When we embarked on our ravine walk in the forest yesterday it was late morning and the temperature was struggling to rise above 12 degrees. A blustery wind and overcast skies made it seem even colder. But the wind serves to dry up the forest trails and that, at the very least, was a spur to get on with things.

Jackie and Jillie need no spur; they're anxious to be out and about, free to sniff at all the tantalizing odours they encounter, to look for the presence of other dogs, to run after squirrels, to pick up small twigs and chew to their hearts' content. For no amount of chastising from us will ever convince them that woody fibres aren't good for their digestive tracts.

We could see that more of the Serviceberry trees were coming into bloom, and I took a photograph of a few of the flowers up close. They grow in abundance in Saskatchewan (in fact there they're called Saskatoonberries), and much larger than they do here. When the berries are ripe they're picked and famously, made into pies.

We also came across the first of the red baneberry in flower. They'll produce bright red clumps of berries in the summer, and they're deadly. Woe betide anyone who thinks it would be interesting to chomp down on those berries; they would indeed be living in 'interesting times', as the Chinese put it philosophically.

As we ambled along the trails it was clear that the trees weren't the only vegetation to put forth white flowers. Wild strawberries are also coming into flower, theirs infinitely more delicate, with a more pleasing shape and they also produce delicious fruit. We used to pick wild strawberries many years ago when our children were young, and we would come home with little pails full when we were out hiking with them in the Gatineau Hills.

Now we have a nature preserve much closer to access for us, and there's no real need to drive the half-hour or so over into Quebec to access the great wilderness area there managed by the National Capital Commission. At the time when for years we hiked, snowshoed, canoed, picnicked, picked berries and considered the park our major outdoor recreational source, we seemed to be the only people in that vast acreage to make use of it. Now, it's a major skiing destination for people in the area and far more people use the hiking trails than did when we were young.

Once we completed our circuit in the ravine, as we walked down the street from the ravine entrance and neared our house, we could see the magnolia tree beside the house in full bloom. We returned home and washed Jackie and Jillie's little paws, gave them treats and told them we'd be back soon enough, we headed out for another of our favourite plant nurseries, this time for the gigantic zinnias and multi-layer-petalled marigolds that we had planted in our new flowerbed at the front of the house last year.

There are tulips and alliums coming up there now, as well as a rose, rhododendron, perennial dianthus, and hibiscus, so it'll be interesting planting between them. I can hardly wait!