Spring in our step

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This article was published 11/04/2023 (923 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When a customer excitedly asked for directions to the tree department, Shelmerdine Garden Centre owner Nicole Bent knew spring had truly sprung.

“I kind of had to gently remind him that there was still snow on the ground,” Bent said, laughing about the exchange on the long weekend.

Despite snow remaining on the ground Tuesday, many people shed their winter coats when the temperature hit 13 C in the afternoon.

Bent knows gardeners are eager to get going as the temperature warms up, and are especially keen as the snow melts and their flower beds appear.

During our coldest, shortest days, Shelmerdine staff noticed people would pop into the greenhouse just to be around greenery for a while.

“We actually set up a little games table throughout the greenhouse where people can come and just play some board games just to prolong their stay and their experience,” Bent said.

Those days are finally over, and Bent says “gardening fever” has kicked in. She expects interest will ramp up this week since people start to plan their gardens as the temps rise.

She points out Shelmerdine won’t have bedding plants for a few weeks, and the season won’t kick in to high gear until the May long weekend.

“Manitobans are very eager to start gardening, but nature has her own pace, obviously. So even though we got this blast of warm weather, really, the planting season does not change, the timing doesn’t change,” she said.

Although the warm break will continue Wednesday, when the high is forecast to reach 16 C, the mercury will cool down for the rest of the week, and rain — or worse — is expected on the weekend.

After a Colorado low dropped snow on Manitoba last week, an area of high pressure followed it, bringing clear skies and warm weather. The ridge will move on, and another Colorado low will form behind it, explained Environment Canada meteorologist Janelle Gergely.

“There’s still a lot of uncertainty in it, whether it’s going to be bringing rain, or snow, or freezing rain,” she said.

The average daytime high at this time of year is 9 C. Manitoba is expected to be around that mark after the weekend cool-down.

“The cold air to the north isn’t very far away, but that warm air to the south is also very close. So it’s pretty typical to get these really big swings specifically at this time of year,” Gergely said.

Big swings were had by all at Shooters Family Golf Centre Tuesday morning. Owners Guido and Sue Cerasani had opened their outdoor driving ranges for the season one day earlier.

“We were up at 5 a.m. just getting ready, and here we go,” Shooters event co-ordinator Amy Cerasani said. “It’s Mother Nature, right? You’ve got to capitalize on what you can.”

About a dozen people were waiting to hit a few by 10 a.m.

While it was “devastating” to the family business when the snow fell this month, and the upcoming rain isn’t great news, they’ve been open 30 years, Cerasani said. They’re used to whatever the weather brings, as are hardcore golfers.

“Golfers are a different breed, like the hard-cores,” she said. “If it’s 8 C and sunny out, they’ll be out, they’ll come with their tuques on, they don’t care. They’re just happy to be outside.”

Should the temperature hit 16 C Wednesday, they’ll likely put out picnic tables so people can grab a burger and a beer. Full patio season is still a few weeks away.

The capacity at Bonnie Day, a Wolseley eatery, doubles when patio season arrives, so when co-owner Brian Johnson sees the sun out, he gets excited.

“It’s great. It’s such a nice time of year, especially when the yuckiness goes away, and when things clean up. For us, it’s just a super busy time, and it’s just a fun atmosphere,” he said.

Last year, they opened the patio on the May long weekend. They expect it might be around the same time this year. Until then, however, his business is at the mercy of the weather.

“Because we’re in right in the heart of Wolseley, we’re so walkable. Just last Wednesday, we had that bit of a snowstorm, the cancellations on reservations and no walk-ups… This week, we’ll probably have a lot of people walking up,” he said.

Blocks away at Omand Park, snow is still on much of the ground, but the trail is clear and filled with dog-walkers, joggers, and cyclists, including five-year-old Amelia, who is on her first tricycle ride of the year.

“I’m so tired!” she exclaimed, and her grandparents, Kevin McElgunn and Lisa Kochie laughed.

“This was a surprise today. We weren’t sure we were gonna do this today, but I pulled it out and puffed up the tires,” McElgunn said.

“I kind of hibernate all winter, so it’s so nice, getting out today,” Kochie said.

Further down the trail, Jackie Ross used her lunch break, in between teaching first- and second-graders at nearby Wolseley School, to go for a walk.

“I took my students outside for early recess, that’s a sure sign of spring. We’ve got lots of sunlight pouring into our classroom, we’re growing plants … But I will tell you that we’ve had many kids with (boots full) of water and falling in the muck and things like that, which is another sign of spring,” she said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca