Don Species: Trout Lily

Trout Lily

 
Scientific Name: Erythronium americanum
Status: native, common throughout southern Ontario
Where is it found: rich woods, usually in vicinity of sugar maple or beech trees
Where was this photo taken: Crothers Woods
Blooming period: March - May
What's its place in the world: belongs to a class of plants called spring ephemerals. It blooms in wooded areas before the trees leaf out allowing it to flower and seed within the shelter of the forest. An interesting study done in 2002 showed that it can form symbiotic relationships with soil fungus and neighbouring sugar maple trees. I've also seen it near the base of beech trees so it is likely the relationship is there too.

West Don Bridge/Walkway Replacement Still Ongoing

Bridge is closed. To open in May?

 
In January I blogged about the status of the walkway/bridge replacement project that links E.T. Seton Park and the West Don parklands with the rest of the Don trail system. The prognosis back then was that the new walkway would be installed by early March. Sadly that is not the case. The walkway is partially installed but not linked up. It looks like decking still needs to installed in the metal frame as well as the bridge across the railway tracks. It appears that the bridge itself will not be replaced only the decking on top will be replaced. Signs on the bridge now say that the project will be completed by May 2013.

This project which started back which started last August has now lasted 7 months and is still counting. Work is proceeding at what looks like a glacial pace. Project management is obviously not one of the Parks departments strong suits. If we're lucky it will be open by August.

Metal walkway in process of being installed. Parts are not yet linked together

New walkway has metal bottom and sides. It looks like there will be some sort of wooden decking.

Despite fencing and signs, trail users are still scrambling through the construction site.

The good news is that the Lower Don Trail is now completely free of ice.