed a series of self-guided walking routes called Discovery Walks. The walks are scattered throughout the city and are marked with special signage. The maps are available for download from their website. What these walks have in common is that they show off Toronto's natural elements - whether they be manicured parks or the wilder areas such as the Don or Humber River valleys - and how they integrate in to the city as a whole. So they're a great opportunity to take in some nature, without have to venture too far from the closest coffee shop or TTC link.

This weekend I decided to try out the Shared Path, the newest of the Discovery Walks. It links a series of parks along the banks of the Humber River and stretches from Dundas all the way down to the lake. I only did the portion from Bloor south, and it was pretty diverse. Some wild areas, but also some walking through residential areas, and not as many views of the river as I had expected. At specific locations, there were informative signs telling the history of the First Nations in the area and of past development and changes to the local ecology, which was a nice plus though. And the path ends at the waterfront, at the spectacular Humber River pedestrian bridge, where you can pick up the trail and walk either way along the waterfront, at what is probably the prettiest stretch.

Sunday we were back to Riverdale Farm, subject of my last post. It too is a stop on the Discovery Walks circuit, as part of the Don Valley Hills & Dales trail.While we weren't there to follow the trail, I couldn't help but take notice of the signage. Next time you're out and about, watch for the signs, or better yet, plan ahead, download a brochure, and get out there!

Riverdale Farm

Whenever I've been in the city for too long without a break I find myself craving the great outdoors. A walk up the Don Valley to the farm is the perfect quick fix. Riverdale Farm may be in the heart of the city, but its location adjacent to the Don Valley makes for a convincing country get-away. The pathways lead through woods and there's even a pond for bird and turtle spotting. For most people though, the animals are the main attraction, and for me, the pigs in particular. They don't do much, but for some reason, pigs always seem to exude contentment. They're very calming.

While the Farm is one of the City of Toronto's many parks, most of the activities on site are run by a volunteer organization called the Friends of Riverdale Farm. They run a gift shop on site in Simpson House, and a kitchen which sells baked treats and hot and cold drinks - especially welcome on blustery fall days! They also organize the Farmers' Market which is now in its 11th season. The market is on site every Tuesday between mid-May and the end of October, from 3 to 7 pm.

Other special events are hosted throughout the year as well, and fall is a busy time. Coming up soon is the Annual Fall Harvest Festival, on September 10th and 11th. Events include a corn roast, bread making, meet the farmers, lots of demonstrations, hog & chicken calling, and even a cow flap tossing contest. Not to be missed surely! At the end of October, there is the Halloween Hoot Boo Barn, an event for 3 to 10 year olds. It takes place October 22nd and 23rd.

2011 has been a difficult year for the Farm. In July, closure of the Farm was one of the recommendations listed in KPMG's review of core services for the City of Toronto. Then, in August, one of the long-time residents of the farm - Dolly, the Clydesdale horse - died of complications from old age. She had lived at the Farm for the past 19 years and will be much missed.

So now is a perfect time to get out there and show your support. If you're like me and love the Farm, show your support with a visit, by becoming a Friend of Riverdale Farm, or by signing a petition to keep it open. If you haven't yet experienced the Farm, no better time than the present. Admission is always free, and hours are 9 am to 5 pm, all year long.

Toronto Music Garden

If you enjoy music, and the great outdoors, Toronto’s Music Garden is the place for you. Located on the waterfront between Spadina and Bathurst, the garden was designed by famed cellist Yo Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir. Its various sections are meant to be a representation, in landscape, of Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G Major for unaccompanied cello, BWV 1007. To discover what this means, wander the garden, and if you need some help with the interpretation, visit the website for a description, or consider taking a guided tour. They are available free of charge on Wednesday at 11 am (until September 28) and Thursdays at 5:30 pm (until September 8). Hand-held audio players providing commentary by the park designers and featuring excerpts of music can be rented for $6 from Marina Quay West Office, on the pier directly south of the Garden. Private group tours can also be arranged but a small fee and reservations are required.

Being a Music Garden, there is of course, music to be had. This year marks the 12^th year of Summer Music in the Garden. Free concerts are held in the amphitheatre most Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4pm, and it’s quite an experience. During quiet moments, the sounds of planes taking off from the Island airport, and the rumble of streetcars on Queens Quay are reminders that this beautiful space is surrounded by an active city, but then when the music swells, you’re transported once again to somewhere magical.

The amphitheatre has limited bench seating and you’re encouraged to bring your own chairs or blankets. Myself, I like the grass, and each rise is edged with stone, so even if the day has been a little damp, there’s a relatively dry spot to park your bottom. For this year’s schedule, refer to their website, or check the Free in Toronto calendar below for the next concert date.