Renfrew-Collingwood

Four Shiro-fugen trees in Beaconsfield Park, NW corner of E. 17th and Slocan are in bloom at April 25, 2020.

 

This Ama-no-gawa tree is finishing its bloom in the yard at the SE corner of Nanaimo and E. 29th, April 25, 2020.

 

Lone Ukon at E. 40th and Dundee, the north side of Earles Park, past peak bloom at April 26, 2020.

 

The five Shiro-fugen trees planted for the VCBF 2016 anniversary at Earles Park (north side of E. 41st, Earles to Killarney) don't appear to be doing well; only two trees seem to be producing flowers at April 26, 2020.

 

Four Shiro-fugen trees in Slocan Park, E. 29th and Slocan are in bloom at April 26, 2020.

 

The five Shiro-fugen in the front of this building look very healthy. On the east side of Earles, between Kings and Vanness, at April 26, 2020.

 

The five Ukon trees in Cariboo Park (distributed to each corner of the park at E.29th and Cariboo) are finishing their bloom on April 27, 2020. In the last photo, the flowers are noticeably white with red veins, all that's left of their tumeric colouring.

 

Renfrew's Shogetsu is a pitiful shell of itself since its glory days in 2015 at post #75. Maybe the time is late and it has already made its showing, but it can barely be seen with all the rest of the spring flowerings. It is the back garden of 4556 Cariboo and it is definitely finished for the year at April 27, 2020.

 

Four Shiro-fugen trees along the east side of Cassiar, south of E. 23, in bloom at April 27, 2020. Two more younger trees across the street further north (on west side of Cassiar at E. 22nd).

 

The Somei-Yoshino trees in Windermere Secondary's entranceway at Lillooet and E. 27th are in full bloom at April 2, 2021.

 

The older Akebono trees lining Wellington from Manor to Reid are in various stages of bloom at April 2, 2021.

 

According to Parks Board records, the mature Akebono trees on Austrey (between McHardy and Joyce) were planted in 1969. People were taking advantage of the full bloom at April 8, 2021 and shooting photos. On one side there is a tree which does look photogenic, but the others on the opposite side were subjected to the infamous rabbit-ears pruning cut.

 

The fragrant Washi-no-o trees along Nootka's west side (at E. 25th) are in full bloom at April 14, 2021. The Eagle's tails are flying!

 

Mikuruma-gaeshi in full bloom on the north side of E20th (between Lillooet and Windermere) at April 14, 2021.


Edited by wcutler: Anne wrote me on May 18, 2022 that this has been chopped down.

 

I see a clear staminode in photo #2 - what distinguishes this cultivar from the Akebono?

 

The Takasago trees along E. 21st from Windermere to Nootka are in full bloom at April 14, 2021. What is it with the air in Renfrew and East Van? They look better than the ones on the west side of the city. The two closest to E. 21st and Nootka, right across from Renfrew Community Centre, even have a noticeable spread, over sidewalk and into camellias.

 

But I think I like this Renfrew Takasago the best, the one at north side E. 21st, just west of Windermere. See that growth on its trunk? It looks just like it's smacking its lips: it knows it got us with its Taksago prank on Lisa and its "veins" on the petals.

 

Mikuruma-gaeshi opens later than Akebono (in April). Flowers are larger, can have more petals, and distributed differently. Mikuruma has nowhere the graceful and spreading shape of an Akebono tree. Hope that helps.

 

It does - thanks, although the Akebonos have just reached their full openness here in my neighourhood.

 

It's time to find your book. The flower colour, size, shape, tree shape, blooming time would distinguish 'Mikuruma-gaeshi' from 'Akebono'.
A lot of trees have staminodes (I think we're calling them petaloids now). That was just a distinction between 'Akebono' and 'Somei-yoshino', not a distinction between 'Akebono' and trees that otherwise do not look the same.

 

OK; thanks.

 

Ama-no-gawa in this front yard on the east side of Nanaimo, south of E. 29th, is already approaching full bloom at April 17, 2021.

 

The Ukon trees along the south side of E. 15th, from Renfrew east to Nootka, are in full bloom at April 17, 2021.

 

Interesting mix of Camelia and 'Takasago' flowers. I had to check my eyeglasses.

 

This young Shiro-fugen has been newly planted on the south side of E. 22nd (east of Kamloops) amongst the Kanzan trees and going strong in bloom at April 19, 2021. Last photo of the very short calyx tube, as if the flower goes from sepal straight to stem.