Leslieville -- Marigold Garden

Most people will not see the inside of Marigold Garden in Leslieville, because it's the name of a townhouse complex. OK, it's also the name of the street next to our townhouse complex, where the name of the townhouse complex came from. Like most townhouse complex/condos, there are problems, but people who live in Marigold Garden seem to like living here. In the middle of the complex is a courtyard, which I like the most. It's large enough for kids to ride their bike, skateboards, play balls, etc., and it's gated with lock and video surveillance , so you can be reasonably sure that you don't need to worry about them playing in the courtyard.

The best thing about Marigold Garden is its location. Two blocks south is a bike path and a pedestrian path that leads to east, west and south. To the west, it connects to the bike path along DVP, as well as to the Harbourfront. To the east, it goes to the Ashbridge's Bay Beach (Kew Beach) in a few minutes by bike. A mile to the south, and the end (or is it the beginning) of Leslie at Unwin, is the entrance to the best kept secrete of Toronto -- the Tommy Thompson Park, or Leslie Spit. This man-made peninsula of building debris extends about 5 km into Lake Ontario, and is about 12km around. Tommy Thompson Park is a stopping place for a large number of migratory birds. If you go there in the spring and early in the morning around 5 to 6am, you hear the deafening sound of thousands of birds cawing, singing, chirping. Tommy Thompson Park is also home to many wild life species, including coyote, rabbits, owls, butterflies, and many many more.

Of course, there is this infamous sewage treatment plant not too far from our townhouse, and a small number of factories are that still polluting the area. But, the area is improving slowly. It's a great place to live.


Marigold Garden in the spring -- Canon 1Ds & EF 50mm f1.2. Larger Picture.


Marigold Garden in the fall -- Canon 1Ds & Schneider 105mm f4.5 Enlarging Lens. Larger Picture.


Marigold Garden in Winter -- Pentax K10D & 40mm f2.8 Pancake Lens. Larger Picture.