The Oceanside chapter of Broombusters threw their catch-phrase to the wind — and the rain — while kicking off their 10th anniversary broombashing season along Highway 19A in Parksville Saturday, April 29, 2017.
The volunteers, who are working to eradicate invasive Scotch broom with the rally cry, “Cut broom in bloom!” tackled the prickly plants with loppers and pruning shears under a steady, light rainfall. Missing from the equation were the multitude of bright, yellow flowers that erupt each spring, typically along road beds and vacant fields around developed areas of Vancouver Island.
The recent cold, snowy winter and late-arriving spring has knocked the plant’s flowering stage off schedule, and has also forced the broombusters to move their 10th annual Parksville Broomfest to later in the season.
“We are changing the date because of the late season,” said Joanne Sales, director of the local Broombusters Invasive Plant Society. “The broom still has not bloomed!”
The society is going ahead with its broom cut scheduled for this Saturday, May 6, along Chattel Road near the weigh station at Parksville exit 26 off Highway 19. But it will not be the official Broomfest, as the group does not want to conflict with the Fire &Ice Street Festival taking place that day in downtown Qualicum Beach, Sales said.
Volunteers interested in taking part are asked to bring loppers, gloves and a hi-visibility vest or jacket to Chattel Road. The cut is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information and upcoming events, visit broombusters.org/oceanside.
— NEWS Staff and
Broombusters submission