Re: Kitsilano 'Okame' - two new discoveries My major excitement this afternoon was the discovery of two 'Okame', or at least one and a maybe. The first is on 2nd, just west of Maple. I was sure it was a plum (which implies that it's not as bad looking as most 'Okame' we've seen around here), but I walked over to see it because I thought all those branches jammed into the trunk looked more like what they do to cherries. Speaking of the trunk, where do they get ideas like that? I guess it's Birch Bark Cherry, though it seems a bit different to me, not only because of the luminescent green lenticels. Anyway, the rest of it looks pretty good, with only a few problem areas. Then I just went to take a picture of what I'm calling Moose on the Roof (name of a fiddle tune) at the City Farmer place on Maple between 5th and 6th ... and there, around the corner on Country Lane was the other 'Okame'. Or at least the flowers look like that cultivar. I don't know what to make of this strong and strongly upright tree shape, though. It has only a very small bit of brown rot and witches broom.
This is the only 'Somei-yoshino' I saw at the Vancouver Museum, now called Museum of Vancouver. I walked completely around the building. This tree is near the Star Cherries at the Planetarium. The branches seem thicker than what I expected and remember, but I can't think what else this could be. The Star Cherries are open now at the Museum. Nadia saw them - maybe she'll post them. Well, that's them next to the 'Somei-yoshino' above. Here is one of the three 'Somei-yoshino' at Kits Beach next to Arbutus St. 'Shirotae' on 1st west of Burrard have just a few blossoms open. This is a really nice 'Beni-shidare' on 8th mid-block west of Trutch.
Beautiful Pandora are in full bloom at Arbutus corner 6Ave( first 2 pictures) Rare Stellata cherries near Planitarium look fantastic (last 3 pictures)
Here is an up-close and personal picture of the stellata which was glorious today--I was there this afternoon. There is another tree between the planetarium and the observatory which may be an oshima? Perhaps it's a Somei-yoshino but the tree doesn't really look as if it's umbrella shaped to me.
Nice smell and delicate flowers.I took one inflorescence of Oshima and one of Akebono put them together to compare. When they are not on tree, Oshima looks more delicate, it surprised me
Be aware that nearby cherry trees are Somei-yoshino by the tennis court. The other cherry trees around parking lots are Akebono.
So it was Somei-yoshino! King or queen sakura, but single flower is inferior to single flower of Oshima.I like parks and streets in Somei-yoshino.
So does that mean that the handbook, Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver is incorrect in locating Oshima at Kitsilano Beach Park, east side? The photograph (p.34, 2009 edition) clearly shows the tennis courts. In that shot, there appears to be a difference in colour between the trees closer to the road and the one (slightly more pink) nearer the courts.
The location in the cherry handbook is right! The left pink cherry trees beside the tennis court are Akebono. The right white cherry trees beside walkway and driveway are Oshima. The light pink cherry tree south to Oshima (not shown in the photo) is Somei-yoshino.
Akebono courtyard - perfect time to visit Behind the Museum of Vancouver a quiet courtyard with 6 large Akebono trees framing the lovely courtyard.
This has to be my favourite cherry. This week, anyway. I'm so fickle, but I really like these 'Afterglow' on Balaclava at 5th. They're getting to the end of their show now, so you might need to rush to see them here on in the Sunset neighbourhood. I clearly remember saying that the block has 'Akebono' on one side and 'Afterglow' on the other, which is clearly wrong. There's at least one 'Afterglow' on the east side as well.
I'm happy you posted this cherry. I took pictures because I didn't know what it was but they blurred with the wind blowing. Is Afterglow a version or hybrid of something else?
It's supposed to be a seedling selection of 'Akebono', but the blossoms look more like 'Somei-yoshino' or 'Pandora' (I think 'Pandora' has nothing to do with it). Have a look at this posting: Is this Pink Shell? More likely Afterglow - Mid-season single pink, spreading tree.
This single 'Shirofugen' on a corner of the three-block community garden along the unused tracks at 6th and Burrard still has a lot of its flowers, which are now very pink and still looking attractive.
Re: Kitsilano 'Autumnalis Rosea' Yes, 'Autumnalis Rosea'. There are supposed to be a lot of these planted in gardens around town, but this is the first one reported in Kitsilano. It looks like there are several of these here.
'Whitcomb'. Single blossoms. These have been posted in previous years. On these large threads, you can do a Search this Thread on the street name to see if there are previous postings. Or search for them on the festival map. Anyway, nice to know they're open, because today's the day I guessed they would be! They show up now on the Blooming Now map.
'Okame' are open in Kits. These were both reported last year and are already on our map, the first on 2nd at Maple and these on Country Lane, the lane east of Maple at 5th. Both of these seem to be dropping flowers almost as quickly as they get them. I really went looking for something in bloom south of Broadway, as hardly anything has been reported there. Well, there's a reason for that, but I did find two young privately planted 'Accolade' trees on Yew St, one at 14th (not sure what the later-blooming cherry is next to it) and this at 13th. I found a few other later blooming cherries on Yew from 13th to 15th, and a nice-sized Beni-shidare (probably) on 14th at Balsam.
The Okame on the south side of W. 6th Avenue, east of Stephen, is finishing its bloom on March 25, 2013.
Anne, we may as well get together - this is the second time we've been in the same neighbourhood on the same day. These are the 'Pandora' on 6th just west of Arbutus, maybe 80% open. They look better this year - they seem to have filled in over the cuts in the middle leaving room for the overhead wires.
Interesting that the rootstock which is really trunk stock for this tree appears to be Serrula. Here is another picture:
Beni-shidare on 8th Ave west of Trutch is into its blooming. By the weekend, I think it should be in full bloom. #102 below
