Fragrant evening

Miserably hot days can turn to some of the loveliest evenings. Dusky, sweet air gently bathes the skin. After I collected Danny from the bus depot, we went to Red Brick Café, saw the photo show, then sat at a sidewalk table eating dessert and sipping fresh brewed iced tea. It tasted pleasantly of blueberry.

Between sheer 19th Century shop facades, the narrow lane lay in soft shadow, but falling sunlight pressed St. George's steeple against a pastel sky. Chimney swifts darted and squeaked over the rooftops. Guelph needed a sidewalk café.

Driving home we rolled the windows down. Suddenly the car was flooded with deep fragrance. Queen Street hill is covered with black locusts bursting into bloom. I turned the car toward the highest point of the city, where we got out and inhaled the overwhelming perfume, similar to jasmine. Marg makes fritters from the pendant sprays of white flowers.

At last we headed down to Eramosa River Park, wrapped in deepening shadow and the complex, earthy smell of maple and willow foliage.