Toronto Cherry Blossom Watch 2018

Monday, April 23, 2018

Toronto Cherry Blossom Watch 2018

Update May 17: Peak bloom has come to Osgoode Hall on Queen Street West

Osgoode Hall

Update: Saturday, May 5 some of the first blossoms have appeared in High Park. Most of the trees have only florets waiting for peak bloom expected May 9-12. Rain may shorten peak bloom so visit as soon as possible. Queen's Park cherry trees are in peak bloom.

On May 8, 2018 Mayor John Tory and the Consul General of Japan Takako Ito were joined by other city representatives to celebrate the beauty of the High Park Sakura Trees. Blossoms which started blooming on May 4 are expected to peak between four and 10 days. Visitors are asked not to climb or injure the cherry trees or remove blossoms. From the City's press release is the following information.

"Taking in the beauty of the blossoming Sakura trees has become a well-loved tradition in Toronto," said Mayor Tory. "It's important that we continue to care for these living gifts so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come." "Sakura in Toronto symbolize the invaluable friendship between our two countries," said Consul General Ito. "This fact is especially significant this year when we are celebrating the 90th anniversary of Japan-Canada diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of redress for Japanese-Canadians."

"Many of the Sakura trees in High Park are roughly 60 years old. In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada presented 2,000 trees to the people of Toronto on behalf of the people of Tokyo. The trees were planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting relocated Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War. Many of these trees were planted on the hillside overlooking Grenadier Pond. A grove of cherry trees donated by Yoriki and Midori Iwasaki was planted in 1984 in High Park, In 2001 and 2006, a total of 50 additional cherry trees were planted as part of the Sakura Project, a symbol of friendship between Japan and Canada."

Osgoode Hall Law School crab-trees are only starting to bud. May 8, 2018

Previous updates....

Update: Blooms are expected starting May 4-6 and peak bloom from May 9-12!

With only weeks to go before the Sakura cherry trees in High Park begin to sprout experts are debating whether the buds will go to leaves or to blossom - hopefully the majority of buds will flower. The beautiful weather brought many families out to the park, but they are a fraction of the people that will invade the area when the blossoms are in peak bloom which will be sometime in early to mid-May. Experts have narrowed down the window for peak bloom between May 5-12, 2018.

The High Park Trackless Train is already winding its way along the paths throughout the park. Until April 30 the train only runs on the weekend. Between May 1 and Labour Day the trains run daily from 10:30am in the morning. After Labour Day until October 31st the trains switch back to weekend operations. Cost is $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and children.

Hopefully the blast of cold weather in April won't stop the buds from blossoming into the beautiful cherry blossoms.

There are plenty of places around Toronto where you can find fruit trees so keep an eye open for the coming blossoms. You can find them in Exhibition Place, on the Toronto Islands, at U of T, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Osgoode Law School, along University Avenue and by old City Hall.