2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Flower Used for Promotional Card

Extracted just the foreground flower in this guy, then used it for a promotional card:

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Dahlia Varieties

A little collage showing the myriad varieties of the Dahlias - best viewed on a larger screen.

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Dahlia Society Meeting Place

As a bonus to the incredible sights offered at the Gardens, this happened to be meeting day for the Dahlia Society of Nova Scotia.  Never heard of a Dahlia, but there is an incredible variety in the species, as well as a number of folks serious enough about them to share with the world.

Meeting tent below, in which most of the following several posts were captured:

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Garden Signage

Don't know what this says, but suppose it's French.  Very immaculately cultivated, to the finest detail.

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Tree Next to Bridge in the Public Gardens

This is Andrew's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!  He's exactly, to the day, five years older than Allison.  Not planned that way but a blessing, as he's been a great older brother, and a great son, throughout.

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Creek and Bridge in Public Gardens

Didn't have to go too far to reach one of the most impressive public park spaces we've ever seen - the Halifax Public Gardens.  Spent as much time as we could here before having to return to the ship.  Gotta love that miniature house.

Oh, and this is Allison's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON!

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Unusual Statue Cluster

Very interesting what other cultures consider worthy of the time and effort needed to create statues...

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Stately Building with Canadian Flag

 

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, The Bicycle Thief

This display ticks several boxes - a picture of signage through the bicycle spokes, a little bit of bokeh in the lettering, and bright color against a black background.  By the time I got the composition right, Chenjean was a block or so down the boardwalk...

Accidentally stumbled upon this colored pencil rendering of same, along with glowing edges below:

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Crazy Lamp Posts

The boardwalk here in Halifax was something to see.  Very fortunately the weather cooperated with us for the duration of the trip.

Scratching my head trying to figure out why one of these lamp posts is laying down.  Due to the curvature of its base, don't think it's broken.  Guess they just wanted one of them to be prone, providing night lighting for those that may be sitting on the bench.