In the fall, Calgarians seek out the larchesin their shining golden hues. Every year I have gone to the mountains, where the larches are far away, shining against the dark evergreens and the grey granite mountain slopes.
This year, a friend invited me to go with her to Baker Park for a walk. She gleefully surprised me with the brilliant yellows of magnificent larches – surrounding the parking lot! I have never been so close to these uplifting trees! Their colour enhanced the very sunlight. Close to the Bow River, they have the moisture to grow wide and high into the sky.
In the distance was the other attraction of the day – the twinning of Stoney Trail bridge over Bowness Park and the Bow River. As we walked alongside the river, the towering pillars became larger and larger in our view. Not quite aligned to the original bridge, two of the new pillars were but a third was only evidenced by a huge round hole. The pedestrian way under the existing bridge gave us views of the workers moving soil and gravel around, and others concentrating mysteriously on the underside of the high above
Walking back along the park pathway, not so dazzled by the larches, I could admire the light yellow poplars painted in the blue sky accented by puffy white clouds. The red leaves and bright fruit of planted Flowering Crabapples drew my gaze closer in. Playful Cubs (sculpture by Leo Mol) tumbled in the sunshine. Picnic tables scattered near the flower gardens made our tea break beautiful as we gazed at the spectacular colours of fall.
