Don’t despair! There really are sure signs of spring around town!

By David F. Rooney

Looking out my apartment window at the snow that fills my neighbours’ yards and the heavy cloud cover socking in Mount Revelstoke it’s easy to believe that spring will never arrive.

But believe it or not there are sure signs of spring around town. You just have to know where to look.

Krista Carnegie has been looking for those signs, too, and recently posted an announcement on her Facebook page that spring must be near because she saw Purolator’s Chris Swayze wearing shorts. That may well be, but it’s not as sure as some other signs. After all, Dale Morehouse habitually wears shorts and holey shoes all winter — every winter. And we have seen small children out on in-line skates and bikes in their shirtsleeves, but kids and teens will often wear next to nothing in cold weather so can that truly be a sign of spring?

Current contributor Laura Stovel and I went searching for real signs of spring this weekend and came up with the following images we think everyone will agree are absolutely true harbingers of warmer weather. Take heart and enjoy!

These crocuses in Janet Pearson's yard are sure sign that spring really is just around the corner — despite what you might think with all the snow out there. David F. Rooney photo
These irises by the Powder Springs Inn aren't yet ready to bloom, but by God they're sure trying hard. David F. Rooney photo
And here's another sign that spring is on its way: the ice is breaking up on the Illecillewaet River. David F. Rooney photo
One ambitious resident, obviously weary of looking at a backyard full of snow, cleared it completely. David F. Rooney photo
So what did he, or she, do with it all? Why all of it was trucked out and across the street where it was dumped along the river bank. Any day now I expect we'll see people shovelling off their front lawns, too. David F. Rooney photo
This tree on Simpson Street is getting ready to send forth its leaves. Oh, won't that be something to see! David F. Rooney photo
Those crocuses of Janet Pearson's weren't the only ones struggling to inject some colour into the winter monotone. These are at a home at the corner of Third and Pearson. Laura Stovel photo
And aren't these cheery? Soon enough we'll all be seeing more bursts of colour like this. Laura Stovel photo
These are, the photographer thinks, daffodils getting ready to bloom. Laura Stovel photo
These, too, may be daffodils but they're still not quite ready to show their sunny faces. Laura Stovel photo