Ottawa Valley

The mill dams and falls at Almonte, Ontario

My work took me, at the end of last week and today, to the beautiful Ottawa Valley area of Ontario. Lanark County, the Maple Syrup capital of Ontario has many old log buildings - sturdy log houses still in use, as well as barns and sheds.

The spring buds are forming in meadows and forests; tulips are opening in visual concert with hyacinthes and daffodils. I wanted to come back to take pictures, having been through many of these towns and villages in the winter when I did not yet have my camera - and wishing I had so as to capture the stark white beauty of the fields with the stark, dark contrast of ancient farm buildings. Almonte, Arnprior, Beckwith, Carleton Place, Lanark, Pembroke Perth, Renfrew and many more beautiful places, Scotch settlements many of them . . .

I had no idea there was such beauty and power in the waterfalls, the rushing rivers and spring-fed streams, fields and budding forests - the ancient buildings and lore of this part of my province.