Sunday March 8, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
There is still time to count flowers!
The 51st Greater Victoria Flower Count started at 7 am on Wednesday March 4 and runs through to 4 pm on this coming Wednesday March 11.
Last year, more than 44 billion blossoms were counted.
Every blossom counts — standalone garden flowers as well as on trees and bushes.
Participants can follow the count from March 4 to 11 in social media @flowercount (this year on Meta — Facebook and Instagram). Any floral post using the #FlowerCount hashtag on Instagram earns an entry to win an exciting prize from local sponsors.
Community enthusiasm:
While many parts of Canada are still in the grips of winter, Greater Victoria licks off spring with a community-wide tally of blossoms.
The event encourages community participation and friendly student competition as participants are challenged to tally blossoms and submit entries to earn the title of “Bloomingest” community.
The Greater Victoria Flower Count began five decades ago as a lighthearted tourism promotion designed to showcase the region’s mild
climate and global reputation as Canada’s Garden City.
Fundraising for hanging baskets:
The 51st flower-counting event coincided this year with a fundraiser for Victoria’s iconic hanging flower baskets
This year’s Flower Count coincides with the launch of a pilot fundraising program that invites individuals and organizations to make donations to help sustain Victoria’s iconic hanging flower baskets.
In fall 2025, Victoria City Council approved a suite of budget adjustments to reduce property tax impacts. This resulted in a 50% reduction to the hanging basket program, from about 1,200 baskets down to 600 baskets annually.
The fundraising target is $130,000, which would restore the program to its previous scale. Destination Greater Victoria and The City of Victoria are working together to administer the Hanging Basket Donation Program.
The program is on its way to achieving its fundraising target thanks to generous contributions from community supporters. The Butchart Gardens is contributing $25,000, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and Destination Greater Victoria are each providing $10,000, and
media partner CHEK is supporting the Program with $10,000 in promotional and financial contributions.
Donations to the program can be made by visiting the City of Victoria or Destination Greater Victoria, either in person or online. Learn more about how to contribute to the Hanging Basket Donation Program at flowercount.com or victoria.ca.
Volunteers:
The Hanging Basket Donation Program provides a voluntary way for residents, businesses, and organizations to help sustain this longstanding tradition.
Sponsors:
Used.ca is back as a sponsor to continue the tradition of the daily Find The Hidden Bloom contest. Used.ca will hide a flower on
their Victoria pages and share a hint as to where to find it on their social channels. If you find the daily bloom, you are entered to win a local prize package.
The 51st annual Greater Victoria Flower Count is sponsored and supported by Destination Greater Victoria, Fairmont Empress, The Butchart Gardens, LA Limousines, Used.ca, Uptown, Abkhazi Garden & Tea House, Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Free Spirit Botanicals, Pizzeria Prima
Strada, Gardens at HCP, Emerald Day Spa, Silk Road Tea, Ocean 98.5, and CHEK Media.
Supportive promotion here courtesy of Island Social Trends.
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NEWS SECTIONS: GREATER VICTORIA | TOURISM