'Ama-no-gawa' trees at the BC Liquor Store on Bute and Alberni were posted two weeks ago. I was so surprised to see the ones on Alberni looking so pink. We talk about how the 'Shiro-fugen' change from white to pink, but I don't remember noticing that happening with these. The ones around the corner on Bute looked the way I usually see them - some new flowers, and the old ones shriveled or fallen.
I keep thinking I have to go put the festival's Blooming Now page to bed for the winter, but the 'Shirofugen' have not given up yet. I saw one tree with no flowers at all, but others are still doing their few new flowers and extraordinary phylloid and what seems to be second-story growth on some of the old flowers. This tree is on the corner of Gilford and Beach at the Sylvia Hotel.
'Accolade' blooming in October again at Chilco Mini Park, on Chilco north of Comox. Same time as last year, but flowers are more numerous this year.
'Autumnalis Rosea' in full bloom on north side of Pacific St between Thurlow and Burrard. Several trees. Worth a look.
These are 'Accolade'. I guess the discussion about them happened in emails, not on the forums, but it was one of my first discussions about cultivar IDs, as these were originally on our list as 'Autumnalis Rosea' and I was feeling very uncomfortable about claiming that they were 'Accolade' when I knew hardly anything about cherries. It will be more obvious when they're really in bloom in the spring. Or search in this thread for photos from previous years. Or check the photo on the festival map.
Well, so much for a late year. This 'Whitcomb' on Nelson at Bute looks very similar to my birthday blossoms photo I posted last year (same date), posting #321. West End / Stanley Park Last year these trees were fully in bloom on February 11.
Single 'Whitcomb' at Devonian Harbour Park in Coal Harbour is starting to bloom. About the same time as last year (Feb 11, 2016 - Posting #326), in spite of the snow.
Not to make a huge deal about 'Whitcomb' cherries that are only 40% in bloom, but I can use this photo for the festival's website, need the link back to the blog. In 2009, these were not fully in bloom until March 9. Now that we're back to days below 10 degrees, I'm assuming that this year's timing will be similar to that year, and these trees are going to hold tight for another two weeks. This Nicola mini-park location is just a bit ahead of the others now.
Only two cherry trees left on Thurlow, north of Barclay (see previous posts #331 #332). One ito-zakura in bloom. And one 'Yae-beni-shidare' beside it, in bud. The other trees have been removed. Sad.
I don't know - they weren't taking care of them. There were four along the side of the building (look way back in this thread) that became entirely avium trees and the ones in front were (are) headed the same way. It's funny that the pendula cherries are coming out at the same time, or even a little ahead, of 'Accolade'. As you said elsewhere, the early cherries and early mid-season ones will probably all be at peak bloom at the same time.
I met Michael Mracek today photographing a camellia, but he said he's interested in cherries, swore he was not interested in posting them, but did send me these photos of 'Accolade' blossoms across from the Aquatic Centre on Beach Ave at Thurlow. Most of this cultivar are open now in the West End, enough that they are worth a visit. And 'Whitcomb' are open too. And the 'Somei-yoshino' on Pendrell west of Gilford (which is relatively way early). Here is Michael's 'Accolade'. [Edited] I meant to say how miffed I am that the leaves are coming out with the flowers. That was one of my really useful rules: on plums, the leaves come out with the flowers but on the early cherries, they do not. And here they are in the photo on these early 'Accolade' cherries. Well, these are late 'Accolade' cherries, as far as arrival time goes. At least they are clearly demonstrating that cherry leaves unfold to open (not unroll, as plum leaves do).
Here is a little 'Accolade' tree, more graceful than its structure would seem to allow it to be. I've noticed it for 10 years, but not posted it because it's not all that much to look at. But someone wrote to ask me what it is. If people are going notice it and inquire about it, I guess it belongs on the map. On the west side of Jervis north of Comox (actually closer to Nelson, north of the lane). It's the only 'Accolade' for several blocks.
I found a new (not on Google street view) 'Yae-beni-shidare' at 1355 Pendrell, north side between Broughton and Jervis. The flowers look like the second photo, but these actually belong to one of the four trees at 1145 Burnaby between Thurlow and Bute. In 2009, I mentioned hoping these trees would grow up. They're not any bigger now than they were, not great-looking trees, but they yield some nice photos. The flowers are just coming on both these locations.
Another good place to compare 'Akebono' with 'Somei-yoshino' is Pendrell Street, west of Gilford, north side of street. Both in fine bloom today.
I have wanted to photograph these blossoms for a couple of years now, but they were always too far advanced to take the shot. Rain gave me the opportunity to get these flowers early this year. I went back the next day to take the same photo in sunlight and shadows. Not great as an educational tool, but it really allowed me to highlight the buds with a softer accented flower.
Sometimes I spend time on the little things, and find it remarkable that I can enjoy what somebody else created many years ago. This is to recognize them, and the beauty that they created. I hope to be able to reveal the micro for everyone as well as the macro (and have a little bit of fun at the same time - not that shooting in the rain is fun, but it is a great time to see the world wrapped up in a bud and a rain drop). The rain drop reflects the tree that created the bud. [Edited by wcutler]: I renamed the photos and uploaded them again, as per my comment in next posting that these are 'Akebono'.