Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Tom Yates

Winter Wonderland At The Aurora Community Arboretum, A Guest Photo

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:12:19 +0000

What a wonderful opportunity to conclude the 2012 year with a guest photo – a beautiful landscape of the Aurora Community Arboretum. A photo taken by Tom Yates. I don’t think I ever posted guest photo on this blog but sometimes I have to break the rules and may be stop being little ‘selfish‘.

Aurora Community Arboretum, Winter Photo 2012, Photography by Tom Yates, Portcullis

Few days ago (December 27th, 2012) I was cleaning Matthew’s bedroom and as always was thinking about something. Suddenly a thought came (Matthew would say an idea flew into my head). I left everything undone and sat in front of my computer at the office – just like that. The thought was to go and check out Evelyn Buck’s blog.

So I did and while I am reading her latest post that day titled The Good The Bad and The Ugly I came across section that read ‘Anna, if you are reading this post, maybe you could make contact with June and ask if you can share this and other beautiful photographs regularly presented in the Arboretum News.‘

After getting nice jolt of goose bumps on back of my spine I wrote Evelyn and Tom.

To make this long story short, Cllr Evelyn Buck tried to share beautiful greeting card she received from the Aurora Arboretum on her blog and wasn’t able to do so. So she called for help – ‘I have tried and tried to reproduce a Christmas Greeting received from Aurora Arboretum. The photo is spectacularly beautiful.‘

And she is right the photo is spectacularly beautiful and I am honoured to be able to showcase it on my blog. I never been to the Arboretum in the winter time and now I got an itch. I often forget how open fields and trails in the winter away from the major roads can still be covered with a prefect snow blanket creating winter wonderland scenes.

This time this scene was photographed by Tom Yates a member of the Aurora Community Arboretum. I also encourage you to visit Arboretum web site for more photographs (2012) of this scenic place. And while you are there, don’t leave. I was very intrigue by the information on that site – especially all the gardening and tree planting activities. I always wondered where all the trees came from whenever I took a long break from visiting; and I am not talking a small trees either.

Happy New Year 2013 Again!

Living In Aurora Blog Live Again, Aurora Senior Centre

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:25:41 +0000

On November 13th, 2012 I went live once again, that is my Living In Aurora blog. This time I presented at the Aurora Senior Centre located near the Town Hall in Aurora.

Aurora Senior Centre, Town of Aurora, Ontario

First time I did for Hollandview Retirement Community. My presentation for the computer club at the Aurora Senior Centre was called the ‘Good Neighbour’ as well and it featured photography and my commentary on the changing Aurora, wonders of the Nokiidaa Trail Link boardwalk, the McKenzie boardwalk, the Community Arboretum, Merlin’s Hollow and Sheppard’s Bush. I also talked about some of the events in Aurora such as Canada Day Parade on July 1st, 2012.

Well, I am not exactly sure what is happening – interesting blogging phenomena. Usually one goes from audience to blog. In my case I am going from blog to audience, something I didn’t anticipated at first. I tell you one thing, one cannot hide in Aurora, one way or the other way you will be discovered.

Perhaps few words about my audience and my organizing crew Tom Yates, Jeff Walker and Bob Hedenberg. Their help in promoting, organizing and helping with the set up is greatly appreciated. Not to forget the gentleman behind the scenes who brought the speakers and microphone and probably other things. I must sound like celebrity now, but I did feel like one. Everyone was so nice, appreciative and provided such a nice relaxing environment for me to present.

I am sure no body noticed but my heart rate was up few beats. It usually happens when I have to speak in public (and I don’t do it very often), therefore, I have to thank Tom for a very kind introduction prior my presentation.

And now my audience …

It was nice to meet Tom Yates’ wife June. This is my first time meeting a woman photographer. The gentleman who reminded me about one of the photos of the light bulb I took at the Masonic Lodge. It helped to have family in the audience – Teresa Foti.

Aurora Masonic Hall, The Rising Sun Lodge No. 129

It was so nice for so many people to come up and introduce themselves or chat. Let see if I can summarize it. I hope I got everyone mentioned.

I finally met Christine Valentini, a name that is not hard to forget. We corresponded few times about the George Browning house which I had it in my presentation as well.

Then I got an invitation to photograph over 30 year old cactus living in Aurora – and I will.

A lady who commented on one of my flower photos, female and male combination of the jack plant and for love of me I cannot remember the rest of the name.

Merlin’s Hollow, July 10th, 2011

Then I got to speak to Gordon Barnes who was sitting in the first row, and commented on my good eye. If I knew he was going to come I would bring up some photos of him I have on my blog. I always see him at the Aurora Farmer’s Market.

Then this nice lady asked me about slight accent I have – its a combination of Ukrainian, Polish and English.

Then I think it was Stephen that offered to pay for the photos I brought to give out because he took to many. No worries about that, and I hope he will figure out how to make dandelion wine one day.

Did anyone ever find out about the lady bug? Yes, there are male ladybugs.

I had very good time. Thank you all.

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