A Different Kind of Spring

Spring has always been a favorite season of mine, as life bursts forth after the hibernation of winter. Victoria offers such a different world of spring, compared to my experience elsewhere in Canada. 

The city has had blooms all winter long. We arrived in October; over the winter, there was never a month when there were not flowers - from winter heathers, to calendula flowers which grow in wild profusion along sidewalks, to many other species I cannot name.

Heathers, February

Grass is not only green through the winter, but actually grows then! I heard the sound of lawnmowers in January. 

So spring is more an evolution of seasons, rather than a distinct separation from winter. Victoria residents I have spoken to about their weather appreciate its bountiful ability to grow, and its temperate nature. I had wondered if people would become blasé about it and take the lack of bitter cold for granted. However, I see gratitude and appreciation for the unique climate. 

Victoria has a nickname as "City of Gardens", or the "Garden City". An annual flower count is held every spring; this year it was from March 4th to 11th. This self-described "light-hearted"  promotional event has been held for 44 years. Residents report the number of blossoms in their yards, and the count is tallied up to see which municipality of Greater Victoria has the most. This year Saanich was the winner. Apparently over 45 billion blooms were counted across Victoria. While I can envisage that it would be easy to count daffodils in a garden, I don't know how the number of blossoms on a cherry tree could possibly be counted.

The  wonderful challenge of counting blossoms.... These trees are on Menzies Street.

Because it is within easy walking distance from home, Beacon Hill Park is a frequent - and favorite - destination. The park has a diversity of sections and landscapes, and I constantly find something new to intrigue me.

I appreciate the efforts of those in the past who have worked to protect the park's Garry oak meadows, and to keep it from becoming commercialized. I have learned a little of its story from the work of Janis Ringuette, the "unofficial" historian of the Park, who has spent hours combing records to document its history. (https://beaconhillparkhistory.org/)

Beacon Hill Park is considered Victoria's "flagship" park, and so receives much attention from the City gardeners. In the areas of manicured gardens, great thought appears to have been given to the landscape design, with layers of texture, and conscious use of colour in selection of flowers and shrubs. 

Here are a few images from the last week or so. Some of the scenes in the park evoke a tranquility which speak to park design concepts from another time and place. I have not been able to find any online documentation for a park planning vision for the park, yet I am sure something must exist. These kinds of images cannot be random!

And the blossoms! Lush, luxuriant flowering shrubs with amazing, tropical colours of spring,

And finally, the areas of the Park where native plants are protected, and efforts underway to restore more of the Garry oak meadows. There are two kinds of Camas - Common and Greater. My identification skills are only evolving, so I am not able to distinguish them in the photos which follow.

Camas and an unknown flower, Beacon Hill Park, April 9 2020

Fawn lily, Beacon Hill Park, April 9 2020

Camas, Beacon Hill Park, April 9 2020

Camas - April 9 2020, Beacon Hill Park

Yesterday some friends introduced us to the moss-shrouded forests and trails of Thetis Lake park. I was tantalized, and know I will be back. Shooting stars provided a hint of spring:

Shooting star, Thetis Lake, April 24 2020

Signing off, in awe!

Sarah