I love Spring and I love Spring in Vancouver because it lasts so long here. back east it starts late and it quickly goes into summer. Here you start to see new growth as early as January and now in late March while Eastern Canada got yet another snowfall, tulips are blooming here.
Each day I wonder what is coming up new in my garden. And I am currently learning about all the different types of ornamental cherry trees and trying to make it as an official cherry blossom spotter. There are 54 types of trees in Vancouver! We even have an official cherry blossom festival!
I spent an amazing three weeks cruising from Brazil to Miami but part of me was wondering what spring flowers I might be missing. And as I was working in my garden a couple of days ago I was thinking that I kind of did miss the full array of my crocuses as they were just beginning blooming when I left in February.
But of course it is wonderful to get away to exotic places and have longer days and real warmth from the sun so no regrets but I was thrilled to see my daffodils blooming on my return. To read more about this trip and other adventures just go to my travel blog.
One of my favourite things to do here is early morning walks. I have favourite spots but sometimes I go to other places as well, but each week I generally walk Kits Beach area, Spanish Banks, and Queen Elizabeth Park. And their are also shorter walks in my immediate Douglas Park-South Cambie-Main Street neighbourhoods. And Queen Elizabeth Park is actually just a walk up the hill. Other favourites are Stanley Park, Steveston, and downtown. And I could keep going about neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland that seem to feed my soul. You can always check out my walks in My Beautiful Vancouver blog.
I moan and groan about planting bulbs and I do plant new ones every fall because as I look at my garden in spring I think about where I need more colour etc. and I am so,delighted that I planted what I did, it inspires me for the coming fall. Some bulbs only last so long while others spread madly. This year I really love the snap of colour these red small early tulips gave my front garden.
But you have to know I am rather random in my planting, planting what I look the looks of on the package!!!
Spring is also a season of fresh starts and on our days at sea I was able to take water colour painting lessons. I had doubled a bit in water colours quite awhile ago due to a couple of artistic friends, who sadly died too young, but thanks to a great instructor that interest was reignited.
So I am going to definitely take some lessons.
This week, after five weeks away due to my trip and the two week spring break, I was back volunteering with the grade ones and tutoring my next door neighbour also in first grade. It was great to be back and see all their learning taking place. And that actually could be a subject for a whole other blog, but no one should ever underestimate the value of the work of teachers. To be a teacher is to have the awareness that you never master the art but are constantly having to learn.
This is Holly the cat greeting her friend whose reward for reading aloud three books was getting to help me garden!
Cam helped me with my pruning of my hydrangeas so new flowers will bloom!
