May 21, 2010 – Here’s a (generally) good news holiday weekend forecast for plant retailers from Canada’s official meteorological prognosticators.

Green thumbs, rejoice. Snowbirds, head home. From St. John’s to Vancouver, Mother Nature has a treat in store for you this long-weekend.

Balmy temperatures and sunny skies are expected to dominate the weather charts across Canada for the next three days and provide a welcome escape for Canadians longing for a break from the work-a-day grind, Environment Canada said.

Senior climatologist David Phillips said the temperatures, which are expected to be at or above seasonal highs from coast to coast, form a nearly ideal backdrop for typical long-weekend activities. “This is the weekend we go from hibernation to migration,’’ Phillips said in an interview. “We break out of that winter mode of staying indoors or around the property. We head out to the cottage or the garden centres. It’s the get-action type of weekend.’’

Phillips said staff at the national agency often feel pressure to ‘‘manufacture’’ spring-like conditions for what he deems to be the ‘‘most important’’ weather weekend of the year. This year’s forecasts have eased their burden. Canadians in Quebec and New Brunswick may even feel Mother Nature has skipped a month, Phillips said, adding the consistent sunshine and temperatures in the high 20s will feel more like July than may.

“People in Quebec may be complaining about the heat and the humidity rather than cool weather, but I think at this time of the year they’ll take it,’’ he said.

Holiday-makers in the Maritimes and Western Provinces will be able to bask in sun throughout the weekend, Environment Canada said, adding temperatures in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick will be at least six degrees above the norm while residents of British Columbia and Alberta can expect more seasonal conditions.

The sun is also expected to shine on the territories throughout the weekend, where temperatures are forecasted to be at least five degrees higher than normal for this time of year.

Rain may cloud the weekend outlook for parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, but the forecast calls for warm temperatures and stretches of sunshine.

Residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan may not have the same respite, Phillips said. Rain is expected to fall across the eastern prairies for much of the weekend, he said, adding the current wet weather may prove to be an advantage for aspiring gardeners.

“I always say that from a growing point of view, you never turn down rain,’’ Phillips said. “Hey, the rain you get may be your saviour later on when you get try kind of weather.’’

Ontario is poised to enjoy its first seasonal long weekend in two years, Phillips said. Ontarians may have spent last year’s May long weekend braving sub-zero conditions, but Phillips said they can confidently sport summer attire this time around. Temperatures are expected to hover in the low 20s with sun likely to shine for most of the weekend, he said, adding the weather is likely to get better in northern parts of the province.

The forecast came as welcome news to Sharlah Morrison, a Toronto-based engineer who’s been suffering from “cabin fever’’ since November. “I don’t usually make plans for the May-two-four weekend because the weather’s so iffy,’’ she said. “This weekend I’m going to take advantage of this as much as I can.’’

Plans include a patio rendezvous with friends, a picnic in a local park and runs through a nearby nature trail. “It’s a gem in a city of concrete,’’ she said, adding the balmy weather will allow her to take advantage of the more rural setting without the trouble of travelling to a distant cottage.