West End / Stanley Park

Discussion in 'VCBF Neighbourhood Blogs' started by wcutler, Jan 31, 2008.

  1. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Next day, same Nicola mini-park location. I suspect we've seen the best from these trees this year. Nighttime temperatures are forecast to be mostly -5/-6, [edited] one night -8, for another week.
    Whitcomb_NicolaMinipark_Cutler_20250203_153045.jpg Whitcomb_NicolaMinipark_Cutler_20250203_153056.jpg Whitcomb_NicolaMinipark_Cutler_20250203_153123.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2025
  2. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    ‘Whitcomb’ blooming now at Nicola and Beach.

    20250227 NicolaBeach Whitcomb WillardIMG_5217.JPG 20250227 NicolaBeach Whitcomb Willard IMG_5219.JPG 20250227 NicolaBeach Whitcomb Willard IMG_5222.jpg 20250227 NicolaBeach Whitcomb Willard IMG_5223.jpg
     
  3. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    ‘Whitcomb’ on Nelson and Bute is still there and still blooming.

    20250227 NelsonBute Whitcomb Willard IMG_5279.JPG 20250227 NelsonBute Whitcomb Willard IMG_5278.JPG 20250227 NelsonBute Whitcomb Willard IMG_5281.JPG
     
    Kiri likes this.
  4. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    The previous two postings show trees with one limb remaining, which has been the case for them for several years - maybe I never saw the one on Nicola with two limbs.
    Here are photos of the trees in Nicola mini-park at Pendrell, and behind the Eugenia condo at Pendrell and Gilford. I am so surprised that most of the 'Whitcomb' blossoms seem to have survived the frost, even those the ones I've seen so far are in the warmer neighbourhoods where the trees had lots of open flowers when the frost hit. This was not the case last year, which in most neighbourhoods was a washout for this cultivar.
    Whitcomb_NicolaMiniPark_Cutler_20250228_152138.jpg Whitcomb_NicolaMiniPark_Cutler_20250228_152216.jpg Whitcomb_Eugenia-PendrellGilford_Cutler_20250228_153631.jpg
     
  5. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    ‘Beni-shidare’ at Alexandra Park in late afternoon light.

    20250329 AlexandraPk Beni -shidare Willard IMG_6017.jpg 20250329 AlexandraPk Beni -shidare Willard IMG_6022.jpg 20250329 AlexandraPk Beni.  -shidare Willard IMG_5988.jpg
     
    Lisa L likes this.
  6. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    On the north side of Pendrell Street, west of Gilford you can compare ‘Somei-yoshino’ and ‘Akebono’ side by side.

    First photo taken from friend’s balcony.
    20250329 PendrellGilford Someiyoshino+Akebono WillardIMG_5959.jpg
    ‘Somei-yoshino’ is the upper tree with some green leaves and whitish blossoms. ‘Akebono’ is the lower tree with pinker blossoms and no leaves visible.
    20250329 PendrellGilford Somei-yoshino Willard IMG_5965.jpg
    ‘Somei-yoshino’ blossoms showing star centres.

    20250329 Akebono Willard IMG_5974.jpg
    ‘Akebono’ blossoms pinker and no signs of star centres.
     
    Lisa L likes this.
  7. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Thank you. I tried to photograph that, but my photos were not at all convincing.
     
  8. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    ‘Akebono’ blooming now at Beach and Cardero.
    20250329 BeachCardero Akebono Willard IMG_5992 2.jpg

    With petaloids.
    20250329 BeachCardero Akebono Willard IMG_5998 2.jpg 20250329 BeachCardero Akebono Willard IMG_5999.jpg
     
    Lisa L and wcutler like this.
  9. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    I think the star thing depends on how they're facing and whether the sun is shining through them. 'Akebono' have stars too, but they're smaller. Just above, you can see the small star on the flower to the left of the front blossom with the petaloid. In your posting before last, the top flower has a small star. It's not a very reliable indicator. There is an 'Akebono' star in the centre of the larger cluster here. Most of the blossoms are facing down, so you don't get to see the flowers straight on, and they're not back-lit. That's probably another unreliable indicator - whether the flowers are facing out flat or the petals are drooping.
    Akebono_VCBF-Opening-Party_DavidLamPark_Cutler_20250329_143140c.jpg
    The star reveals the size of the sepals, but the size difference between the two cultivars isn't always that noticeably different, though @Mariko did say at https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ubc.36223/page-14#post-447201 that 'Somei-yoshino' has longer sepals. I don't totally get it - the stars are much larger than the sepal length, and 'Akebono' petals seem more round, which should give them larger stars if the petal overlap is what makes the stars seem so much larger than the sepal length.
     
  10. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    One of my favourite ‘Akebono’ trees should be blooming in a few more days.
    On Beach, west of Broughton.

    20250329 BeachBroughton Akebono Willard IMG_6005.jpg 20250329 BeachBroughton Akebono Willard IMG_6006.jpg 20250329 BeachBroughton Akebono Willard IMG_6007.jpg
     
    Lisa L and wcutler like this.
  11. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    A good location to view ‘Somei-yoshino’ and ‘Akebono’ simultaneously is the grove of trees east of the Stanley Park Causeway.

    20250331 SPCauseway Somei-yoshino+Akebono Willard IMG_6387.jpg 20250331 SPCauseway Akebono+ Somei yoshino Willard IMG_6337.jpg

    ‘Somei-yoshino’ blossoms are definitely whitish.
    20250331 SPCauseway Somei-yoshino Willard IMG_6384.jpg 20250331 SPCauseway Somei-yoshino Willard IMG_6342.jpg 20250331 SPCauseway Somei-yoshino WillardIMG_6339.jpg

    ‘Akebono’ blossoms are pinker and the trees have no witch’s broom.
    20250331 SPCauseway Akebono Willard IMG_6343.jpg
    20250331 SPCauseway Akebono Willard IMG_6347.JPG
    Sometimes you see a petaloid on ‘Akebono’.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2025
  12. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    One ‘Rancho’ blooming north of the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.
    20250331 SPMalkinBowl Rancho Willard IMG_6353.jpg 20250331 SPMalkunBowl Rancho Willard IMG_6357.jpg
     
  13. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    Early days for the ‘Shirotae’ in Stanley Park.
    Near the Japanese Canadian War Memorial.
    20250331 SP Shirotae Willard IMG_6381.jpg
    20250331 SP Shirotae Willard IMG_6374.jpg 20250331 SP Shirotae Willard IMG_6373.jpg
     
  14. Willard

    Willard Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,349
    Likes Received:
    933
    Location:
    Gibsons
    Inviting setting for a picnic.
    ‘Akebono’ at Sunset Beach Park.

    20250331 SunsetBeachPk Akebono Willard IMG_6537.jpg
     
  15. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    They're coming along nicely, except for the third one nearest the water (behind the tables on the left), which started life as 'Akebono' too. I even wrote to the Parks Board two years in a row, and they said they'd remove the rootstock growth, but they didn't.
     
  16. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    You mean those 'Akebono' trees have no witch's broom, and 'Akebono' trees are supposed to be resistant to it. But it's so rife on cherries in Stanley Park that they all seem to get it. Here are some 'Akebono' with witch's broom. First photo is to establish that this is 'Akebono'.
    In Devonian Harbour Park, near the walkway through the middle.
    Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_164222.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_164247.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_164303.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_164319.jpg

    The trees at the old bus loop.
    Akebono_OldBusLoop_Cutler_20250331_165556.jpg Akebono_OldBusLoop_Cutler_20250331_165654.jpg Akebono_OldBusLoop_Cutler_20250331_165709.jpg Akebono_OldBusLoop_Cutler_20250331_165731.jpg Akebono_OldBusLoop_Cutler_20250331_165817.jpg

    Speaking of the set of 'Akebono' trees just above, the ones across the street are almost fully open. There are three missing on the right side, and one about to go on the left.
    Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_164926.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_165010.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_165152.jpg Akebono_DevonianHarbourPark_Cutler_20250331_165208.jpg

    Ha, lost my focus there. Back to witch's broom, on other Stanley Park trees, the remaining 'Autumnalis Rosea' at Lost Lagoon:
    Autumnalis Rosea-witches broom_LostLagoon_Cutler_20250331_170539.jpg

    The old 'Pandora' has so much witch's broom that it's hard to see the blossoms.
    Pandora_Path from Lagoon Dr_Cutler_20250331_171333.jpg Pandora_Path from Lagoon Dr_Cutler_20250331_171233.jpg Pandora_Path from Lagoon Dr_Cutler_20250331_171244.jpg
     
  17. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Here are a few over-excited cherry scout photos, first flowers on mid-season cherries.
    'Takasago' on Broughton at Haro.
    Takasago_BroughtonHaro_Cutler_20250331_153749.jpg Takasago_BroughtonHaro_Cutler_20250331_153806.jpg

    'Shirotae' at Chilco mini-park.
    Shirotae_Comox mini-park_Cutler_20250331_173731.jpg Shirotae_Comox mini-park_Cutler_20250331_173738.jpg Shirotae_Comox mini-park_Cutler_20250331_173748.jpg
    The older 'Shirotae' trees at Lost Lagoon are just at the swelling bud stage.
    Shirotae_LostLagoon_Cutler_20250331_170717.jpg
     
  18. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    The big old Sargent Hybrid tree at the end of Comox Street is in full bloom. I see now that there are two younger ones nearby; I didn't remember anything about those.
    SargentHybrid_Edge of StanleyPark at Comox_Cutler_20250331_172408.jpg SargentHybrid_Edge of StanleyPark at Comox_Cutler_20250331_172812.jpg SargentHybrid_Edge of StanleyPark at Comox_Cutler_20250331_172442.jpg SargentHybrid_Edge of StanleyPark at Comox_Cutler_20250331_172606.jpg SargentHybrid_Edge of StanleyPark at Comox_Cutler_20250331_173156.jpg
     
  19. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    2,067
    Likes Received:
    808
    Location:
    South Okanagan & Greater Vancouver, BC Canada
    Thé ultimate West End
     
  20. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Mid-season trees are fully open. When the sun was out, 'Takasago' flowers on one tree I pass every day looked white and not so interesting. But yesterday in the rain, the buds glistened among the pinky-white flowers. The densely-packed blossoms sort-of blocked out all the dry rot, but it's still almost impossible to get a photo without the dry-rot appearing. Fuzzy stems are distinctive.
    Tree on Cardero at Barclay:
    Takasago_CarderoBarclay_Cutler_20250408_155911.jpg Takasago_CarderoBarclay_Cutler_20250408_155931.jpg Takasago_CarderoBarclay_Cutler_20250408_160007.jpg Takasago_CarderoBarclay_Cutler_20250408_160124.jpg
    From a tree on Comox at Broughton:
    Takasago_ComoxBroughton_Cutler_220250408_161734.jpg Takasago_ComoxBroughton_Cutler_220250408_161756.jpg Takasago_ComoxBroughton_Cutler_220250408_161832.jpg

    The 'Shirotae' on Broughton at Ted Northe Lane has a nice shape when seen from the lane, but it has suffered pruning, probably deliberate and from trucks, as seen from the sidewalk. Hairy leaf margins are notable.
    Shirotae_BroughtonTedNortheLane_Cutler_20250408_160831.jpg Shirotae_BroughtonTedNortheLane_Cutler_20250408_160854.jpg Shirotae_BroughtonTedNortheLane_Cutler_20250408_160910.jpg Shirotae_BroughtonTedNortheLane_Cutler_20250408_160954.jpg

    Here is a very large 'Shirotae' on the property at 1424 Comox
    Shirotae_1424Comox_Cutler_20250408_161952.jpg Shirotae_1424Comox_Cutler_20250408_162019.jpg

    'Umineko' and 'Shirotae' at 1500 Pendrell
    Umineko_1500Pendrell_Cutler_20250408_162443.jpg Umineko-Shirotae_1500Pendrell_Cutler_20250408_162611.jpg

    'Kanzan' pedicels have definitely elongated, with all buds open and some starting to swell.
    Kanzan_GordonNeighbourhoodHouse_Cutler_20250408_161453.jpg Kanzan_GordonNeighbourhoodHouse_Cutler_20250408_161429.jpg
     
    Georgia Strait likes this.
  21. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Pair of 'Ichiyo' hanging over Ted Northe lane near Cardero, around the corner from, so easy to compare with the first 'Takasago' in the previous posting. The 'Ichiyo' have much larger flowers, not such tightly compressed puffs of flowers, and the pedicels (flower stems) have no hairs.
    Ichiyo_TedNortheLaneCardero_Cutler_20250409_142041.jpg Ichiyo_TedNortheLaneCardero_Cutler_20250409_142113.jpg Ichiyo_TedNortheLaneCardero_Cutler_20250409_142325.jpg

    The 'Takasago' flowers on Broughton are showing off their aging with red centres.
    Takasago_BroughtonHaro_Cutler_20250409_143307.jpg Takasago_BroughtonHaro_Cutler_220250409_143319.jpg
     
  22. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    2,439
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    'Ama-no-gawa' at Kensington Place on Beach Avenue at Nicola, past their peak.
    Ama-no-gawa_BeachNicola_Cutler_20250412_140721.jpg Ama-no-gawa_BeachNicola_Cutler_20250412_140854.jpg Ama-no-gawa_BeachNicola_Cutler_20250412_140912.jpg

    Mikuruma-gaeshi on Barclay near Denman.
    Mikuruma-gaeshi_BarclayDenman_Cutler_20250411_155033.jpg Mikuruma-gaeshi_BarclayDenman_Cutler_20250411_155120.jpg Mikuruma-gaeshi_BarclayDenman_Cutler_20250411_155208.jpg
     

Share This Page