Tag: Akebono cherry trees

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Yesterday’s news – 2023 International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition

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International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition

The 2023 Second International Cherry Blossom Predition Competition closed on February 28. Vancouver’s location for the competition is again the ‘Akebono’ trees in Maple Grove Park, at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Yew Street. The overall consensus for the blooming date for these trees in 2023 is April 5. On March 20, the Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition’s Jonathan L. Auerbach spoke with CBC Radio’s Gloria Macarenko about trying to figure out when the Instagram-worthy blossoms will appear. Here is the 6-minute interview: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-46-on-the-coast/clip/15973390-what-day-think-cherry-blossoms-bloom-year.

Douglas Justice, Associate Director, Horticulture & Collections at UBC Botanical Garden, and Wendy Cutler, VCBF Cherry Scout Co-ordinator, have begun following the blooming progress of these trees; Douglas will report the “official” peak bloom date for this location for this year.

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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, buds not more than starting to open on March 16. Photos by Wendy Cutler.
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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, pink buds are evident on March 21. Photos on this date by Wendy Cutler.
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One of the three large trees at Maple Grove Park. There is a fourth younger tree in this group; the bloom date of the flowers on that tree are not being considered for the competition.
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‘Akebono’ cherries in Maple Grove Park, pink buds are evident on March 21.
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Two days later, March 23, cooler than 10C degrees and partly rainy. Still, there is some reddening of the overall tree colour with advancing bud development.
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March 23 – Some buds have started to swell, but others not yet. Pedicels (flower stems) are starting to be visible, are less than 1cm.
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March 23 – These are the only open flowers on any of the trees.
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Another two days have elapsed, but not much development has occurred. These are still the only open flowers. The weather was better, but a little below 10C degrees.
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March 23, it’s hard to judge the the overall colour compared to what it was when the weather was so dreary two days ago.
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March 23, more of the pedicels were approaching 1 cm.

Here are photos from Douglas Justice taken on March 27. I think the first one features the same two flower clusters as just above. It was below 10C degrees in the intervening days, and little progress has been made.

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Douglas Justice’s March 29 photos show a little more blooming progression, and another area with some open flowers. These two days had temperatures a few degrees above 10C.

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Pedicels in this photo have definitely elongated, are 1-2 cm, buds are a lighter pink shade.

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April 1 – there are enough open flowers to offer nice photos. But, we’re not even at 25% open. The photos are by Wendy Cutler.

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April 4 – the advancement in blooming is noticeable now in Douglas Justice’s photos compared with three days ago. It’s been cold (below 10C degrees) but progress is now inexorable.

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April 5 – not much sun today, wind bringing in the predicted rain for the next few days.

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April 7 – surely far more than half these flowers are open. Our spec for “peak bloom” is 70% open. Douglas Justice has now called it – peak bloom on April 7. Wendy Cutler got to photograph them.

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A sunny moment on the trees complete changes the colour in photos. This is the same photoshoot as the previous photo.

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You can find last year’s photos at https://vcbf.ca/2022-cherry-blossom-prediction-competition/.

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Photos

Akebono at Coal Harbour

Nice curve of Akebono along the seawall at Coal Harbor this morning. Many people out taking photos by them!

Lisa L. on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Downtown
Photo: Lisa L.
Photo: Lisa L.
Photo: Lisa L.
Categories
Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

The Indicator Tree

Many cherry blossom festivals have selected a special tree to serve as an “index tree” (Tokyo) or “indicator tree” (Washington D.C.) When over 70% of its flowers are in bloom, they declare that cherry trees are officially in bloom in the city.

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival does not have an official indicator tree so, for the purpose of the First International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition, the Akebono trees in Maple Grove Park, at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Yew Street, were designated as the Vancouver location. In a way, these trees will serve as our first indicator trees.

Douglas Justice is monitoring the trees and will declare their official blooming date. Stay tuned for the big reveal.

Photo: Douglas Justice.
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Photos

Akebono at Burrard Skytrain Station

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Akebono cherry trees at Burrard Skytrain Station are now ready for their closeups reports Wendy Cutler, VCBF Cherry Scout leader, on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Downtown.

Photo: Wendy Cutler.
Photo: Wendy Cutler.
Photo: Wendy Cutler.
Photo: Wendy Cutler.

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Haiku Photos

Cherry Trees and Haiku: A Digital Haiku Hedge by Lesley Donaldson

Point Grey resident Lesley Donaldson is usually displaying haiku on her hedge during cherry blossom season, but this year is different. She writes:

“I can’t assemble my Haiku Hedge this year because of social distancing and no gathering rules. So instead I am organizing a digital Haiku Hedge.”

Since March 25, Lesley sends to her family and friends a daily e-mail featuring a photo of her cherry trees and a haiku written by herself or by haiku masters. Here are some photos and haiku shared by Lesley.

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Listen! Hear the voices

six feet apart –

between the blossomed trees

 

Lesley Donaldson

 

 

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In these latter-day

degenerate times,

cherry-blossoms everywhere!

 

Kobayashi Issa (1763 – 1828)

 

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Pale mountain sky:

cherry petals play

as they tumble earthward

 

Kusama Tokihiko (1920 – 2003)

 

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The light of a candle

Is transferred to another candle—

Spring twilight

 

Yosa Buson (1716 – 1784)

 

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Lesley, whose hedge has been  featured in the Georgia Straight, wrote about her beautiful Akebono cherry trees:

“I have four huge cherry trees planted over 30 years ago along the west side of my house. I live on a corner lot and I remember when I planted them my mother saying “people going places will say, ‘turn at the corner where the cherry trees are’”.  I liked that idea.”

She might have been wrong though –  I think people mainly notice my deep green yew hedge, 6 feet high that encloses my property.  It is clipped and maybe 200 ft long (…) and in the spring, when the pink blossoms fall from the cherry trees, it reminds me of sprinkles.”

At a time when the global order is in chaos (…) I find comfort in looking out of my windows at the giant cherry tree trunks “

 

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Lesley has been participating in the VCBF Haiku Invitational for many years, winning an honourable mention in 2008:

 

The carpet of blossoms—

my granddaughter in her pink dress

does a twirl

 

Lesley Donaldson (VCBF haiku invitational 2008 Adult Honourable Mention)

 

You too! You can share your love of cherry blossoms through haiku. Submit your poem to the VCBF haiku invitational.

Categories
Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Virtual visit of Akebono cherry trees at Burrard skytrain station (interactive map)

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Our beautiful Akebono cherry trees are blooming at Burrard Skytrain station.

Since the Vancouver City issued an order to respect physical distancing due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we thought we’d offer you a safe way to do cherry blossom viewing. . .  online.

Click on this interactive map for a virtual visit of Akebono cherry trees outside Burrard Skytrain station.

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All photos by Jessica Tremblay.

Burrard skytrain station is a truly special location for cherry blossom viewing in Vancouver.  There are thirty-four Akebono cherry trees outside the station: one tree at the front, then three rows of trees. Walking under the canopy is a true pleasure.

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The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival usually holds its festival launch — the popular Cherry Jam concert — at this location, but unfortunately we had to cancel this year because of Covid-19.

If you go cherry blossom viewing, please be safe and maintain physical distancing.

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Cherry Scouts Photos

A full day of cherry blossom viewing in Vancouver

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First, I visit the Accolade cherry trees at Chilco Park (Chilco/Comox). “Hey, the cherry blossoms are out!” said a man cycling by.

Tip: The Accolade blossoms are 70% in bloom. Visit this location within 10 days to enjoy peak blossom.

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Then, I check on the Akebono cherry trees at Burrard skytrain station.  Mostly buds, but the trees at the front (which are exposed to the sun) already have a few flowers.

Tip: It looks like the cherry blossoms will be fully open in 10 days. Visit around March 25 to experience peak bloom.

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Whitcombs cherry blossoms at Ayshire and Aubrey in Burnaby are finally open. The trees are bloomed at 70%.

Tip: Visit within 7 days to catch peak bloom and 10-15 days to be showered in petals.

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Wow! That was an exciting day of cherry scouting!  At night, I sort through my photos. The next day, I post my findings on the UBC botanical garden forum.

Tip: Did you know you can see what’s blooming in your neighbourhood by visiting the UBC botanical garden forum? Click on your neighborhood and navigate to the last page to see what was posted recently.

Additional tip: Create a login and you’ll be able to subscribe to a thread to receive news of blooming trees in your neighbourhood.

If you’d like to learn how to identify cherry trees, visit the VCBF cherry scout page.

Categories
Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

The Big Picnic

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The atmosphere was very festive for The Big Picnic at the Queen Elizabeth Park.  Hundreds of people gathered under cherry trees to enjoy a community picnic and watch musical performances while Akebono cherry petals quietly fell all around.

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Join us for more fun under cherry blossoms such as Bike the Blossoms and more activities featured on our community events page.

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Photos

Downtown walk under Akebono blossoms

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Akebono cherry trees have reached peak bloom in downtown Vancouver. It’s a lovely time for a walk.

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Want to know more about Vancouver cherry trees? Join our free Cherry Talks and Walks starting this Sunday April 7.

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Photos

Akebono shines in Stanley Park

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At the rose garden in Stanley Park, Akebono cherry trees are full of buds. The blossoms will reach peak bloom in a few days, just in time for our Tree Talk and Walk on Sunday April 7.

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Meanwhile, at the entrance of Stanley Park, Akebono trees are in full bloom. The blossoms are glowing in the sun.

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Check out the Akebono in your neighborhood this week-end to be covered with petals. Or, better, attend The Big Picnic at Queen Elizabeth park on April 13. There will be food, music, dance, and blossoms

Happy cherry blossom viewing!