[Edited by wcutler on April 6, 2009] Last year I wrote: "Akebonos on Grant McConachie Way to the Vancouver Airport should be out late March. The Kanzans should appear mid April". This year, the location is again a Festival Favourite, and that statement is so not true, or at least the Akebono story is not true. I don't know if Richmond is warmer or cooler than Vancouver, and no-one posted a photo of this location in full bloom last year to give any idea to judge by. Maybe those two cultivars will be out at the same time, since the later trees (Kanzans) are said to come out at their normal time, and the early ones are really late this year.
First posting in 2008 Akebonos on Grant McConachie Way to the Vancouver Airport should be out late March. The Kanzans should appear mid April.
I made an early expedition on March 22, 2008 to Sea Island, Grant McConachie Way. I wasn't really sure what I was looking for, but this is what I found. Photo 1 is beside the PetroCan Station as you exit the airport parkade. Photo 2 is facing east toward the welcome garden. I thought these might be plum. Photo 3 is midway down Grant McConachie Way on the south side. The trees at the PetroCan station were quite spectacular, but at the time I was drawn to the dozens of Magnolia in full bloom on the median. I would be interested in seeing any photos of these trees in bloom as I haven't had the opportunity to scout out there since.
Message from Sue Ross, Communications Specialist of Vancouver Airport Authority: Please see the attached updated map of flowering trees at YVR. Please note this is the proposed/conceptual drawing and as noted on the drawing final locations are to be determined. However, for your purposes it is safe to say the majority of the cherries and other flowering trees will be located along Grant McConachie Way.
Re: Akebono & Kanzan - Richmond Sea Island, Grant McConachie Way [edited by wcutler]:The April issue of "YVR Air Mail" had an article about the cherry trees on Grant McConachie Way. Here was the link ... http://www.yvr.ca/authority/airmail/index.asp?id=929 but it doesn't work any more. If someone finds it and sends me the link, I'll update it.
Richmond - Kilby Street I was invited to meet a woman in Richmond who responded to Steve Whysall's article, thinking her cherry tree might be unusual or noteworthy. From the street (south-facing), the tree appears overwhelming, crowding the bushes and spilling into the ditch. When I met the couple (John & Monda) they told me they bought the tree approx. 41 years ago at Lang's Nursery which used to be at No. 3 Road and Saba. They take photos and mark the bloom each year on the calendar, and again, the bloom is two weeks or more behind this year and seems to be getting a bit later each year. They would love to have the type identified, although John guesses it might be a Kanzan. Please help identify it if you can. On the owner's side of the property, the tree appears much more shapely. It is HUGE and heavy with large pink blossoms and orange-red leaves. Thankfully it is supplied with constant runoff water from the ditch and it appears to be extremely healthy. John told me that the soil is rich in clay. They have never formally pruned the tree, only trimmed the low branches so they they can keep the lawn mowed beneath it. I looking forward to this magnificent tree coming to full bloom and will be photo-visiting every few days for the next couple of weeks. Photos taken 26-APR-08 in the late morning.
I'm not seeing any pictures here but 'Kanzan' ('Kwanzan') is a very common one with double pink flowers and coppery young leaves coming into flower now, so it is a likely suspect.
Re: Richmond - Kanzan on Kilby With a little bit of sun and a little bit of rain, the Kanzan on Kilby Street BURST open last night/this morning. Quite a remarkable difference from just two days ago. I would guess that 70-80% of the blossoms are open and they are so plentiful and bright pink that there is an overall glow. It looks wonderful in contrast to the super green grass. To judge scale, I took a photo of Monda (the owner) under the tree today. Note that it is pouring down rain and I'm sure the branches are being heavily weighted down by water. Should be much more 'poofy' when the wind shakes off the water. Photos taken 28-APR-2008 @ 6pm
Kanzan-Avium & Shirofugen Posted on April 30 When you drive No.3 Road from Vancouver, you will notice strange tree in front of Tom Lee music shop on your righthand side. They are Mixture of Kanzan and Avium. They are examples of Unsuccessful grafting. Do you think they are interesting or Miserable? Beautiful or Ugly? When I parked the car to take pictures, I noticed young Shirofugen trees at the Parking lot of Canadian Tire. (the other side of the Road)
I forgot to post Autumn Colors of Richmond. Young Ama-no-gawas around the Sandman Hotel on Bridgeport Rd were very red on October 25, 2008. Also Kanzans and some Maples were very beautiful at Point Roberts Golf Course. They are not in Richmond, but.... Ama-no-gawas around the Sandman hotel were in bloom with some Kanzans on May 5th last year.
Re: Richmond - 2009 BLOSSOMS START HERE First posting for 2009 blossoms Whitcombs in the shopping square at Alexandra Rd & Hazelbridge Way are in bloom now. They were slower than Whitcombs in Metrotown condo, but now they are almost at the same stage. It was very very windy yesterday (March 31). So I couldn't take good close-up shots. Young Accolades in front of Yaohan Center on No.3 near Cambie have just a few flowers open.
I hope somebody will check these out when they're really in bloom. I think these are Akebonos, on Emerald at the north part of Lynas Lane - a whole street both sides of old Akebonos (I think they'll be Akebonos - they're looking very pink). On Gibbons at Forsyth, just south of a park that belongs to the Thompson School, is a house with six young Akebonos. I'm imagining I see a staminode in that blossom. They seem to not be grafted. Across the street is a house with two old trees that I think are Akebonos. They also don't seem to be grafted.
Whitcomb in Richmond 2009 We saw eight Whitcombs in full bloom at the intersection of Hazelbridge and Alexandra, Richmond, on April 4, 2009. ___________________________ Dingren & Martin:)
The akebono at the Minoru Park's parking lot is in full bloom--probably at its peak time. If you come at sunset, you can catch them bathed in gold. Beautiful! The pictures were taken on April 12, 2009, shortly after the rain. Also, check out this slide video ___________________________ Dingren & Martin :)
About 30 young Akebono are blooming furiously on No. 1 Road between Westminster and River Road. The third is chosen because it resembles a thick bottle brush! _________________ Dingren & Martin :)
The Akenobo cherry in Garry Point Park are now blooming nicely, although some are not quite open yet. In another week, the blossom will be better, so we hope. This place opens to the sea on two sides and is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the sunset. Please look at the slideshow ___________ Dingren & Martin :)
About a dozen beautiful Shirotae are beginning to open in Dorchester Circle on 729x Moffatt Road. Although on a private property, one can easily enjoy these flowering trees by going through maple lined drive way to reach the inner roundabout where these trees are grown. ____________________ Dingren & Martin :)
More Shirotae in Richmond! In addition to the twelve in Dorchester Circle which continue to display their snow white elegance, a grove of about twelve have come into full blossom, too. They are fenced in on Minoru Residence, on Minoru Blvd. right cross the street from Richmond Center. But we can still get a good look at the white blanket of flowers as they are all above the fence. Also, on the Bay parking side, there are eight young Shirotae. As they are not very tall, you can get very close and have a good look at the flowers. ____________ Dingren & Martin :)
Kanzan has arrived in Richmond! Five Kanzan cherry trees have begun to bloom in front of Richmond Art Center at 7000 Minoru Gate. They are just beginning, but they seem to come fast. Two more are at the front entrance of the Library the other side of the building. ______________ Dingren & Martin :)
Twelve Kanzans are beginning to bloom in the back of Brighouse Park (on Granville and Minoru), connecting to Richmond Care Center. Most are already about 40% open, but one or two are still at about 15%. ___________ Dingren & Martin:)
Learn to tell pear from cherry. We saw a group of about 13 or 14 upright blooming trees in the parking lot next to the field of Richmond Secondary High School. The flowers white, with five petals, but not exactly cherries. We called up the consulting company who tagged all the larger trees for inquiry. We are told that they are pear. Due to the construction of Canada Line, they had to be moved from No. 3 road. So, here they are, on the ground of Richmond Second High School. We wonder if we would see some fruits when summer comes. _____________ Dingren & Martin:)
We got Amanogawa! Six Amagonawa are blooming at the intersection of Minoru Blvd and Westminster Hwy, on the South-east corner, right in front for an entrance to Richmond Center. They are in full bloom, but not quite peaked yet. ______________ Dingren & Martin :)
About thirty Kanzans are in full bloom on the medium of No. 2 Road between Westminster Hwy and Granville Ave. Although there are various plants planted in between, they are a nice view to watch as one drives along. ___________ Dingren & Martin:)
Shogetsu in Dorchester Circle! There are nine Shogetsu in various stages of bloom in the center court of Dorchester Circle (7291-7 Moffatt Road). Although on private property, they are easily accessible by passing through the maple lined drive way to the center court. Visitor parking spaces are available. ________________ Dingren & Martin :)
Shirofugen in Dorchester Circle! We discovered a few first flowers amongst many drooping deep pink buds and coppery red leaves of these trees. There are seven trees waiting to open up in and around the center court of Dorchester Circle (7291-7 Moffatt Road). Although on private property, they are easily accessible by passing through the maple lined drive way to the center court. Visitor parking spaces are available. ________________ Dingren & Martin :)
