Vancouver Cherry Blossom FestivalPresented by
It’s that time of the year when Akebono petals fall softly on the streets of Vancouver. Lots of photographers will visit one of the Festival’s favorite locations, such as 6th and Slocan where Akebono cherry trees form an archway over the street.
Visit the Festival neighbourhood map to find our favorite cherry blossom viewing locations (listed in red on the map).
You might also like to visit: Graveley street, Georgia street, Manitoba street.
Happy cherry blossom viewing!
Rancho cherry trees are blooming beautifully on Victoria Drive, on several blocks north of Broadway.
The petals are small and delicate. The leaves are serrated, first green then turning to copper.
You’ll find Rancho everywhere around the city, including outside Pacific Centre, and in the middle of some intersections in Vancouver streets.
With over 54 varieties of cherry trees in Vancouver, there’s lots to see in the city. You’ll find more information about Rancho cherry trees and 54 varieties of cherry trees Ornamental Cherries of Vancouver.
Happy cherry blossom viewing!
The 12th annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off today with a noon-hour concert at the Burrard skytrain station in Vancouver.
Tetsu Taiko started the show, accompanied by Alcvin Ramos. The performance was amazing, very high in energy.
The performance was followed by an original collaboration of Chinese er-hu player Ji Rong Huang with a tap dancer.
The Cherry Jam concert host read the 2017 Haiku Invitational winning poems including:
the gasp
before the sigh . . .
cherry blossoms
Terri L. French
Huntsville, Alabama
Kathryn Nicholson lead the Sound Eclectic Vocal Ensemble. The choir performed “Cherry Blossoms For You & Me!” a new song inspired by a haiku by poet laureate Oz Hershfield created especially for the Vancouver Sings One Song event. I’m sure we’ll have the chance to hear it again during the festival and sing it together.
At the end of the concert, VCBF Director Linda Poole invited people to check the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival website for more information about the many activities (big picnic, tree talks and walks, Sakura illuminations, etc.) and wished everybody a good festival.
It was a quite a rainy day in Vancouver. Luckily, the exhibitors tables were in a covered area.
Due to the rain, it was pretty quiet under the canopy. Where you would usually find dozens of photographers and a crowd of people admiring cherry blossoms, there were only a few people hanging under the cherry trees.
The reason there were so few people under the canopy was clear when you got closer. Turns out half the pathway was flooded. The petals were floating in four inches of water!
For those who were not afraid to brave the rain today, the blossoms were there.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from April 3-29, 2018. Check vcbf.ca for information about the festival activities. Happy Cherry Blossom Viewing!
Easter Week-end is always a great time to go cherry blossom viewing in Vancouver. The Akebono cherry trees are in bloom and looking spectacular.
My favorite location is Georgia and Denman which has a beautiful reflective pool:
At the entrance of Stanley Park, at Alberni, young akebono will allow you to take close-ups:
Instead of entering Stanley Park (cherry trees in that location always need a few more days to bloom), I opted to wander in the West-End where you can encounter Akebono in bloom at various street corners, such as here in Nelson and Broughton:
There are lots of buds in the Downtown trees, which means you still have time to visit. They should be in full bloom within 2-3 days.
Attend one of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival’s Tree Talks and Walks to learn more about cherry trees.
If you’re in the Downtown West-end, it’s a good time to visit the Accolade cherry trees in Chilco Park.
There are a few chairs in the park, so sit, take a deep breath, and check out the flowers.
Some blossoms have started to fall, but there are plenty of blossoms and buds in the trees. Visit this location within seven-ten days to see the flowers at their best.
Visit the VCBF neighborhoud maps to find other Accolade cherry trees in your area.
Whitcomb cherry trees may be done in the West-End, but they are in full bloom everywhere else, including at Ayshire Drive in Burnaby.
Deep pink, Whitcomb cherry blossoms are stunning on a sunny day, especially with a blue sky in the background. The bees are happy!
Visit this location within seven days to capture the flowers at their best, or seven to ten days to be showered with petals.
Check the VCBF neighborhoud map to find Whitcomb cherry trees near you.
You might also like: pictures of this location in March 2016 and February 2016.
A helpful guide to identify Whitcomb cherry trees in Vancouver made into an infographic by cherry scout Jessica Tremblay.
The information comes from Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver, by Douglas Justice. Buy a copy to learn more about 54 cultivars of cherry trees in Vancouver and get ready for an awesome cherry blossom viewing season!
You might also like: How to tell the difference between cherry trees and plum trees (infographic)
At the end of Denman street, when you stroll on the seawall towards waterfront, a Whitcomb cherry tree catches your attention with its purple-pink flowers.
A nearby downtown high-rise building creates an interesting background for photos.
This Whitcomb cherry tree is located between the parking lot and the seawall so it’s accessible by car, foot, and bicycle. The tree is about 50% bloomed, so dont’t wait too long to visit. Petals should begin to fall within 7-10 days.
To locate cherry trees in your neighborhood, check the VCBF Neighborhood maps
Photos: Jessica Tremblay
You might also like: pictures of this location in 2014.
On Georgia street you’ll find a dozen Autumnalis Rosea cherry trees spread over five blocks between Willingdon and Gilmore.
Autumnalis Rosea cherry blossoms always look like they just woke up with a massive case of bed hair: their petals are curled inwards. As a consequence, the flowers look a bit messy, but adorable.
Autumnalis Rosea are winter cherries. They have really tiny flowers scattered on the tree, so I hope your camera has a good zoom!
The blossoms that survived winter look tired, but the good news is that when the sun comes out Autumnalis Rosea sometimes have another bloom in spring. Plan to visit on a sunny day, but hurry up: Autumnalis Rosea will be out of season pretty soon.
Check the VCBF Neighborhood maps to locate Autumnalis Rosea and see what else is blooming in your area.
Photos by Jessica Tremblay
You might also like: pictures of this location in 2015
At Vancouver City Hall, it’s the perfect time to see the Accolade cherry trees. They are in full bloom. Petals are not even falling yet.
From up the steps, near the entrance, you can take close-ups of the blossoms and beautiful architectural details.
From down the steps, you can take pictures of Captain George Vancouver’s statue.
Tip: visit when city hall is closed (after 5:00 p.m.) for unobstructed view of the entrance.
Accolade cherry trees are in full bloom in Vancouver right now. Check the VCBF neighbourhood maps and do a Search for Cultivars: Accolade to find them in your neighbourhood.
