It may not feel like Spring is around the corner for all parts of Vancouver Island, but the annual reminder to the rest of the country that we’ve moved on from the winter gloom, and are now focused on garden blooms is about to begin.
Starting on March 8, people around the region are asked to count the flowers they see and submit it to the Flower Count website.
The website also has a guide for estimating the number of flowers you see.
We’ve been counting flowers in this region since 1974, which is when the city, along with tourism leaders thought showing off our flowers was a great way to lure Canadians in from other snow-covered parts of the country.
“So this is a chance for us to stop, and literally smell the flowers, and celebrate the fact that we live in Canada’s most favourable climate despite whatever change may be in play at certain times,” said Bruce Williams, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
Last year Colwood took home the title as the bloomingest community with nearly 10 billion blossoms counted.
READ MORE: Colwood regains ‘bloomingest community’ title in 2022 flower count
“Well I think it’s important for us to spread the message and get everybody on board, and you know there’s some pretty boulevards during my trip down here today, driving through Langford and View Royal, you see all the flowers they got going,” said Colwood Coun. Dave Grove.
“And every year there’s more so I think it behooves everybody to just dive in and report, we might have some good competition.”
The flower count officially starts on Wednesday. There are prizes for schools that take part, as well as incentives for snapping photos through Instagram. Last year the South Island added up nearly 28 billion blossoms.
Laura Brougham
