Kerrisdale

The nine trees of 'Tai-haku' on the west side of Balsam, south of W. 41st, extending a block to W. 43rd, are in peak bloom at April 4, 2022.

 

like that detail of the eagles tails! thx Anne!

 

Festival Favourite ‘Ukon’ now blooming on Churchill from 47th to 49th.




'There is no stranger under the cherry tree"

 

Yes, I think I should not change the ID on this. I have no idea what I was thinking, and I don't see the top centre flower with the 7 or 8 petals, and I just saw the tree last weekend and it looks just like 'Somei-yoshino' and looks like the other trees I linked to.
Here are photos from April 1, the only part of the day when it was raining and not sunny.



There's a good-looking plum across the street, south side of 51st. Plums are all but finished in the West End, but they're in full bloom in the rest of the city, making things difficult for people to know what they're looking at, since 'Akebono' cherries are just coming into bloom now too, before the plums have faded.

 

Speaking of beautiful trees, this 'Beni-shidare' on West Boulevard at 54th was looking splendid on April 1.


Nearby, the four 'Pandora' on Arbutus south of 51st look a lot better than I remembered them last time I saw them, which was already three years after they were pruned.

 

Here are two 'Accolade' trees in a front yard across from Maple Grove Park north of W. 53rd.

 

The Akebono trees along the north side of W. 42nd, from West Boulevard to Yew, are in Easter bloom at April 6, 2023.

 

Here are a couple of photos of the trees we submitted as Vancouver's entry for the International Blooming Date Contest. The whole set is at Yesterday’s news – 2023 International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca). Here are a couple of photos from yesterday. Peak bloom will be either yesterday or today - Douglas Justice's call.

The sun came out for a few minutes just as I thought I was through. The trees are a whole different colour with the sun on them.

 

Nearby to Maple Grove Park is Beechwood, a very cherry-ful street. Between 51st and 53rd is a lovely run of 'Akebono' trees.


Across 51st is the 'Somei-yoshino' featured above in posting #179. It was in full bloom yesterday.

 

I have finally got Marine Crescent on my internal map - it's just two blocks west of Maple Grove Park. At the point where I found it, I hadn't figured out how to get to Maple Grove Park from where I was, which is the best way to make new discoveries. Well, this block of lovely 'Somei-yoshino' trees was discovered way back when we started. Now I might even be able to find it again.

 

Kerrisdale celebrates Coronation Day with cake and cherry trees!
The 'Shiro-fugen' trees at the Kerrisdale Centennial Park (Yew Street between W. 42-43), and along W. 42nd east of Yew, are in full bloom at May 6, 2023.



Here is the Coronation Cake: a cut slice with 'Kanzan' flowers at the left, and 'Shiro-fugen' flowers on the right.

 

The 'Shiro-fugen' trees along W. 42nd, east of Yew, are in their pink flowers/green leaves phase of bloom at May 8, 2023.



Despite the odd unchanged white flower, pink blossoms are now falling whole, and one provides a view of the short, purple-red calyx and green-red sepals. Any pinker flowers, and they're doppelgängers for 'Kanzan'.

 

I don't think the white flowers are so much "unchanged" as newer flowers. These trees keep opening new flowers. Maybe most cherries do that, but it's so obvious on these when they're such a different colour from the aging flowers.

 

A friend and I pass this 'Accolade' on West Boulevard at 57th, almost every week, yet I don't seem to have photographed it. We like how it peeks over the hedge. It's almost in bloom now.

 

We went past this 'Pandora' on Arbutus at 51st two days ago, and there was no reason to stop to photograph it. Today, it's not in full bloom, but it's very close. It's distressing to see that it has been pruned yet again.


We also saw no reason to photograph one of our favourite 'Beni-shidare' two days ago, on West Boulevard at 54th. Today, it's a star, a knock-out from every angle.

 

'Snow Goose' on Cedarhurst at Marine Drive, one inside the property and three street-side. I noticed them driving by on Marine Drive, went around the block to see them.


In the trip around the block, I came across this 'Accolade' on Carnarvon at 45th. There is another next to it that is not very showy.

 

I'm posting all my Maple Grove Park 'Akebono' photos on the festival's Blooming Now - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (vcbf.ca) page, in the section about the International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition. When Douglas Justice declares the peak bloom date, I'll move the photos, but I will leave a link to them. The contestants' predictions for peak bloom were tightly centred on April 4, but they didn't know about the 15C degree weeks we'd be getting this month. The trees are not at peak bloom today, but they are showy now and well worth a visit. I expect them to be at peak bloom this weekend.



There is a younger tree next to the three older ones, and we have not included that in the contest. Two days ago, it was the farthest behind in blooming, though it gives the appearance today of being right up with the others.


Just across Yew Street is a little triangular area with three lovely 'Akebono' trees, on Marine Drive, with 54th Avenue on its east side. I thought it belonged to the house on the corner, but it turns out it's city property, and managed by a neighbour as part of the Green Streets program.


These two 'Accolade' on Yew just north of 53rd, still across from the park, are at their most beautiful blooming stage.

 

Another opportunity to compare ‘Somei-yoshino’ with ‘Akebono’. This time on Marine Crescent and 51st.


‘Somei-yoshino’ branches have more bends
and flowers are paler with slightly starry centres.





‘Akebono’ branches appear smoother and straighter.
Flowers are pinker and sometimes have an extra petal.

 

‘Akebono’ at Maple Grove Park


‘Akebono’ 1 2 3



‘Akebono’ 1

 

‘Akebono’ at Maple Grove Park
Tree #2

 

‘Akebono’ at Maple Grove Park
Tree#3

 

There used to be a double row of ‘Accolade’ on West 50th Avenue and Marine Crescent. Now there are a few old ‘Accolade’ and several ‘Akebono’

Here are photos of the surviving ‘’Accolade’

 

March 25, 2024

[Yew & 45th]
'Accolade' trees may be past their peak, but the pink carpet effect looks pretty.

 

March 25, 2024

[Yew St. & 42nd Ave.]
'Akebono' rows in front of a high-rise, looking nice at a glance...


..., but what happened???


More 'Akebono' trees at the same intersection.

 

If you want to make a case for not grafting 'Akebono' trees, and not pruning them, there's your photos.