Every day a new surprise awaits us on the forest trails. Representing nature's enticement to all those fascinated with the inexhaustible range of her botanical creations. Some kinds of vegetation we take for granted, they're everywhere and unremarkable. For example, plantain which flourish on the forest floor and for that matter anywhere in urban areas, particularly 'abandoned' city lots, along with plants like false chamomile and so many kinds of grasses. Milkweed were common growing in city alleyways when I was a child.

And then there are the plants that are distinctive because they are so beautiful. Like pinks. We've lately seen them in one particular part of the trails for the past several years. Even so, we were taken by surprise yesterday to see their bright little pink heads rising among the trailing lotus, the fleabane and daisies and other common wildflowers that erupt on the forest floor. There are so many different wildflowers sometimes we forget their time in the sun in the succession that comes along, and suddenly there they are and it's like greeting old friends.

Which is just how we felt when, a few days earlier, we had come across the presence of a small gathering of Himalayan orchids, growing where there had been none in previous years. Their seeds obviously scattered by a summer breeze, or even left by birds emptying their stomachs of the contents of all that they feast upon.

We decided yesterday that we'd resume our afternoon hikes in the ravine, because the morning, overcast, was cool for a change and we saw no need to rush out before breakfast to avoid the afternoon heat. My husband had a big plumbing job to do in the house. There isn't much in the way of plumbing that he hasn't had experience with over the years. Our two sons take after their father, they too are game at tackling such jobs in their own homes.

As for me, it was the day I allocate to do a thorough house-cleaning and that keeps me busy for hours. Jackie and Jillie are very understanding. Through long exposure to the routine involved they recognize that when my hands are busy with dusters, a floor mop, a vacuum cleaner, and a pail of soapy water, they must be patient until I'm finished and then we can all feel the relief of a nice relaxed stroll through the trails to be in order.

And such it was, yesterday. By mid-afternoon off we went into the ravine. In the cool shade of the forest canopy and with a breeze to move the air about we were extremely comfortable in our forays around and about the trail network. We stopped just long enough to pick some ripe raspberries and offer them to Jackie and Jillie as a treat. They're tiny and not all that numerous, but the puppies look forward to sharing them.

Their palates are as discriminating as our own, recognizing the flavours and fragrances of nutritious fruits and vegetables, their favourite selection of foods. The darker side to their appetites, however, remain their penchant for picking up little pieces of woody detritus as a chewing treat. A habit that reminds me of people who chew gum. Except that watching dogs' jaws in the process of chewing is far more appealing than counterpart motions that people engage in.