A Day in the Country is Worth a Month in Town

By Sarah Battersby on July 27th, 2010 View Comments
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Country in town: Ashbridges Bay, Toronto. Chicory, Queen Anne’s Lace and sweet clover in bloom.

Before green apples blush,
Before green nuts embrown,
Why one day in the coun­try
Is worth a month in town.

I agree com­pletely with poet Christina Rossetti on this one. But while there isn’t any way to get “city” in the country—unless you count high speed internet—luckily there are plenty of places to get “coun­try” in the city. You just have to find it. Back alleys, vacant lots, and untamed park­land are now full of wild flow­ers, like Queen Anne’s Lace, intensely blue chicory, and—the smell of sum­mer, for me—sweet clover. I’m thrilled to have these wild green spaces in the city, like Evergreen Brickworks, and Ashbridges Bay by the lake. One thing, how­ever, I’m sure I won’t see in the city is a group of wild turkeys cross­ing the road like those I saw this week­end in the country.

Why did the wild turkeys cross the road? Peer pres­sure, perhaps?

If you feel like Christina Rossetti and me, let us know  your city / coun­try strat­egy. Fave places to go? Share in the comments!

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  4. Ontario Food Heroes– Farmer
  5. Gluten-free Veggie Burger with Sunshine Salad

⇪ Posted in Articles, Front Page, Garden.

  • Helen
    In the city, the Leslie Street Spit is a favourite "country place" to be. It really feels like the wild and wide open spaces I love about the country. Plus, you get Lake Ontario *and* that crazy Toronto skyline.

    Further north, though rather manicured, there's the Beltline Trail. It's like walking in a leafy lane, perfect when the sun get high.
  • Sarah Battersby
    Haven't yet seen the Beltline trail, and must go there soon. And yes, one of the best things about the Leslie Street spit is the view of the city, from that great wild vantage point. Great place for a bike ride, but bikes are only allowed on weekends if I remember. A plus: no hills!
  • sweetkeet
    I do like to escape to the country, though I have been unable to 'disappear' in any significant way for the past five years or so for a variety of reasons. That said, some years I go to Bruce's Mill for the maple sugar festival in March/early April. I also adore the many farmers' markets that line the Niagara Parkway near Niagara-on-the-Lake; going there and seeing the orchards, grass, trees and gardens is absolutely THRILLING for me, since I live in a high-density mid-Toronto neighbourhood. St. Jacobs is also a lovely day trip. In Toronto, Edwards Gardens is wonderful, as is the Toronto Music Garden with its lush, tall grasses, gigantic and mysterious fruit-bearing shrubs and monarch butterfly-laden flower gardens. It's lovely by the lake.
  • Sarah Battersby
    Bruce's Mill is great, and they have the apple butter festival in the fall too, I used to go a lot as a kid. Good to be reminded of it. St. Jacobs is another place I'd love to go to, good to know it's possible to do it in a day. Edwards Gardens is getting better and better with all the new gardens around the Toronto Botanical Gardens headquarters, good in every season. Music garden is another garden on my To See list.
  • Ladyslenderlegs
    the Little Lake on the Mountain is one of our favourite getaways, the Pinery is another favourite for camping
  • Sarah
    I love the Pinery. The BEST sunsets ever on Lake Huron. Little Lake on the Mountain, is that in Prince Edward County?
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