If I had all the time in the world, I’d spend countless hours in the enchanting Merlin’s Hollow garden – during the bloom season. This time, I made sure not to miss the June visit. The garden was as stunning as ever—perhaps even more so than before. With each visit, I find myself appreciating its beauty more, as if my eyes have become more attuned to its wonders.

I have to say, the garden is quickly becoming a popular spot for photographers to gather.

It’s been a year since I met another photographer from Aurora right here at Merlin’s Hollow. I had actually seen James’ work on his Flickr page before we met – james lj’s photostream. His nature and wildlife photography from Aurora is truly amazing—you have to check out his stunning, surreal photo gallery.

I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I can’t help feeling a little jealous when I see James’ photos. No matter how much I try to boost my own confidence, his work always blows me away. It’s so clear, artistic, and full of life.

Let me tell you what happened next when I arrived. As I started taking photos, Dierdre Tomlinson recognized me. She came over and said, “I was just looking at your photos yesterday.” It was so kind of her to remember me. It seems the power of thought worked, since I showed up the next day. I think I’ll do the same and share some 2012 garden photos with her.

Dierdre is the kind of person who remembers all her visitors—or at least those she talks to. If I keep getting welcomes like this, I may never leave Aurora (not that I’m planning to).

This garden boasts over a thousand different species, making it a favourite spot for photographers like us. With so many options to capture, we could easily spend hours snapping away without ever getting bored. Plus, the flowers are grouped in small clusters, making it a breeze to focus on one bloom at a time.

As I mentioned earlier, Merlin’s Hollow garden is a popular spot for photographers. It’s not uncommon to see people with fancy DSLR cameras, zoom lenses, and tripods. I don’t usually bring a tripod, but I did spot one lady who did. Luckily, there wasn’t any wind that day, and although it had rained the night before, it actually worked out well for me.

“This is my favourite flower,” Matthew said as he pointed to the one below, and I can see why. The contrast of the yellow and purple creates a stunning effect. When I edited the photo, I noticed the purple beaded hairs dancing around the filaments.

I won’t be sharing all the photos here, but since I managed to capture some really cool shots of insects and snails, I’ll be showing them off next. It’s amazing how many different insect species there are in Merlin’s Hollow—probably just as many as there are flowers! These little critters can be tiny, some as small as a period on this page. While some are hiding away, many of them were out and about, enjoying the beautiful colours and, of course, the nectar.

Right before I left, James quickly introduced me to Peter, a talented photographer with an aurora_photog Flickr blog. I must admit, Peter’s daily photo posts sometimes give away clues, and the next day, I find myself trailing the same path.

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

COMMENTS

James said: June 16, 2012 at 20:58

“You really nailed these, Anna. They’re all wonderful! Beautiful details and great moods in these. Thanks for the mention again. James”