Fingers Crossed For More Sun

It's finally Spring.

Cherry blossoms are exploding on their branches everywhere in Vancouver right now and we appreciate their wonderful scent, particularly at night time. They pouf up into fluffy, rosy clouds and soon the petals will cover the sidewalks and pile up on top of cars left unattended for too long. So lovely.

Spring also means that walks and outdoor activities last a little longer everyday, as we try to soak up as much of the sun as possible (if, like us, you live in Vancouver, you can be seriously deprived of vitamin D by the time April comes around.)

Those sunny days often inspire a few hours of playing in the dirt, planting the first herbs and seeds of the season and watching teeny tiny sprouts pop up almost instantly.

Trips to the local nursery can make you feel like undertaking garden projects you may never have had the courage to take on before. This time of year has us wishing for a big yard where we could plant an orchard; apple trees, fig trees, pear trees, cherry trees.... the list goes on. One visit to the nursery and we are rethinking our careers and considering becoming farmers.

Can you believe these small twigs will turn into sturdy trees that produce hundreds of pears? Humm, pear and vanilla jam...

Spring time is always exciting, but this year particularly so. The most popular jam flavours are about to be produced in the next few months and we are getting ready. The sun is shining and an abundance of berries and stone fruit is coming our way-- strawberries, apricots, raspberries, blackberries and plums. First, we take on rhubarb though. We were so excited to see the first of the rhubarb this weekend at the Farmers Market and have become rhubarb's biggest cheerleaders. Let's keep our fingers crossed for more sun, we are antsy to harvest these stalks and are quite sure that you all could use a little colour (or freckles) on your skin too. Enjoy the nice weather and thank you for checking in on Sticky Spoon.