As we turn the corner from winter into spring, people who are living in Victoria breathe a sigh of contentment. Daffodils nod their cheery heads in gardens from North Saanich to Sooke, and birdsong fills the air. We nod and agree with each other, “Not much of a winter, eh?” And that’s the way we like it! One of the biggest reasons that people move to Victoria is to enjoy the mildest climate in Canada. Gardeners everywhere can hardly contain themselves; it’s time to get planting! Early vegetables and flowers can go in the ground now and it’s time to clear away the winter debris. When the daffodils bloom, it’s safe to prune your rosebushes and it’s a great time to transplant new trees, shrubs and perennials. While most of the country gnashes its teeth and waits for the snow to melt, we are outside playing sports, biking and hiking, or just enjoying the fresh, soft air of spring. These mild temperatures will remain for months, slowly climbing as the spring progresses into summer and then…it’s still nice and mild. Our Coastal location delivers comfortably warm summer temperatures that rarely surpass 30 degrees celsius. In fact, it remains uncommon for Victorians to invest in air conditioning; there are so few days in the summer when it’s needed. When August ends, our long autumn begins, and like spring, fall lasts for months, bringing glorious (although shortening) days that invite us outdoors. When (and some years, if) winter comes, it’s mercifully short, and before you know it, it’s spring again! It’s often said that the climate here gives us a couple weeks each of winter and summer, and the rest of the year is either spring or fall. Victoria BC has the mildest climate in Canada!