By Holly Rowland

Something about January, in February ? Yes siree , and I’ll even quote a few lines from a piece of poetry sent to me via e-mail, but sans name of author:

“I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore. But isn’t that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot Happy New Year to all And to all a good diet!”

No wonder so many of us wish that January would just vanish, excepting those who celebrate a birthday shy of their sixty fifth. Rain, wind, grey damp days cloaked us with misery, but help is on the way. Sometimes a bright sunny day will surprise us all, and each day is getting a tiny bit longer. James Bayites, just look around you and notice the rhododendrons and camellias in fat bud. Look down and see the bulbs shooting up all over the place. Grey, rainy days? So what….Spring is well on its way and we are more than ready for it.

Gardening is a much loved pursuit in Victoria and most people garden when the weather is agreeable, but just think of the gardeners in Beacon Hill Park who are out in all weathers working to make our Park beautiful. Do you ever wonder who these people are? The Supervisor of Horticulture is Bernard Hopcraft and his assistant is Paul LeComte. Margaret Marsden does the west section, Brian Turner does the centre section, and Mike Ball handles the north. Others are involved, of course, but they are the consistent crew in the park Cory Manton is the Tree Preservation Officer, and Fred Hook is the Parks Environmental Technician. He is an invaluable source of information for me for which I am most grateful. So now you know the names of the people who make Beacon Hill Park a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

I miss the Herons and every time I gazed out my window at the almost black naked trees across the road, and looked at their huge, empty nests, I wished that they were returning once again this year. But sometimes miracles do happen! I miss the Canada Geese “fly past’ and heard a single “honk” a few weeks ago. That was it. Dianna Jasinski and her Belgian shepherd dogs, Tizer and Pearl, chased those pesky geese away in a hurry. Should the geese return you will no doubt see Dianna and her dogs working the trails of Beacon Hill Park, it would be wonderful to watch them in action.

On our dismal, dark days, I wonder how James Bayites can keep on smiling and helping one another. Perhaps it’s because they eat out at one of our local restaurants or shop in one of our local stores … where the staff spread their cheer around their customers and chase their blues away. How on earth can these hard working souls do this day after day? Maybe it’s because so many James Bayites have served their time “behind the counter” at some time of their lives and share an invisible bond with staff wherever they may be. A smile doesn’t cost a single cent, and once issued usually enjoys a quick return. Perhaps that is the currency most frequently used by most everyone in James Bay every minute of every day. Happy New Year!