It’s that time of the year to join in the annual week-long Greater Victoria Flower Count, a lighthearted reminder to the rest of Canada that spring is just around the corner, going on until Mar. 13.
You can help count the billions of spring blooms on trees on streets and in parks in the region.
The regional promotion, in its 44th year, is sponsored by Butchart Gardens and Destination Greater Victoria. It is a reminder to our eastern cousins (and international visitors) that we have the mildest climate in all of Canada. It is warm enough to see blooming daffodils, crocuses, ornamental cherries, camellias and other plants while the rest of the country is still in the grip of winter.
“Destination Greater Victoria is proud to sponsor and help organize the Greater Victoria Flower Count,” said Paul Nursey, president and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria.
“This is a fun, long-standing tradition that engages residents of all ages. It is also a great opportunity to showcase our destination at time when other regions of the country are perhaps less desirable to visit.”
Last year, residents and students, armed with pads, cameras and cellphones, captured almost 3.5 billion blooms in one week.
Colwood was crowned the most blooming community for a record five years in a row, recording more than two billion blooms.
École John Stubbs Memorial School in Colwood was the winning school last year. Enthusiastic students enlisted the help of family and friends to count the blossoms in their neighbourhood as well as the gardens and grounds of Royal Roads University.
All told, schools accounted for almost half the flowers counted, with youngsters active on social media to help get the word out.
Along with community pride, the flower count promotes Victoria as an attractive shoulder-season travel destination. It reminds potential visitors that they could be out and about, enjoying outdoor activities in Victoria, instead of shovelling snow.
Anyone can join in. Here are the guidelines to help estimate the number of flowers:
A small heather bush equals 500 blossoms, a medium heather bush equals 1,000 blossoms, a large heather bush equals 2,000 blossoms, a small tree full of blooms equals 250,000 blossoms, a medium tree full of blooms equals 500,000 blossoms, a large tree full of blooms equals 750,000 blossoms.
You can download a quick tally sheet to keep track of the blooms you see.
Remember to use the official hashtag, #FlowerCount (and #exploreVictoria where possible), in the description of photos in posts and tweets.
You can also go to facebook.com/FlowerCount, or @FlowerCount on Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, go to flowercount.com.
Moss and mountain are CRD Parks highlights
Stoop down to closely examine moss or lace up for a vigorous hike up a mountain as the CRD Parks programs gear up for the arrival of spring.
• Discover the often overlooked world of mosses and lichens at Magnificent Mosses, a guided walk suitable for children five and older at Francis / King Regional Park in Saanich on Saturday.
Take a walk into the forest with a CRD Parks naturalist to delve into the wonderful world of mosses and what makes them so magnificent.
The program is free. It runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Francis / King Regional Park. Meet at the Nature Centre off Munn Road.
• Give your legs a vigorous workout at the Mount Work Out, a guided adult hike at Mount Work Regional Park in Highlands on Sunday.
Participants 18 and older are invited to join a CRD Parks naturalist on a robust hike from the marshy lowlands to the rugged rocky outcrop at the top.
The event is free but pre-registration is required. To register, go to crd.bc.ca/parks-events.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (remember Daylight Saving time)
Please wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather as programs take place rain or shine.
Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Please leave pets at home. For more details, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
Classical music lovers are spoiled for choice
Music lovers will be hard pressed to choose between a concert by the University of Victoria Chorus and Orchestra or Listen: A Concert of Dance Classics with the Civic Orchestra of Victoria on Saturday.
The UVic Chorus and Orchestra performs Debussy’s Printemps, Chichester Psalms by Bernstein, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 48, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Op. 80, with pianist Arthur Rowe.
Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors and $10 students and UVic alumni.
The concert runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium at the University of Victoria. Tickets are available at tickets.uvic.ca.
Listen: A Concert of Dance Classics with the Civic Orchestra will play an afternoon of classics, including Dvorák’s Slavonic Dances, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Grieg’s Symphonic Dances.
The orchestra will be under the direction of guest conductor Yariv Aloni for an afternoon of impassioned dance music.
Tickets are $22 general, $18 seniors and $10 students. The concert runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Dave Dunnet Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Whiskey fuels Sunday hooley
Enjoy a sampling of select Irish whiskeys and kick up your heels and do a little jig to traditional Irish music at the Irish Whiskey Hooley, Sunday at the Yates Street Taphouse, 759 Yates St.
This is the second year of the event, hosted by the Victoria Festival Society.
Enjoy dram samples of Irish whiskey, sign up for Whiskey School and feast on Irish tapas.
Live entertainment will be provided by Cookeilidh Celtic Music and magician The King of Magic.
More than just a tasting, the event is meant to be a party, with prizes for best costume. Be sure to wear your #LeprechaunBest. Create memories at a selfie station and post it on social media with the #WhiskeyPic hashtag.
For an extra $35, you can enrol in either the Top Shelf or Glendalough Glenfiddich Whiskey schools. There will be two classes per seating, with a maximum 45 students per class.
Designated drivers receive free pop throughout the event.
Tickets are $55 (limited to 200). There are two seatings. The first runs from 1 to 3 p.m., the second takes place from 4 to 6 p.m.
Tickets at available on Eventbrite.
Films focus on women
Eight international short films about women, by women and for women are being shown at Lunafest, Saturday at the Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St.
The film festival is hosted by the Zonta Club of Victoria, a service organization devoted to the empowerment of women.
Along with sharing women’s stories, the festival champions women in film by providing a level playing field for female filmmakers.
This year’s lineup includes eight films from both award-winning and emerging directors.
The minimum age for attendance is 19. The content is appropriate for 13-year-olds and up, but the films are unrated and the venue is licensed.
Membership of the Vic Theatre is required to view the films — an annual membership costs $2 at the door.
Admission to the event is $18, available on Eventbrite. The first film will be screened at 7 p.m.
More information can be found here.
Fashion show helps Africans
Capture the glamour of a bygone era at the Victorian Vogue Fashion Show, Saturday at Cordova Bay United Church, 813 Claremont Ave.
The show, a fundraiser for the For the Love of Africa Society, features authentic reproductions of beautiful fashions from the 1800s.
All proceeds will go to support the society’s programs helping children and youth in the East Africa country Tanzania.
Admission is $25. The show runs from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Be sure to allow time to park and get inside because seating is open. Tickets are available at Seaberry Gardens, Mattick’s Farm or online at fortheloveofafrica.ca.
