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Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

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

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.

Burrard skytrain map
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 Jam Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Jam opening concert at Burrard Skytrain

It was a gorgeous sunny day for the opening of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival at the Burrard skytrain station today.

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The Akebono cherry buds were about to open, and there were some blossoms at the top of the trees.

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First stop: the Cocktails and Canape booth where you could pick up a Blossom Bliss picnic, along with cherry blossom shake, and popcorn dessert.

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After browsing the vendors’ table, it was time to pick a spot: the show was about to start.

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First, Sinfonia Orchestra took the stage for an amazing concert. A choir accompanied them on stage, and then some flash-mob singers, dispersed throughout the crowd, joined their voice for a rendition of Sakura! Sakura! I’m really glad they played it twice because that was a pretty cool to hear all the voices joining the choir from everywhere in the station.

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Then, we were delighted by the sound of Son De Maple, a Vancouver based band with a latin sound and the most amazing percussionist I’ve ever seen (never thought someone could play a tambourine like this).

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The Cherry Jam concert ended with the Uzume Taiko drumming group. They were accompanied  by members of the South Asian Arts group who made us dance to the sound of Bollywood music.

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Linda Poole, the festival director, closed the festivities and wished everybody a happy spring and a great Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival.

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The Akebono cherry trees, which are be 2-3 weeks behind the normal blooming season, are just about to open everywhere in the city, so go visit soon!

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Leaving the station, I saw a woman taking pictures of the smaller tree planted in front of the station and realized this was probably my best chance for me to get a close-up  of the blossoms. The tree is in the sunlight. It was perfect.

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If you didn’t pick up a VCBF schedule at the festival tent, you’ll find it in this this week’s Georgia Straight. Visit our website for a complete list of activities and updates.

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Cherry Jam Merchandise Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Jam concert at Burrard skytrain

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off today with the Cherry Jam, a free concert held at the Burrard skytrain station in downtown Vancouver.

This year, several artists teamed up to offer a multidisciplinary experience: The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra performed first, then stayed on stage to accompany two dancers and a Japanese singer.

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Chinese musician Ji Rong Huang played the er-hu while Dayna Szyndrowski performed tap dancing. I was blown away that someone had thought of mixing these two different art forms together. And they worked perfectly!

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Japanese artist Yayoi Hirano from Yayoi Theatre Movement performed haiku in mime while accompanied by the flute music of Holly Burke. (No pictures, but I took a video.)

Vancouver Okinawa Taiko group closed the show with powerful drumming and dancing.

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All performances were wonderful and memorable!

Festival volunteers at the VCBF table were handing out the 2016 Cherry Blossom guide which you can also find in this week’s The Vancouver Courier Newspaper and WE | The Westender.

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Spring came early, so all cherry blossom were gone at the Burrard skytrain station, but there was a birthday blossom tree at one of the kiosks, so I was able to take pictures of the blossoms.

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Akebono cherry trees are losing their petals, but there are plenty of cherry blossoms elsewhere in the city: Shirotae, beni-shidare, and soon Kanzan will bloom.  Are you ready to celebrate spring?

Don’t go cherry blossom viewing without these essential items: the VCBF guide, a cherry petal mat and a guide to Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver.

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Happy Cherry Blossom Viewing!

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Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Burrard skytrain station

It was cloudy when I visited the akebono cherry trees at Burrard skytrain station, but at least it wasn’t raining.

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I was surprised to find the future location of our Cherry Jam (March 24) in full bloom!

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The branches are full of blossoms.

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It was fun to take pictures of the blossoms against the surrounding downtown buildings.

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Cherry blossoms are already falling, so hurry up to visit that location.

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If you’d like a guided tour of the Downtown/West-End cherry trees, join our Cherry Talk and Walk this Saturday March 12 2016 1.30-3.30 with Wendy Cutler. Meet at Burrard skytrain station.

Photos: Jessica Tremblay

Categories
Cherry Scouts Photos

Akebono cherry trees blooming at Burrard skytrain station

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The beautiful Akebono cherry trees are in bloom at Burrard skytrain station.

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The trees will be in bloom for another 7-10 days.

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Lots of benches for a quick hanami lunch, but expect a lot of activities and photographers.

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When Akebono start blooming, you can see one of their main characteristics: some Akebono cherry blossoms have a sixth incomplete petal growing. This petaloid will fall a bit later, that’s why it’s important to visit the trees early if you want to identify them as Akebono (as opposed to Somei-Yoshino).

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Burrard skytrain is one of our favorite locations Downtown.  Because the trees are blooming earlier this year, we’ve added cherry talk and walk (Downtown and Stanley park) on Saturday March 14 2015 2-4pm

 

 

 

 

Categories
Cherry Scouts Photos

Akebono cherry trees at Burrard skytrain

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The beautiful Akebono cherry trees are full of buds at Burrard skytrain station.

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Some flowers are out already.

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The location should be in full bloom within 2-3 days.

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Plan to visit soon when the blossoms will open.

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Photos

Akebono at Burrard Skytrain Station

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The Akebono cherry trees are blooming at the Burrard Station (and everywhere in Vancouver!)

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Under the pink canopy, people are taking pictures, having lunch or doing plein-air painting.

 

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The branches are filled with blossoms.

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Akebono cherry blossoms are naturally photogenic.

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A beautiful afternoon for cherry blossom viewing!

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Burrard Station will be home to our Cherry Jam concert, Thursday April 3,  from 12.00-1.30! Join us for an afternoon of music, dance and poetry!

12pm              Welcome by Linda Poole and Norma Reid
12:05pm         Tetsu Taiko (20 minutes)
12:28pm         Haiku Bard by Christopher Gaze (8 minutes)
12:36pm         Michael Averill (15 minutes)
12:50pm         Yayoi Theatre Movement (15 minutes)
1:10pm           Vancity Soran (15 minutes)

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Photos

Burrard Station Update

Burrard skytrain station March 25 2013

At the Burrard skytrain station there are lots of cherry buds right now but only a  few cherry blossoms are open.

Burrard skytrain station March 25 2013

The Akebono cherry blossoms should be open by the end of this week.

Subscribe to the blog to receive updates directly in your inbox (you’ll find the Follow the blog by e-mail box in the left column).

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Cherry Jam Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival banner

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2013 banner at Burrard skytrain station

The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival banner is up at the Burrard skytrain station.

We have so many activities planned for the festival from April 4-30 2013!  Mark these dates to your calendar:

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2013 banner at Burrard skytrain station

Come celebrate spring with us!

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Photos

Akebono at Burrard station

Burrard station Akebono Mar 23 2013

This Akebono cherry tree located outside Burrard sky train station (facing Robson street) is starting to bloom.

It’s a great location to take pictures of budding blossoms but it’s essential that you go in the morning to catch the morning sun (otherwise the tree will be shaded by nearby buildings).

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The light was just perfect this morning at 9.30am.

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The cherry tree is mostly buds at the moment, but if you have a good zoom on your camera you can do closeups of fully formed blossoms.

Burrard station Akebono Mar 23 2013

These budding cherry blossoms will delight visitors in a few days!

Photography tips: great location to catch budding Akebono cherry blossoms. A few blossoms are also open. It’s essential to visit in the morning before the tree get shaded by neighboring buildings. (These pictures were taken at 9.30am).

Cherry blossom viewing tip:  wait 5-7 days to visit this location (the blossoms will be fully formed then).

Did you know? This Akebono cherry tree was planted by VCBF Director Linda Poole in March 2006. Look how tall it has grown since!