Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Winter

Flirting Nature, Snow Shapes Left To Your Imagination

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:21:20 +0000

Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy looking at the clouds. I look for shapes I can recognize. Well looks like I will be enjoying snow as well.

First photo was taken of snow drifts in the field. The second one is a covered table with chairs on our backyard. Hope you can see what I see and enjoy but don’t enjoy it too much.

Snow Drifts, Hamilton Park, Aurora

Snow Shapes, Our Backyard

Winter Is Finally Here In Aurora, Some Snow Probably To Melt Soon

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:35:35 +0000

We got lot of snow in the past 24 hours in Aurora. I have not left anywhere else so I cannot comment on other places. I checked weather forecast too and for the next week – looks like it is warming up. But today it was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy outside.

Going Down Hill, Hamilton Park, Town of Aurora

When we were outside I noticed that the snow exposed to the sun started to melt, but that was not enough sun to melt the almost one meter piles of snow in front of houses on our street. Lots of snow and lots of sun – two things good to have to play in the snow.

Matthew Making Snow Angels, Hamilton Park, Town of Aurora

We went tobogganing there was a lot of snow on the soccer field at the Hamilton Park, but it was manageable to walk across. Kids already were playing there, and probably there were more earlier as there were tracks left behind.

Going Down Hill, Hamilton Park, Town of Aurora

Something about the children and the snow. When Matthew came out the house, first thing he did was dived (real dive too) for the pile of snow, not even thinking of consequences. He got white snow all over his face, cleaned up and dived for another pile. Then he started to inspect bottom of the cars for icicles.

Hamilton Park, Children Playing in the Snow, Town of Aurora

On the field we had hard time to get him on the toboggan, every second we turned away from him – he was already rolling in the snow. We helped him to make a snow angel, and by looking at the print afterward, not sure what it was.

He saw four girls playing in the snow nearby and started to do the same – rolling more in the snow. Well, we did the same when we were growing up too. The beauty about the snow is that it does not get you dirty, just wet.

Children Playing in the Snow, Hamilton Park, Town of Aurora

Well not sure about other children, but when I picked up Matthew from school last Thursday, who knows what he was rolling in. There was mud on him everywhere, the hat, the jacket, the snow pants and the face.

You just got to love them for their free spirit, but I hope there will be little less of that free spirit next week when it will be ‘splashy’ and wet.

Morning Down Warming Up In The Sun, Hamilton Park Hydro Lines, Town of Aurora

If You Wait Long Enough It Will Come, The Snow, A Soothing Blanket Over The Aurora

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:46:55 +0000

Reading, reading and reading. The concept of library was the best thing ever could happen to us – and we are lucky to have one of a good size here in Aurora. The cold winter days do keep me more inside, so to fill some of my time (I usually don’t have) I read.

Hamilton Park, St. John's Sideroad on the Far Back, Aurora

For some interesting reason in the past couple of months books about the Civil War would always land in my hands – and I don’t resist. John Wilson better gear up and start writing more – I just finished reading ‘the flags of war‘. I shall look for more, yet I doubt, this may have been last from his collection of books.

After reading his books which are usually based on historic facts, the ‘personal‘ wars we often encounter among us just seems like nothing. In most books Wilson’s characters start with great enthusiasm to go and fight in the battlefield but when too much is too much, they all end up dreaming of the escape from the dreadful images of the war.

Hamilton Park, St. John's Sideroad on the Far Back, Aurora

Last night I was working late. Blogging wasn’t an option. But I did and I read some posts and blog comments. The frozen rain and the wind send chills over my spine. Feeling of joy being inside and appreciation for the warmth whereas some may not have the same did cross my mind.

In the wake of the day, one might wonder what weather is going to be today. It was icy on the roads in the early morning. But after eleven o’clock a five inch blanket of snow was there for us to enjoy. With not having lot of snow this year, this seems like a first snow of the season, but it is not, .

Today it was wet enough to make a snowman, and wet enough to break your back if you are not fit to lift the snow. We managed. We managed to have fun at the playground as well. Snow at the playground makes an interesting visit. Change a scenery and children will discover more things to do.

Hamilton Park, Playground, Aurora

What is the point here? Well, what ever you want to think – you are the observer and reader.

For me, just for the record – it was snowing today.

Sunday Break, Changing Seasons, Happy New Year 2012 Aurorans

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:00:43 +0000

Sunday photo showcase. All posts titled Sunday Break are photo(s) only and a quote. Posted photos may not be necessary the most current one and as always it is all about Town of Aurora. Enjoy!

Late Spring, Maple Syrup Shack at Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

Winter, Maple Syrup Shack at Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

‘We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.’ ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

White Breasted Nuthatch, Found At The Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:20:44 +0000

I saw this tiny White Breasted Nuthatch [Sitta carolinensis] for the first time many years ago, probably 5 years ago at the Roger’s Reservoir. The photo wasn’t the best as I was shooting across the river, but it made my birding list.

White-Breasted Nuthatch, Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

While wondering at the Sheppard’s Bush couple of days ago I spotted couple of them at the entrance flying from tree to tree and then diving for few seeds. The nuthatch photo success is thanks to someone who spread seeds at the both information booths at the entrance to the Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area.

There were chickadees and morning doves as well, but I already have complete photo collection of them. Chickadees were flying unusually fast and by the time I adjusted my camera I was taking pictures of seeds only. That was probably the squirrel effect.

The interesting part about the Nuthatch bird species was that they were actually climbing or bird walking on the side of the tree trunks, similar to the woodpeckers.

I am glad that I was able to get a very good close up photo this time. Small birds are so adorable.

Black Squirrels, Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area

Where there are seeds there will be squirrels. I know from experience having my own bird feeder on the back. The squirrels kept the birds away most of the time. Note on the photo how furry the squirrels are during the winter. They definitely need that kind of fur for cold winter days – and I could use some too.

Tree Mummies Found, Winter Ready Nokiidaa Trail Ready For Weather Moodswings

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:56:09 +0000

I always thought that the evergreen trees were designed to withstand harsh winter weather. Yet here we are protecting trees by wrapping them with burlap type of material. Now reading more about it it all makes sense. Even just heavy snow fall can damage tree branches by bending them too much. Wind burn is another factor that can injure these trees especially when they are a new transplants.

You can see these wrapped up tree mummies driving North on Yonge Street just pass St. John’s sideroad or Hadley Grange retirement center, East side.

They look like mummies, but I really should not call them that as the mummy refers to humans and animals and not plants.

Nokiidaa Trail Link, Boardwalk

Bleeding Red Maple Trees, The Cry After Winter

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:29:44 +0000

The annual tree pruning of roadside trees in our subdivision started mid January of this year. It was kind of unusual to see that it was done in the winter, but I am no expert to know how it will affect the trees in the future. Apparently the Parks Division in Town of Aurora has two fully trained and experienced municipal arborists on staff, responsible for 90% of our forestry operations, and I guess they will know the procedures.

Tree Trimming, Town of Aurora, January 2011

However, I did little research as always. No, I couldn’t really find anything unusual about trimming trees in the winter and especially trimming of the Red Maples – until I noticed this couple of months later.

Sap Bleeding Red Maple Tree, Town of Aurora, April 2011

Around mid March of this year I noticed water dripping from the trees. First I thought that it was water from the melting snow that accumulated between the tree trunks, just like melting glaciers on the mountains. No, it was the oozing maple sap. This bleeding process of the maples was carried over to almost mid April. It almost felt like being a part of the Maple Syrup festival, this is how much bleeding there was going on from all the cuts to the Red Maples.

Just Simple Explanation: What Happens In The Maple Tree?

‘Understanding how maple sap is formed requires some knowledge about tree physiology. In the later summer and fall, maple trees virtually stop growing and begin storing excess startches throughtout the sapwood, especially in cells called ray cells. This excess starch remains in storage as long as the wood remains colder than about 40 degrees F. Whenever wood temperatures reach around 40 degrees F, enzymes in the ray cells change to starches to sugars, largely sucrose. This sugar then passes into the tree sap. As the temperatures increase to about 45 degrees F, the enzymes top functioning and sugar is no longer produced. In March and April, the sugar changes back to starch – except during periods of flow. Rising tempeartures creates pressure inside trees, causing sap to flow. When a hole is bored into a tree, wood fibers that are water- (sap-) carrying vessels are severed, so sap drips out of the tree.’

Source: The University of Maine Cooperative Extension

According to more of my Internet research elm, maple, walnut and birch will bleed sap when pruned in the later winter to early spring. We don’t have to worry too much as we don’t park cars directly under the trees, but the sap can drip on cars and sidewalks. I also tried to find if the oozing sap is harmful to the trees, and some think that the bleeding sap can interfere with the closure of pruning cuts. What is the alternative then? Trim trees in the fall, but then fall is least desirable because cuts close more slowly than in any other seasons. Another source says to trim plants with a high sap flow in the late spring or early summer.

Sap Bleeding Red Maple Tree, Town of Aurora, March 2011

To conclude, no worries – tree trimming should be fine in the winter as I couldn’t find any warnings. Well, if it is not, I will let you know, as I will be watching my maple tree. I hope nothing happes, because it is now a very good size tree to provide shade for the grass and walkers.