How will the local wildlife be celebrating Canada Day 2009?
Wild creatures make the most of each day that dawns. Their families have lived in Canada generations longer than any of ours and could probably teach us a thing or two about how to celebrate the land. They don’t care who owns the territory they live on or how it’s administered politically. We humans care so much more about ownership and nationalities, often to the point of being as ridiculous as fleas arguing over which one of them owns the dog.
Around the world, our country is known for its vast wilderness and beauty. If we really wanted to celebrate Canada, we’d take this day to savour and enjoy the brightest blooms of summer, its greenest leaves and its tallest trees. We’d get up early to watch the sun rise over the vast landscape and take time at the end of the day to watch it set. We’d spend as much time as possible outdoors, feeling the coolness of the grass beneath our feet and the sunshine or rain on our faces. We’d splash around in lakes and sink our toes into the sand on the beaches along our coasts. Only then would we realize that it is not us who have a hold on the land, but rather that it is the land that has a hold on us.
Remember, you belong to Nature, not it to you.
~ Grey Owl
Flandrum Hill 
Oh, Canada . . . True North, strong and free. The deer, the bears, the squirrels, don’t know where one nation ends and the other begins, or care, but as I contemplate my own little patch in the borderlands, I know that people are different. Our loss.
Hmmm – that comment I left on the seaweed post was supposed to be on here – I get confused when the comments are at the top of the post – so I’ll say it again – great photos – great sentiments.
Gerry, the critters sure don’t care about borders and all the complications they entail. It is indeed our loss to care so much about such things and perhaps not enough about others.
JoAnn, I often get confused with the different formats on wordpress and blogspot too. Thanks for your comments.
Happy Canada Day, Amy, from one Canadian to another!
The photo of the squirrel amid the flags is too cute! What are the white flowers in the second one?
Insightful comments and glorious pictures – I particularly like the one with the sun rising (or setting?) over the water. And I love the words of Grey Owl. What is it with Native Americans that they always sound so wise?
And I thought it’s so funny how the squirrel was perching on his/her feeding spot in the middle of all those little flags, without being at all perturbed by them or by what they symbolise. Clearly, feeding the belly is the greatest priority. A lovely touch!
Happy Canada Day to you too Joan 🙂 Do you still celebrate Independence Day too? Yes, that squirrel is pretty cute. Haven’t figured out what those white flowers are yet. They just started growing in the yard last year. Will give an update when I’m able to identify them.
Thanks Reggie, it was a lovely sunrise. Photos always barely do these great events justice. You’re right about the Native Americans. Grey Owl was actually a white man who was born in England but lived out much of his life in Northern Ontario in central Canada. He was given the name Grey Owl by native chiefs who thought he had the heart of a red man.
Yes, the squirrel didn’t seem to mind the flags at all and was quite focused on the snacks, clearly more appreciative of the food than the decorations.
Hi, again, Amy~~
No, I don’t have anyone with whom to celebrate July 4th these days, unless I visit my folks in the states. The kids all consider themselves to be totally Canuck, even though they are half-and-half.
I have spent part of Canada Day taking photographs for the scavenger hunt. I was amazed at how much I could find right here in my townhouse complex!
I do plan to take more at Sardis Park, the Vedder River, Cultus Lake and Harrison Hot Springs in the next week or two. My pictures aren’t nearly as good as yours, but I’m giving it a good try. 🙂
Joan, I would LOVE to see photos from your area. I do miss British Columbia’s reddish woods and waterfalls. I am so impressed that you’ve already gone outside and taken photos!
Love the squirrel and flags! How funny. And Joan is taking pictures already for the scavenger hunt…guess some of us should try to get focused before July 20th, do you think? 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the squirrel Kathy 🙂
Yes, Joan’s enthusiasm is both daunting and inspiring in itself.
Late but Happy Canada Day, guys! It’s a beautiful country – someday I hope to make it to both Nova Scotia and BC!
Thanks Cindy. BC is spectacular because of the mountains and their many waterfalls, while Nova Scotia has a very cozy feel to it. Both are worth experiencing.
Humans + ownership… yes, it is indeed something of an obsession… how much better off we might be if we were to do away with the concept!
Yes pepsoid. What if ‘my’ and ‘your’ didn’t exist in our vocabulary? What if there was only ‘our?’
It would, perhaps, be a far better world, Flan! 🙂
Oh, what beautiful little flowers. And how cute with the squirrel and the flags … it looks like he’s bowing to them. 🙂
Yes they are pretty waven. Too bad I haven’t been able to identify them yet. They just grow wild in one corner of my yard near the well. Glad you liked the squirrel 🙂