It's the "season" on the Gulf Islands...enjoy! Short & sweet!

The Salt Spring "season" is truly with us...it's short & intense: May to early October, with the busiest months being July, August, September.

May offers Victoria Day Holiday Weekend, and showcases the Round Salt Spring Sailing Race that weekend. I always think it's the shakedown race for the skippers & crews, for the following weekend's Swiftsure Race in Victoria, held annually on the U.S. Memorial Day Weekend.

It's been such a cool & storm swept La Nina weather pattern this Winter & early Spring...we're all ready for this weekend's promised warming temperatures & sunshine!

Enjoy those patio spaces & decks for lunch, coffee, dinner: Harbour House Hotel, Moby's, Auntie Pesto's, Seaside Kitchen, Rock Salt Cafe, Fernwood Cafe, Cafe Talia, Treehouse Cafe, Salt Spring Inn, Penny's Pantry, Barb's Bakery, TJ Beans...wow...are we ever lucky!

Check out the ArtSpring offerings, the Music & Munch series, the special programs by talented musicians, the choral presentations...an Island with a rhythm!

Live music venues & accomplished musicians...at Treehouse Cafe, at Harbour House Hotel, at Raven Street Cafe, at Salt Spring Inn, at Moby's...something to resonate with everyone!

Art to feed the soul, & on display at: Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art, Steffich Fine Art Gallery, Gallery 8, plus displays showcased at: Barb's Bakery, Cafe Talia, Salt Spring Roasting Company, TJ Beans, ArtSpring's lobby gallery.

Gift galleries & unique items: Old Salty Shop, Fever Tree, Frankly Scarlet, Houseboat, Twang & Pearl, Salt Spring Mercantile, Stuff n Nonsense, Mouat's Clothing....

Artists studios...pick up the 2012 Studio Tour map at the tourist info centre & go adventuring!

Support the upcoming Velo Village weekend in late June...be a volunteer!

Hike Mt Maxwell, picnic at Ruckle Park, kayak to Chocolate Beach, stroll the rural allure of Burgoyne Bay Park, beachcomb at Fernwood, volunteer to crew at the Sailing Club, have fun at Drummond Children's Park...get out & about.

So many things to see & to do & to enjoy...all the while remembering Voltaire's summation: il faut cultiver son jardin.

Yes, pay attention to one's garden!

Enjoy the season! And this weekend? If it's sunny, after work, the dog & I are at the beach!

Ahhh...breathe....