Cool, wet weather mars B.C. spring
CBC News
Posted: May 26, 2011 9:15 PM PT
Last Updated: May 26, 2011 9:23 PM PT
B.C. is on track for one of the worst springs on record, but it's not just sun lovers who are suffering — many businesses are also taking a hit.
The weather has put the planting of this year's annuals on hold, says Chris Bauer, who owns a landscaping company in Vancouver.
"I'd say [we are] at least a month or so behind, so it's a bit crunch time right now," said Bauer. "I'm used having the stuff in late April and we're going on to June now and it's even a bit tricky getting them [planted] now, with all the moisture."
Thomas Hobbs, of Southlands Nursery, has seen a similar effect, with a 50-per-cent drop in sales.
"Cold, terrible, rainy endless dreary weather," said Hobbs of the April-May period. "Nobody was in the mood to plant anything."
It not only feels cooler than usual, it officially is, says CBC meteorologist Claire Martin.
"Including the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, we are the only major Canadian city that has yet to hit 20," said Martin.
So far in April and May, the mean high daily temperature has been 9.2 C, which is 3.5 C below normal, while total rainfall of 183.1 millimetres is 120 per cent above normal, Martin said.
Struggling bananas
At the VanDusen Botanical Garden, the bananas are struggling to fatten up and the number of visitors is down 15 percent, as administrators struggle to find a silver lining in all those clouds.
"Come and see things that you might have thought were bloomed out a month ago," said Garden Director Harry Jongerden. "But they are actually still looking good."
Places like Granville Island Market that offer sanctuary from the cold and wet are okay, but owners of bars and restaurants that count on patio business are praying for sun and heat.
Fishing charters head out into Georgia Strait rain or shine, but the rental boat business remains tied up at the dock.
"The rental-boat side of things has been heavily affected because its weather-sensitive," said Kevin Addie of Bonnie Lee Boat Charters.
Fair-weather golfers have stayed away at the University Golf Club at UBC has seen a 10-per-cent drop in green fees, which spills over into pro-shop and beverage sales.
With files from the CBC's Kirk WilliamsShare Tools
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