A festival fan added this location to our map, but didn't add a link to a photo, so here it is - three 'Akebono' at the lane behind 1331 W. Georgia, with more of these trees farther down the lane.
Re: Downtown - the first Akebono blossoms of 2013 Well, it was two weeks - they were open on Wednesday and were all nice and white today for our walk. I'm guessing there were about 85 people (photo at Burrard Skytrain Station) - this wasn't advertised on the festival website this year, as the festival doesn't start until April 4. Many thanks to Cherry Scout helpers Kennyc and Dingren (photos at the plaza on Georgia at Denman), and to Laura, whose photo I neglected to get. We've had warm sunny weather for a week, and it's wreaked havoc with my schedule. Everything was progressing nice and slowly like last year, and all of a sudden, cultivars that showed no indication of opening when I saw them on Wednesday, when I made up my map for the walk, were open today. We were going to go out of our way to see one 'Shirotae' tree, but by the time we were nearby, we had seen several. These along the east wall at the Westin Bayshore are fully open. This nice 'Akebono' is in the hotel's inner (but not enclosed) courtyard or garden.
Emery Barnes Park Well the Rancho trees outside Choices have not aged too well it seems and are getting a bit scrawny. Maybe they could use some of those healthy foods. The Akebono's in Emery Barnes Park across the street though are looking fine as are those ornamental pear blossoms.
Helmcken Park The residents of Yaletown House get to enjoy these Akebono blossoms in their courtyard but those passing through Helmcken Park at the NW corner of Cambie & Pacific can also get a nice view.
Helmcken Park Update Five years later, the Shirotae's are looking good, a nice contrast to the Akebono's nearby in the Yaletown House courtyard.
Re: Emery Barnes Park The next wave of blossoms have arrived and are now on display the whole block across the street!
Beatty Walk Kanzan Blossoms I think these Kanzan's were planted by Concord Pacific in 1998 when the Marinapointe Strata complex was completed. They were first reported though in 2010 in post 86 and subsequently followed in post's 105, 106 and 107 from 2011. I probably have photos from 2012 and possibly before 2010 somewhere but these trees are pretty well documented now (except for the exact count :). Kanzan's (aka Kwanzan or Sekiyama, a mountain in China) are pretty common around here. It is odd that the 5 cm wide blossom has 30-50 petals but is related to trees with blossoms of just 5 smaller petals. Also note the vase shaped tree, bronzy coloured leaves and crimson buds.
Ukon @ Expo x Pacific Blvd + Kanzen There is also a Kanzen with the Ukon all in bloom together this year. There are also many trees on the same median that have yet to blossom. The Sakura Illumination tonight at Douglas Park was good and it is scheduled to come to Yaletown so maybe these might be ready for it then.
New Planting! Well the Ukon blossoms at Expo Blvd & Pacific are nearly done BUT the Kanzan's are looking good at Beatty Mews nearby and right down Davie St. near Granville St. One surprise was a new planting of a Rancho outside the lane off Choices Yaletown.
Cherry Trees - Fall 2013 Display This years long hot dry summer has resulted in a colourful fall display!
Roger's Arena Trees in Fall The colourful leaf display on these trees after a long hot dry summer 2013!
Re: Downtown - the first Akebono blossoms of 2014 Here we go, same story, same camera, same lame photo, and just a little earlier than the past two years, which were March 15 and March 13. But the festival dates are later this year. For the past four years, it has been two weeks from the date of first blossom photo until peak bloom, which would put peak bloom at March 23. The Cherry Jam will be on April 3, 12 days after peak bloom if the 2-week rule holds. Our first couple of years, it was a 21-30 day rule, from earlier first photo dates, but there are a lot of pink buds.
Re: Downtown - the first Akebono blossoms of 2014 It looks like we're back to the 21 day rule. It's been 20 days since my first-blossoms photo. They're still looking quite pink, though my phone camera enhances that colour, even after I've tried to remove it. They'll still be perfect for the Sakura Jam and Joseph Lin's walk on April 3 and my walk on April 5. Here is the new 'Akebono', planted to replace the one planted by the festival in 2006 that was mysteriously cut down. I'm surprised that I can find no mention of these 'Rancho' in containers in front of Pacific Centre on Georgia at Howe. I'm sure I've noticed them before, but maybe they've finally got large enough to look interesting.
Re: Roger's Arena Trees in Fall Oh no - the construction crews have torn up these trees and they are now lying uprooted waiting for disposal.
Helmcken Park The residents of Yaletown House are enjoying these Akebono blossoms now in their private courtyard. The tree in the public park has yet to bloom.
Re: Roger's Arena Trees in Fall Thanks for letting us know. I've removed them from the map. This is a sad year so far - several nice trees gone.
David Lam Park Akebono's These still seem a bit small 5 years after planting but there seems to be some newly planted additions near the Elsie Roy School side of the park. Nicely blooming now. Look like bouquets on a stick!
Emery Barnes Park The trees in the park are back in fine form. Same can't be said for the little trees besides Choices although there are a few blossoms out now. Hope for more to come.
Re: Emery Barnes Park IIRC, there were a few 'Pink Perfection' that have been removed, or is there still one? I don't know if they've replaced them with anything. And the one 'Rancho'.
