Not far down the road from our place there lived a man.
I didn't know of this man until after he died.
I still don't know too much about him except that he must have loved nature and his friends and neighbours.
Because down this path...
...and through the woods, stepping into the light...
you will find a small piece of land.
This was once the home of Eric Sellars St Clare.
He owned 7.2 acres of prime real estate on a small lake.
He lived here for 60 years and when he died, one of his wishes was for this land to become public parkland.
(along with another 8 acres, which was adjoining his, was donated by the government.)
His house was taken down and all of the old fences removed...
New ones were put up...
A shelter was built so that even in the rain we can enjoy the view...
...and on quiet sunny mornings, benches have been placed near the lake...
Left behind are many traces of Eric.
You can tell he had a love of gardening...
If you are lucky, such as I was this morning, you may even find one of his little artifacts...
I placed this one back high up in a tree.
Reminders of his projects to beautify his land are all around...
This little stone bridge won me over the first time I saw it and even though there isn't really a need to cross over it (since there isn't a creek here anymore) I still do, in honor of Eric.
Another lovely spot under one of the many trees he planted...
Now, it's not just that he donated valuable lakefront property to the community, it's that he had certain wishes for the park.
One was that his cats be cared for and another was this...
Notice the name of the park?
Not his.
Dedicated to a long ago friend who died in 1970.
I like to think that his spirit lives on through all who come to enjoy this park.
It gives me faith in what people can do.
Commit random acts of conservation.
I tip my glass to you, Eric.
Cheers.
Fanning the flames # 4:
In the stillness and warmth of the morning
Under the fading
waning moon
She once again believed.
I didn't know of this man until after he died.
I still don't know too much about him except that he must have loved nature and his friends and neighbours.
Because down this path...
This was once the home of Eric Sellars St Clare.
He owned 7.2 acres of prime real estate on a small lake.
He lived here for 60 years and when he died, one of his wishes was for this land to become public parkland.
(along with another 8 acres, which was adjoining his, was donated by the government.)
His house was taken down and all of the old fences removed...
You can tell he had a love of gardening...
Reminders of his projects to beautify his land are all around...
Another lovely spot under one of the many trees he planted...
One was that his cats be cared for and another was this...
Not his.
Dedicated to a long ago friend who died in 1970.
Commit random acts of conservation.
I tip my glass to you, Eric.
Cheers.
Fanning the flames # 4:
In the stillness and warmth of the morning
Under the fading
waning moon
She once again believed.
3 comments:
What a beautiful area - and what a generous man! It does my heart good to think that people are capable of being so thoughtful... and that beautiful places like this can continue to exist.
I have seen this park on CBC some time ago. So wonderful how he has given this piece of paradise to the community to be shared. Your photos do it justice that's for sure. Totally loved this image of the daisy. Great photography again!
Thanks for sharing your photos of this special area. Hopefully I can visit the park some day.
the bridge moment makes me ache. very poetic of you to capture that. a bridge for a creek that dried up long ago. oh this is extraordinary news to read of such a generous man.
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