
State of emergency lifted for Minden ON.
Spring is finally here with summer gardens on the way–and outdoor gardens the the Northwest Chicago Suburbs have taken notice.

Creeping Jenny

Ostrich Ferns
Look quickly though as many residents of these Chicago condo summer gardens will morph until they are nearly unrecognizable as summer moves closer—and it will continue well beyond that, too. I find it fascinating to watch and enjoy and snap shots of all this activity. I’m probably really going to miss it for the six weeks I am in Canada this summer…hope to see that the perennials that were planted at Maple Lake in recent years survived Ontario’s Winter 2013.

Halcyon Hosta with Creeping Jenny in the backgound

Crabapple blossoms (white petals) Back yard

Japanese Maple (front yard)

In full blossom (Crabapple tree)
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Creeping Jenny, Halcyon Hosta, Vinka
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Creeping Jenny and Vinka
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Newly-tranplanted Creeping Jenny–half-barrel not ready to be planted, yet.,
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Japanese Maple
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Creeping Jenny
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Halcyon Hosta
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Ostrich Ferns
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Crabapple blossoms (white)
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Purple Smoke Tree early May
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Vinka
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Japanese Maple

Sunny, Dry Days Should Help Alleviate Highlands Flooding Woes

Kawagama Lake in Dorset Ontario – May 3 2013
Minden Hills residents in particular have been hit hard by flooding in recent weeks and though water levels are showing signs of improvement, the community remains in a state of emergency. (For up-to-the minute news about flood conditions and relief click
Get Flood Relief Information.)

Help Your Community!
With such gloomy circumstances, good weather news is very welcome, indeed. Today is a good example of what you can expect over the weekend and beyond.
Highlands’ Weekend Weather

Weekend Weather Ontario Highland’s (May 3-4)
But what about after the weekend?

Weather Forecast for the Highlands May 4 – May 8 2013
*Click to enlarge for detail.
Through next Wednesday, there is NO rain in the forecast and the majority of days will be MOSTLY Sunny.
Beyond that, in the 14-Day Weather Outlook:

Highland’s 14-day Weather Outlook
Well, it is spring but from what we see here, the Highlands will be getting a full week’s respite from rainfall with 9 of 14 days calling for no precipitation. The few days with a chance of rain are followed by sunny days, so with any luck there won’t be much back-sliding on the recovery from the flooding. There certainly is reason to be grateful. Low temperatures remain across-the-board higher than normal and the high temperatures, when averaged out, look just about spot-on normal.

Chapleau River Ice melting
After all the mucking about it would be nice to get out and have a little fun so here What’s Happening in May in the Highlands.

In the Highlands – Free showing of THE LORAX and White Pine saplings for you to take home and plant!

Kawagama Lake- Dorset – ON April 26

As usual, there are a tonne of activities to choose from this weekend–and beyond in the Highlands of Ontario. From Earth Day celebrating to learning how to grow your own mushrooms via the process of harvesting and inoculation of the host log(!) (I really want to do this!!!) to doing your part for your community in the Hike For Hospice–have fun choosing! So read on and catch up on some of the fun things to do in the Ontario Highlands!

Weekend Weather Haliburton Highlands April 26 – April 27
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Happenings in the Ontario Highlands April 2013

Highlands Weather April 27 through May 10
It’s spring so yeah, it’s rainy–that’s what we all know we need. The temps look really good though–very normal highs and geez, how many more times am I going to note this(?) –higher than normal low temps. I have a problem with neither.
Also to note–the boats are back in the water in Kincardine Harbour as well as some other locations, while places like Kawagama Lake still look at least partially frozen. Diversity is good, right?

Kincardine Harbour and Kincardine Channel to Lake Huron Ontario
With any luck and the cooperation of our beloved Mother Nature, the rain should bring good conditions for summer–you know, lots of green and hopefully a low chance of fires in the Highlands. Fingers crossed!
Winter Storm Watch in Ontario Highlands – Significant freezing rain and ice pellets likely Thursday night!

Ontario Highlands Severe Weather Alert – Weds April 10 through Thursday April 11 (Cr: Weather Network)
Significant freezing rain and ice pellets are expected in the Haliburton and Algonquin Highlands Thursday night and Friday. A low which is currently over Missouri will approach the Great Lakes on Thursday, reaching Lake Erie Thursday night. A messy mixture of snow and ice pellets will likely begin late Thursday or Thursday night, along with a threat of freezing rain overnight Thursday in some areas. Significant ice pellet and snowfall amounts in excess of 15 cm are possible for this event, along with the threat of freezing rain.
SOURCE: Winter refuses to die in southern Ontario
So erm, happy spring, everyone? Seriously, any combination of ICE and..is a bad combo so please get what you need and get home ASAP. Stay safe!

Lagoon City looks pretty (Cr: Weather Network)
Long-term Weather Outlook for the Ontario Highlands – West Guilford

Long-term Weather Outlook for the Ontario Highlands – West Guilford (Cr: Weather Network)
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Ontario PHOTOS – April 10 2013
The Complete Guide to Haliburton Highlands area Activities and Weather for the Upcoming Week and Beyond!

Kawagama Lake Ontario
March 29 2013 (Cr: Weather Network)
Well, there’s no denying that spring is here, though Mother Nature seems to be slightly uncertain as the temperatures flit upward in the normal range and then flutter down, slightly below normal. (This applies to both the high and low temps this week.) Though the calendar assures us that it is indeed spring, in truth we are beginning the transition between winter and spring and so will continue to experience weather that can best be described as ‘unpredictable.’

14-day Haliburton Highlands’ Weather Outlook: Simply unpredictable?

Steenburg Lake Gilmour Ontario – March 29 2013
What you can plan for however, is what you like to do to occupy your time and there is plenty to experience this week and in the weeks to come. Have a look:

What’s Happening This Week in the Haliburton Highlands Credit:

Sugar Shack Shuffle

Maple Syrup Production in the Highlands

Dorset Book Club
There is much more coming up this week and well into April in the Haliburton Highlands area so please click the thumbnails (below) to enlarge them and read all about it!


Niagara Falls Ontario – March 29 2013 (PHOTO)
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