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Esquimalt mayor determined to win Flower Count

Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins is rallying the community for the upcoming Flower Count
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Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins stands in front of cherry blossom trees outside the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.

The Victoria Flower Count is a chance for Greater Victoria to count its blossoms and show off its early spring weather to the rest of the country. But it is also a friendly competition between the municipalities to see who can count the most flowers.

This year, Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins is taking the competition to the next level.

“I don't think we have [won before], which is why I wanted to get a huge effort out this year,” she said.

I heard [Colwood Mayor] Carol Hamilton was bragging that Colwood won last year, and she told me the secret of how she did it.”

That secret, said Desjardins, is getting the schools involved.

Coun. Meagan Brame has contacted all of the schools in Esquimalt, and so far she has heard back from Rockheights Middle School.

“They're totally excited about being a part of the Flower Count,” said Brame. “The more we engage our children and youth in the community, the more they feel attached to it and take pride in it.”

Desjardins said she is confident Esquimalt can count more blossoms than the other municipalities this year.

“We've been putting it out on Facebook and I've been rallying the troops,” she said, adding she has also gotten the Esquimalt Garden Club and the Township Community Arts Council involved. “We have pockets of areas of Esquimalt that are so far ahead in terms of blossoms and flowers, and I think if we made that concerted effort to go and count these blossoms, that we could win hands down.”

The Victoria Flower Count runs from March 5 to 11.

For more information, please go online to flowercount.com.