Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Garden

Merlin’s Hollow, My First May Visit, Art of Decay

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 26 May 2013 05:07:28 +0000

This is my third year visiting and photographing the Merlin’s Hollow English garden here in the Town of Aurora. In the past I have been starting my visits in June.

You can definitely find more flowers later in the summer, but late spring always has many beautiful surprises thus it was my attempt not to miss this year’s May visit.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

And I am glad that I didn’t miss the May visit as I was able to add more flowers to my Merlin’s Hollow flower collection. Despite the cold temperatures and rain, I was able to find new plant species never mind in three life stages – closed bulbs ready for blooming, full blooming flowers and decaying flowers.

As always I tend to photograph the perfect flowers; however, this time I found art in the decay – an abstract art.

Tulip, Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Over the years when photographing flowers I choose to look at the beautiful blooming flowers, but I will not do that anymore, I am going to enjoy all stages of life of the plant species. They all deserve attention.

Yes, I find abstract in the decaying flowers. The perfect patterned architecture of the flowers does not exist anymore. As the decay progresses the inner beauty of the flower is revealed, the seeds form and the beauty is passed on. Okay, not always from seeds.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

So I am bragging about decaying flowers and almost none are here. However, I did post more Merlin’s Hollow photos on Facebook and you can find decaying one there hiding between other photos. I did expend my horizons and I have been more active on the social media.

I do showcase more photography of Aurora and beyond on Facebook, so you are more than welcome to be my friend, see badge on the sidebar.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

The visits to the Merlin’s Hollow aren’t just about the flowers. I always look forward to meet Dierdre. She is a story teller and I enjoy every chance I get to talk to her. As well I get little hints there and there from David what to look for.

David Tomlinson, Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Visitors, Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

I came later in the afternoon and I was amazed how much I was able find to photograph even thought I have been in this garden many times. No moment or time or plant species are the same. I nearly spent there two hours and probably would more, but then family obligations – my gang was waiting for me at home.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Garden Marker Ideas For Next Year, Another Project from Windfall Ecology Centre

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:53:30 +0000

I almost forgot to share just another meaningful project by the Windfall Ecology Centre. Last month on October 1st we ventured out to the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area. While hovering around the Windfall Ecology Centre, former historic Sheppard’s House, and the picnic area we found few garden patches.

Windfall Ecology Centre, Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area

I didn’t know at that time, but this is another project by the Windfall Ecology Centre – the community garden. The emphasis is on ‘it doesn’t take a lot to grow fruits and vegetables in your own garden‘. A project that encourages gardening at home, may be in the pots or at the community gardens that are starting to be popular around Aurora.

It also remind me how few years ago I used to grow plum tomatoes in my front yard instead of flowers.

Radish Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

Carrot Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

It is interesting to me that something that used to be a way of life is now encouraged because it rarely exists. Garden was always part of my life and it is kind of sad that all this land around here in Aurora will be eventually developed. Seeing a farm in Aurora – it will be a thing of the past. But I am stretching here, we are talking garden only.

Well, on the happy note, we found something interesting. I had Matthew with me and we had fun reading all the stone markers for the vegetables and fruits. What a good idea for marking your plants in the garden, and reusable one too. On the another note, I didn’t know that cantaloupes were grown here in Ontario. For some reason I always thought that cantaloupe was a tropical fruit.

So I did some research …

The cantaloupe is a fruit and is related to watermelon, honeydew, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. Some write that cantaloupe is a gourd. When choosing right cantaloupe at the supermarket I was using the same method as for watermelon – knock knock and listened for the hollow sound.

Apparently, when choosing a cantaloupe you must use your nose and not your knuckles. Smell for sweet smell, but I an not sure if I am in favor of that method, especially during flu/cold season.

Cantaloupe Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

We also found a bear in the garden. Not real one, but there was a marker for him just in case.

Bear Stone Marker, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

It was first of October and some plants were still blooming on that day. We spotted blooming peas flower and sunflowers.

It is November now and Sheppard’s Bush now looks nothing like before. Our last visit was at night – the Hunted Forest event. Even at night one could see leaves on the ground and some still hanging and beaming bright yellows.

Time really moves forward. We have had few changes in town – the Petch Log house is being reconstructed and the condominium in front of Hollandview Retirement Community on the John West Way is really moving along, but more about that in the posts to come.

Peas, Another Project by Windfall Ecology Centre

Fall Flowers at Merlin’s Hollow, Unavoidable Brown-Eyed Susans

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:05:14 +0000

In the late spring we can find lot of yellow accents around the neighborhood, yellow dandelion accents. In the fall we get double take because of the changing color in the leaves and then there are flowers like Brown-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba).

Brown Eye Susan, Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

The Brown-Eyed Susans are now found everywhere including Merlin’s Hollow. I had my last visit to the Merlin’s Hollow couple of weeks ago. Flowers were still blooming. Bees, wasps, flies were all at work, flying from flower to flower and doing their job.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Some buds were not opened yet.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

This post is more for you to enjoy the lasts of the summer. I photographed this set when it was still summer and it was very warm that day. The fall is here now believe or not. The nights are much cooler. Days are cool as well, but you can still enjoy gentle heat from the sun. Reds, yellows and some green are now accenting Town of Aurora.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Perfect white. How often can you find a flower pure white and undamaged? It could go either way, but this one was prefect.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Every spring, early flowering crocus is almost in all gardens, but every fall, the Colchicum, or fall crocus, comes out from nowhere when the garden is in decline. The fall crocus certainly is delicate, slender, beautiful flower, and somehow taller and was unavoidable.

Well Tom Yates was unavoidable as well that day. I left Merlin’s Hollow that day feeling that something will be up anytime soon, and yes Tom got in touch with me to present my blog to the Aurora Seniors. Nothing is set in stone, but I will be on the road with my blog again sometimes in November.

Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Definitely interesting visit – unavoidable Brown-Eyed Susans, unavoidable fall crocus, unavoidable Tom Yates and this unavoidable beautiful garden bright blue bench.

Tom Yates and his wife are professional photographers and you can view their beautiful work on their website Portcullis.

Blue Bench, Merlin’s Hollow, Aurora

Doors Open Aurora 2012, Lumsden’s Trumpeter Swan Gardens & The Giant Thistle

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:53:39 +0000

That was my last one, favorite one and the most entertaining one visit to the Doors Open Aurora. Despite the heat I was glad to visit the Trumpeter Swan Gardens created by Harry Lumsden. This was my second visit.

I called up Mr. Lumsden back in May and was allowed to photograph the swans – Trumpeter Swans in Aurora, Visit To Harry Lumsden’s Pond.

This visit was different. The gardens were open to public so I knew that my pictures will be a lot more interesting and not just swans.

When I arrived I was greeted by volunteers. I was directed to go behind the house first and then if I am not mistaken to walk to the North side of the property. While walking I passed by couple of ladies with a child in the stroller. One of them briefly looked at me and then said to the other one ‘You better get your camera out may be we will see some birds‘. I smiled and I had to say something ‘Well you are definitely going to see swans‘. They nodded and we all laughed.

Trumpeter Swan, Harry Lumsden’s Gardens, Aurora

Since my last visit, this time gardens were a lot more green and beautifully over grown. First thing I noticed was this giant Scottish Thistle, probably close to two meters tall. Normally we would call thistle a weed, but in Mr. Lumsden’s garden obviously it is not.

Scottish Thistle, Harry Lumsden’s Gardens, Aurora

So things got much better after seeing the giant thistle. I took few nice pictures of the crowd with Mr. Lumsden. Not until later I noticed that I took pictures of someone I know.

Trumpeter Swan, Harry Lumsden’s Gardens, Aurora

Then I spotted someone in my peripheral vision either taking pictures of the thistle or the group of people with Mr. Lumsden. He looked familiar so I sneaked and took photo of him for further analysis later that day.

If turned out that was Matt Maddocks with his new toy. Matt and Deb were also visiting Trumpeter Swan gardens that day. I tell you it is always nice to be in the larger group. Conversation with Mr. Lumsden turned out far more interesting and entertaining, and all thanks to Deb.

Matt Maddocks Taking Pictures

I remember the days when I didn’t know Matt and how I used to read his intriguing Letters to the Editor in the Auroran. As of this year Matt took extra step and has now a regular column Point of Privilege on the community FOCUS site for the Town of Aurora.

Matt gathered lot of interesting information during his Doors Open Aurora experience and wrote a very intriguing and profound essay. If you curious you can read it for yourself, Doors Open Aurora – Of Swans and Freedom Fighters. Mr. Lumsden 6 acre property can be very adventurous. Before I met up with Matt and Deb again I walked alone around the pond in the shade of trees. I kept seeing visitors pouring in. Even thought it was getting close to four o’clock they just kept arriving.

Another incident. About four or five visitors arrived together, adults and youth. I overheard that one of the girls was scared of the birds and kept complaining about it. How can you be scared of the birds, I just don’t understand. But hey we all are scared of something.

At some point one of the ladies turned around and said to the girl ‘No worries dear, you will not find any birds here‘. Well, I just had to say something again, ‘but you will find swans just over there‘. She and the others looked in the direction of swans, and everyone laughed.

I guess since we don’t see swans flying on regular basis just like other small birds, many consider them something else. But what is that something else? Who knows.

Harry Lumsden Himself

Then later a small disappointment. During my first visit Harry Lumsden told me that there were six swan eggs in the nest. I came to the pond in mind that I will see all six of them.

I asked how come there was only one cygnet. He corrected me and said that there were actually seven eggs and explained that they didn’t hatch properly because disturbed female seeing disturbed male kept coming off the nest. Out of seven only two survived, but then turtle ate one of them.

That makes you think that their extinction wasn’t just our contribution.

Trumpeter Swans with Cygnet, Harry Lumsden’s Gardens, Aurora

If it wasn’t for Deb we would never know why this Trumpeter Swan has red feet (photo below). Harry Lumsden gave us this complex explanation, but all you need to know – recessive gene, or not very popular one. Apparently, there are three swans (not sure if in a whole Ontario or Canada) reported to have red feet and one of them is here in Aurora, Ontario at the Mr. Lumsden’s Swan Garden.

So this bring me to the end of my adventures during Doors Open Aurora. I am hoping again that for next year there will be no birthday parties or wedding parties scheduled for that day. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Red Feet Trumpeter Swan, Harry Lumsden’s Gardens, Aurora

Merlin’s Hollow, Busy Bee World Under The Microscope

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:23:38 +0000

I almost forgot that I had all these nice pictures of bugs I took at the Merlin’s Hollow English garden visit at the beginning of this month. Not sure if I said that before but Merlin’s Hollow garden is always full of surprises and this year I entered another dimension – the macro world.

A Fly, Merlin's Hollow English Garden

I remember those days when all the birds I saw around me always look the same, but not until I got birding book, camera and photo lens. Now I can say the same about the insects. At some point they all used to look the same especially bees and flies. Well it isn’t the case anymore and I shall put that blame on my macro lens.

So here I am standing and bending and taking photos but I couldn’t help to listen to the conversation, okay I was kind of eavesdropping, but I was there and wasn’t hiding – may be it does not count. The conversation was between a visiting lady and David Tomlinson.

A Snail, Merlin's Hollow English Garden

I am not sure who it was, may be she was talking about her son. She was little disappointed that, let say it was her son she was talking about, after graduating from university wants to be a farmer. Okay at that point I did not have any particular subject to photograph in front of me so I turned around and said: ‘Trust me after graduating from university we all want to be farmers‘.

‘Why, did you go to university?‘ – she asked. ‘Yes, many years ago and why – because it is very stressful, and it does not get any better because some of the jobs become very demanding‘. And then Mr. Tomlinson added ‘or go to university to get a job to support your farm‘. ‘Exactly‘ – I nodded.

A Bee, Merlin's Hollow English Garden

Speaking of farming let me bring to your attention my latest finding about this open source ecology project. You can watch the video here and find out more about the open source ecology project started by Marchin Jakubowski. However, this is the closest example of putting your degree into a good use – farming.

A Lady Bug? Merlin's Hollow English Garden

About 10,000 bird species – not sure if there is that one person in the world who was able to see them all. The last bird book I read the author had record of over 3,000 bird species. Now imagine insects, there are millions and millions of them and I am sure millions of them not identified yet.

Red Ant, Merlin's Hollow English Garden

So when I was shooting bug photo Mr. Tomlinson asked me what I was pointing at. So I showed him and he said he would love to identify all the insects in his garden. ‘But there are so many of them, just searching for name can be a full time job‘. Okay I should have known better. He pointed out that ‘if you are looking at the fly you would go to the fly section and so you are looking at the smaller population of insects‘.

Yes he is right, starting with the sub-categories will get you to ID the insect faster, but I will hold off on the identification idea of the bugs for now – just too many, too many to handle for now.

Another Fly, Merlin's Hollow English Garden

It was time to go. On my way out I was still taking last photos and at the same time I yelled to my husband – ‘this should be bug garden as well, there are so many of them here‘. A lady on the other side of the flower bed got excited and called back at me – ‘this is called a bug garden?‘. ‘No no this is English garden‘ – I replied. ‘Oh okay‘ – she replied bowing her head and I smiled back.

May be next time I will keep quite otherwise I will start a rumor that never existed.

Merlin’s Hollow Always Beautiful Garden With Gardens, June Flower Bloom

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:48:41 +0000

If I had all the time in the world I would spend many hours in the Merlin’s Hollow garden. This time I made sure I didn’t miss the June visit. The garden was ever beautiful, not that it wasn’t last time, but I am appreciating more and more every and each visit. I think my eyes are now trained to see more.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

I must say that the garden is becoming photographers gathering place.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

A year passed, and about a year ago I met here at the Merlin’s Hollow grounds another photographer from Aurora. I knew James from before by visiting his flickr james lj’s photostream. His photography includes photographs of nature and wildlife here in Aurora – absolutely must see his surreal photo gallery.

I know, I know – the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. But I cannot help whenever I look at James’ photos. I am always impressed with his photos no matter how hard I try to tap myself on my shoulder. They are always so crisp, artistic and in action.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

Let me tell you more what happened next.

Dierdre Tomlinson recognized me. Soon as I arrived and was taking photos she came up to us and told me – ‘I was just looking at your photos yesterday‘. Oh that was so nice of her. The power of thought worked too, since I showed up the next day. I think I will do the same and I will give her 2012 garden photos.

It was so nice of her to remember us. Dierdre seems as a lady who would remember all her visitors or at least to whom she talked to. Oh and if I will continue to get that kind of welcomes – I am never going to leave Aurora.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

This garden has over one thousand or more species. This is probably one of the reasons why we photographers love it because we can photograph and photograph and never leave the garden. It also helps to have flowers in small clusters because when photographing it is much easier to isolate single flower from the rest.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

As I mentioned before, the Merlin’s Hollow garden is definitely photographers gathering place. It is now very common to see people equipped with high end DSLRs, zoom lenses and carrying tripods. I don’t carry a tripod, but one lady did. I was just glad that there was no wind that day. However, it rained the night before and I was pleased.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

‘This is my favorite flower‘ – Matthew said for the flower below and I think I know why. The contrast of the yellow and purple does creates stunning effect. When I processed the photo I was able to see the purple beaded hair dancing around the filaments. Isn’t nature amazing to add such a beautiful decor to this flower?

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

I am not posting all the photos here. I captured some nice photos of insects and snails which I will showcase next. There are probably the same number of different insects species as flowers in the Merlin’s Hollow.

They are small and can be as small as every period on this page. Many are hiding somewhere, but lot of them were enjoying the beautiful colors and of course the sweet sweet nectar.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

Just before leaving James briefly introduced me to Peter, another great photographer who has aurora_photog flickr blog. I must admit that Peter’s everyday photo publishing sometimes gives away clues and next day I am trailing the same path.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

And here is something to look forward – the next bloom in July.

Merlin's Hollow, Aurora

Trumpeter Swans in Aurora, Visit To Harry Lumsden’s Pond

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:32:45 +0000

Sometimes I see Trumpeter Swans at the McKenzie Marsh and sometimes not. Once I was sitting with Matthew on the bench overlooking the marsh and when I looked up there was a slow flying swan above us.

What a spectacular view that was. Okay just one swan, but still – I never seen a flying swan before. A tip then – don’t ever forget to look up – you will never know what will pass above by you.