My visit to the Trumpeter Swan Gardens during Doors Open Aurora was my last, favourite, and most entertaining one. Despite the heat, I was thrilled to visit the gardens created by Harry Lumsden for the second time this year.
I had called Mr. Lumsden back in May, and he allowed me to photograph the Trumpeter Swans at his pond. During the event, the gardens were open to the public, so I knew my pictures would be more interesting than just swans.
When I arrived, volunteers greeted me and directed me to go behind the house first, then to walk to the north side of the property. As I walked, I passed by a couple of ladies with a child in a stroller. One of them glanced at me and said to the other, “You better get your camera out, maybe we’ll see some birds.” I couldn’t help but smile and replied, “Well, you’re definitely going to see swans.” We all laughed together.
During my most recent visit, I was struck by how lush and vibrant the gardens had become. The first thing that caught my eye was a massive Scottish Thistle standing nearly two meters tall. While thistles are typically considered weeds, in Mr. Lumsden’s garden, this one was clearly a prized feature.
After spotting the giant thistle, things started looking up. I snapped a few nice pictures of the crowd with Mr. Lumsden. It wasn’t until later that I realized I had actually taken pictures of someone I knew.
As I glanced to the side, I noticed someone snapping photos of either the thistle or the group of people with Mr. Lumsden. He seemed familiar. It turned out to be Matt Maddocks with his new camera. Matt and Deb were also at Trumpeter Swan Gardens that day. Being in a larger group always makes for a more enjoyable experience. Thanks to Deb, the conversation with Mr. Lumsden became much more interesting and entertaining.
I remember the days when I didn’t know Matt and how I used to read his interesting Letters to the Editor in The Auroran, a local newspaper. This year, Matt has taken an extra step and now has a regular column called Point of Privilege on my Living in Aurora community FOCUS blog.
Matt gathered a lot of fascinating information during his Doors Open Aurora experience and wrote a very intriguing and profound essay. If you’re curious, you can read it for yourself: “Doors Open Aurora – Swans and Freedom Fighters.”
Mr. Lumsden’s 6-acre property is quite the adventure. Before meeting up with Matt and Deb again, I took a solo stroll around the pond, surrounded by the shade of trees. Despite the time nearing four o’clock, visitors just kept pouring in.
One amusing incident involved four or five visitors, a mix of adults and youth, arriving together. I overheard one of the girls expressing fear of the birds. How can someone be scared of birds? Well, I asked too soon though, because I’m scared of Canada geese, and I used to be scared of domestic geese and roosters. So who am I to judge?
At one point, a lady reassured the scared girl by saying, “Don’t worry, dear, you won’t find any birds here.” I couldn’t resist chiming in, “But you will find swans just over there.” Everyone turned to see the swans, and laughter filled the air.
Since swans aren’t a common sight like other small birds, many people view them as something special. But what exactly that “something special” is remains a mystery.
Later on, I experienced a small disappointment. When I first visited, Harry Lumsden had mentioned that there were six swan eggs in the nest. I arrived at the pond with the expectation of seeing all six of them.
I was surprised to see only one cygnet. When I asked about the discrepancy, Harry corrected me and informed me that there were actually seven eggs. He explained that they didn’t hatch properly because the female swan was disturbed by the male swan constantly leaving the nest. Out of the seven eggs, only two survived, but unfortunately, one of them was eaten by a turtle.
The unfortunate event indeed. I couldn’t help but wonder whether human interference was not the only factor in the decline of the swan population. While it’s easy to point to human actions as a cause, there are so many other natural factors at play that can contribute to the survival—or lack thereof—of wildlife. Predators like turtles, changes in the environment, or even the natural behaviour of the swans themselves can all play a part. It’s a reminder that the balance of nature is fragile, and it’s not always clear-cut where responsibility lies. Still, it’s a sobering thought that human influence often plays a role in ways we may not fully understand or intend.
Thanks to Deb, we now know why this Trumpeter Swan has red feet (photo below). Harry Lumsden provided a detailed explanation, but all you really need to know is that it’s due to a recessive gene. Surprisingly, only three swans in Ontario—or possibly all of Canada—have been reported to have red feet, and one of them is right here in Aurora, Ontario, at Mr. Lumsden’s Swan Garden.
And that wraps up my adventures during Doors Open Aurora. Hopefully, next year there won’t be any birthday or wedding parties scheduled for that day. Fingers crossed!
Fun fact: “The Scottish Thistle is the oldest recorded ‘National Flower’ and is probably one of the most well-known, and easily recognized symbols of Scotland. A humble weed might seem an odd symbolic choice, but really, what could be better than a native-born plant which is as bold as it is beautiful?” Source: The Scottish Thistle – Beautifully Bold!
