‘I was almost hoping it would snow after the flowers bloomed’

Some people greeted yesterday’s snow with a groan.

Sandy Melovic, 74, of Lockport wasn’t one of them.

A retired beautician and resident of Lockport since 1960, Melovic now wanders the neighborhoods photographing other people’s beauty.

Melovic really wanted to photograph spring flowers covered in snow and really wanted Lockport to have one last snowfall before the weather turned warm for good.

“I’ve seen them in magazines – the crocuses in the snow,” Melovic said. “I always thought I’d like to do that if I got the opportunity…I was almost hoping it would snow after the flowers bloomed because it just makes a fantastic picture.”

Melovic said she “waited until snow was on the ground” and then headed out around noon. She spent at least an hour outside, shooting pictures of scenes that caught her eye, she said.

She especially liked the tulips because, although Melovic gardens, she doesn’t grow tulips.

“I covered my other flowers last night just in case,” Melovic said. “But I don’t think it got that cold.”

Melovic said she later posted her photos on her personal Facebook page and a group dedicated to Lockport residents. Some people feel she should become a professional photographer, but now is not the time, Melovic said.

“I just want it to be fun,” she said.

Melovic said she started taking pictures when she was a child. Now she “goes all around Lockport” documenting the citty’s neighborhoods by shooting various themes, such as front porches or window boxes.

“It’s what I do for fun,” Melovic said. “It’s great exercise.”

Melovic said she and her husband Steve, who was born and raised in Lockport, walk at Dellwood Park nearly every day with Melovic taking pictures of flowers, squirrels and hawks.

She loves Lockport and can’t imagine living anyplace else.

“It’s just home,” Melovic said.

Melovic said she’s like to create a college of flags because she likes the way flags “fall in the wind or not in the wind.”

“So that’s my next thing,” she said.