Homeless in Vancouver: Early spring or is winter just taking a break?

It’s not even February but I’m seeing what look like signs of spring everywhere—from enthusiastic purple “flowering” Brassica oleracea, to real flowers blooming in gardens.

There’s a sudden abundance of bouncing baby squirrels in the back alleys and the tree branches are all budding. One tree in particular even shows early signs of growing  green figs!

Perhaps I’m jumping the gun and imagining things. Perhaps ornamental cabbage-slash-kale is always in “bloom”. Or perhaps it’s spring that’s jumping the gun.

Spring is certainly the impatient season here on the south coast of British Columbia, always nipping at the heels of winter. Always willing to start early if it’s given the chance.

And this year it looks like winter is more than happy to give ground. (After all the work it’s done east of the Rockies, I’m not surprised.)

But whether this means winter is done for the year, or just needs time to catch its breath before it wallops us with a frigid February, is anyone’s guess.

I just know that the early signs of new life are really helping to put fresh spring in my step.