During my walks the last couple of weeks the forest has really started to change. Lush, bright green leaves everywhere from ground covers to shrubs, and those glorious spring flowers in the forest.
Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is one of the earliest shrubs to leaf out and produce little clusters of white flowers which have a herbal scent to them, a little like sweet woodruff. The fruit ripens into blueish red little plums with big stones and little flesh but a attracts birds.
The little buds and leaves of the red huckleberries (Vaccinium parvifolium) are next:
Followed by the leaves of the common snow berries (Symphoricarpos Albus) are next. Their berries persist through the winter and is a great food source for birds but are poisonous for humans.
The stunning blossoms of the salmonberry (Ruby’s spectabilis) and the first leaves of our native red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa).
These last weeks have all been about spring, everywhere really. From all the blossoming trees in town, the many different kind of daffodils, flowering rhododendron in January, and spring flowers have been out in Victoria for 6 weeks!
Also the vegetable garden shows an amazing boost of renewed energy and growth! From an amazing crop of overwintering kale to cabbage buds, juicy carrots and the first fresh herbs taking off.
Soon it will be time for planting outside and lots of seeds can already be directly planted outside in Coastal BC: arugula, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, mustard, calendula, borage, radish, lettuce and more.
Very excited to start my new endeavour at the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture where I am part of the “I grew this Feast” course which will cover all aspects of growing food!
And happy Easter everyone!
