Two weeks later, more 'Whitcomb' blossoms opening up. It really does feel like the beginning of cherry blossom season in the west end of Vancouver.
The three 'Whitcomb' at Nicola Mini-Park are looking better than they did two weeks ago. Lots of pink.
February 12, after several days of freezing temperatures (daytimes around 0 degrees celsius; nights I think around minus 5, not sure) and several days of snow that has only amounted to maybe 5cm in the West End, I was not expecting to see much colour left on these 'Whitcomb' trees at Nicola Mini-Park, but they still look pretty impressive, definitely a splash of colour under the snow. Sure, some of the flowers have gone brown, but they've been hanging on for a month now, so they still seem to be doing pretty well.
Here are a few more snow photos, no flowers, just easy-to-see tree structures. Young 'Kanzan' trees on Pendrell 'Akebono' street tree on Comox near Cardero, and on a building's property on Nelson at Thurlow 'Shirotae' on a building's property on Comox, and a 'Takasago' street tree 'Spire' cherry, the upright one, looks better in this photo than usual; 'Shiro-fugen' cherry, looks better when it's in bloom. Interesting how the snow emphasizes the terrible graft union.
Thanks. It's interesting to me how the ones on the beach side next to the Aquatic Centre are behind the ones across the street. And there is one a block up on Pacific Street that is also even behind the Aquatic Centre ones. How am I supposed to get blooming dates on the map when they vary by a week or two in the same neighbourhood where conditions are pretty similar at the various locations?
Well, the 'Accolade' at Chilco mini-park have at last caught up. Here are a few more photos from the trees that Yaletowner just posted at the Aquatic Centre. I had a nice chat with the young man from Australia who was pretty excited about the cherries.
I wasn't expecting to find this 'Beni-shidare' in Alexandra Park in full bloom, but it is just that. I suppose the Park Board prunes it so people can see the view to the water, but I think it would be much more attractive if the branches were left to grow. The 'Somei-yoshino' tree on Pendrell west of Gilford is in full bloom. In the background are the still colourful 'Whitcomb' trees behind the Eugenia building (the building with the tree on top). This block, two blocks from where I live, has a lot of cherries. Here is a not yet open 'Akebono', with the 'Somei-yoshino' and 'Whitcomb' in the background. There are also a few 'Mikuruma-gaeshi' on the block. The Park Board removed all of that cultivar east of Denman. Maybe they didn't realize they continued west to the park (Stanley Park, three blocks west of Denman). Here are the buds.
A lot of cherries are open in the West End now. From this corner at Pendrell and Cardero you can see 'Akebono', 'Shirotae' (2nd photo) and 'Umineko' (3rd and 4th, surrounding the 'Shirotae'). I haven't photographed a 'Takasago' but they have opened quite a bit in the past two days, all along Comox St. The 'Yae-beni-shidare on Bute at Barclay should be open or almost so. The only cultivar that is completely finished is 'Whitcomb'.
Ventured into the West End to check out the Cherry Jam festival launch with the crowds being entertained by assorted musical talent amidst falling akebono (and magnolia) petals.
Akebono now in peak bloom at entrance of Stanley Park. Akebono shines in Stanley Park - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Meanwhile, in the rose garden, Akebono cherry trees are full of buds and will peak in a few days, just in time of the Tree Talk and Walk this Sunday April 7. Tree Talks and Walks - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
The "new" 'Akebono' planting at the old bus loop, at the Alberni Street entrance to Stanley Park has developed very nicely since the 2010 photo (click the arrow into to the quote to see the photo from then). It was a bustle of activity, and several people have told me it's a must-see. On the same plaza, this group of Kobus and Star magnolias was being entirely ignored. Through the tunnel, on the other side of Georgia, is another group of 'Akebono' from around the same time, maybe a year or so later - I don't remember. It has not (yet?) become popular.
The 'Shiro-fugen' grove outside the miniature railroad in Stanley Park are putting on a good show. Here is the lone 'Shiro-fugen' outside the Sylvia Hotel.
May 18 and the 'Kiku-zakura' on Robson at Gilford still has a lot of flowers, many of them looking pretty good. There are a lot on the ground, seemingly whole flowers, but the petals are so small, maybe they would not been seen if they did drop separately.
I forgot that last year these first 'Whitcomb' flowers were posted on January 12, so these flowers are not as spectacularly early as I was thinking. Still, they're not really "due" here in the West End until February 16, so there is that. These are at Nicola mini-park and the Eugenia at Pendrell and Gilford.
I like snow on cherry blossom photos, so here are the same trees during today's snow (February 4). The snow is pretty much gone now in this neighbourhood.
‘Whitcomb’ on southwest corner of Nelson and Bute has seen better days, but it still caught my eye in the light of the streetlamp above it. Doing it’s best to bloom and attract attention.
We're missing two 'Autumnalis Rosea' trees here at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. They had been looking pathetic in the last few years. One remains across the path, has flowers in one area. This 'Whitcomb' tree on the golf course is somewhat hidden from the bike path east of Ceperley Meadow, where the two benches are beneath a handkerchief tree. Aren't these 'Akebono' buds on Pendrell Street very pink for the beginning of March? I was hoping those trees would still be in bloom on Easter Sunday (April 12). That seems very unlikely now.
Speaking of very pink buds, all the buds on the 'Beni-shidare' at Thurlow and Barclay are pink and there are flowers open. Last year's blooming date started March 26. This looks like it will be in bloom no later than mid-month.