In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty. Phil Ochs

We live in challenging times. Most of us can’t spend time with family, some of us can’t even go out, many are struggling financially. It’s tough. Much of our “normal” life has been stripped away due to the pandemic. Vaccines are coming but it is still likely to be a long time before there is again any semblance of normal.

And anyway, for many of us it’s the dead of winter. In Vancouver we have it easy compared to the rest of Canada. It’s “only” 1C/real feel 0C with snow flurries today. Everywhere else is in the grip of an Arctic front with temperatures as low as -41C. Brrrrr

So I thought I’d spread a little cheer with the bright effortless beauty of flowers. Just a little reminder that spring, and then summer, will come again. All photos were taken in Vancouver over the past couple of years and are new to the blog. Enjoy.





In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends. Kozuko Okakura





If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. Buddha





Flowers are like friends, they bring colour to your world. Unknown





The earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson





Flowers are the music of the ground,
From earth’s lips spoken without sound. Edwin Curran





A world of grief and pain, flowers bloom — even then. Kobayashi Issa





She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes. Arundhati Roy





Don’t let the tall weeds cast a shadow on the beautiful flowers in your garden. Steve Maraboli





Like wildflowers you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would. E.V. Lucas





There are always flowers for those who want to see them. Henri Matisse





All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today. Indian Proverb





*Japanese proverb

Next post: Montreal, where we spend a couple of weeks every December for Christmas with family. (Except for this past Christmas of course.)





All words and images by Alison Louise Armstrong unless otherwise noted
© Alison Louise Armstrong and Adventures in Wonderland – a pilgrimage of the heart, 2010-2021.