Accolades Accolades have started to bloom in and around the Granville Park property which is located on the SW corner of Gilbert-Granville intersection. A smaller tree on Granville Ave., is almost in full bloom. It is very easily accessible. Right on the corner, a tall tree has also begun to bloom, but is much more difficult to appreciate due to its height. Altogether,in and around the Granville Park, we counted 18 accolades. The ones inside the community are not quite open yet. In addition to the two described above, there are four tall ones on the west border (more easily seen from Livingston Pl) in full bloom. Google maps
Pandora The 9 Pandora trees in front of 8644 Jones Road, Richmond, are now in full blossom. Today, with the bright sunshine, the blossoms are visited by many humming bees. A couple of finches also played their fun parts by picking on the flowers.
Dingren, we were in Richmond and stopped to admire them. Should the address be 5560 Minoru Blvd. (just north of Lansdowne)?
You are right, Anne. Thanks for pointing this out and we have made the correction. I am so happy that you came to Richmond to see Shosar!
Cherry Blossom? Not sure if either are cherry blossom... please help! Either way, they're pretty to see at Minoru Park :) Sunny day = Photography Heaven!
The one on the left is an unusually beautiful plum, or maybe it's just a great photo. The one on the right is 'Accolade' cherry, also nice photo. The tree in the middle photo is the 'Accolade', is that right?
Thanks for clarifying! The plums ARE pretty! But now that you mentioned it, I realize it does look "lollipop-ish"! And yes, the tree in the middle is the tree of the Accolade cherry on the right. Thanks!
Shosar The five Shosars in 5520-5560 Minoru Blvd are in very good blooming conditon now. Even though the sunshine has been somewhat uncertain, the flowers are in their best! Map:here
Somei-Yoshino Three somei-yoshinos, two in the west gate of Richmond Center near the Bay, one on its north side along the Westminster Hwy, are start to bloom, sending a message that spring is actually coming! Map: Here
Beni-shidari On the corner of Garden City Road and Pigott Road, we found this large beni-shidari in full blossom. It is a very beautiful tree. MAP: here
Somei-yoshino The lone Somei-yoshino is blooming now at entrance of South Arm Community, near the intersection of Garden City Road and Williams Road, Richmond. MAP: Here
Accolade About 50 Accolade trees are in full bloom along Williams Road between No.4 Rd. and Shell Road. They are beautiful. It's a pity that Williams Road doesn't permit parking, but it has bike routes on both directions. To enjoy this strip of blooming accolade, biking is probably the best. However, we must admit, whizzing by in a car and counting the number of trees is quite interesting, too. Map: Here
Somei-yoshino Nine some-yoshino trees are blooming on Granville Ave. in the stretch between Minoru Park parking and Minoru Soccer Field. Most of their branches don't spread out properly (as most Somei-yoshinos do when given enough space) because they were planted in between large trees. Poor Somei-yoshinos! They only get to show themselves before the leaves of those large trees come out. And, two of them apparently are in poor health with witches broom growing powerfully on them.
Akebono Two big Akebono cherries have started to bloom at 6011 Alta Ct. which is right on the intersection with Azure Road. This is among the first Akebonoes that we saw opening this year. Map: here
Akebono Two Akebono trees have begun to bloom in front of the Catholic church on 5771 Granville Ave.. The flowers were droopy due to the heavy rain overnight. Map: Here
Can this be O-Yama-zakura? At 6231 Azure Road, we saw this large (approx. 4cm across), rather bright pink, single cherry blossom. The flowers open flat in 2- flowered umbels. The tree is relatively young. The bud scales look shiny. Probably we should have tried to touch them to feel if they are indeed sticky. Map: Here
Accolade All the 22 Accolade trees in Granville Park on 6833 Livingstone Place are blooming beautifully. Previously we reported 18 trees. This time we counted more carefully and hence the corrected number. Map:Here
Accolade in Minoru Park It's just in the right time at the right place. This Accolade standing by the bridge in Minoru park has gained the admiration of many visitors to the park. But we must admit, this tree looks really beautiful at its blooming peak.
Somei-yoshino in Minoru Park This Somei-yoshino stands so beautifully near Minoru Chapel in the Park. You see its crown from a distance, and as you get closer, its beauty unfolds. And it was such a nice sunny afternoon! Map: Here
Re: What cherry? Single pink blossoms before leaves, upright, mid-season Azure Road is indeed interesting. We have been pleasantly surprised each time we rode along. From what we could see, these interesting cherry trees are all on private land, on people's front yards. By the way, "Ito-kukuri"s are on the property of WorkSafe BC, on Westminster Hwy which intersects with Azure Road.
Akebono In Richmond There are several places in Richmond you can view Akebono blooming this time. Aquatic Center(>30) Public Market(>10) General Currie Elementary High (>5, Giant trees) Granville Ave. (opposite to Aquatic Center, >5) No. 1 between Westminster & River Road (34) Garry Point Park (>250 >60 new) School Board, Brundell Road (>10) Williams Road(bt No 4 Road & Garden City)
Sargent cherry We went back to 6231 Azure Road to check on the O-yama-zakura, also called Sargent cherry. It is in full bloom now. We also found the new leaves and the bracts sticky to the touch. Although a relatively small tree, its roots are rather large and bulgy--can this be a sign that the tree will grow to be really large? [Edited by wcutler: a recent search for this tree indicates that it is no longer there] We also took note of the white filaments. (From the vcbf handbook, it is probably the most telling sign to distinguish Sargent cherry from Rancho.)
Shirotae Shirotae has definitely started to bloom in Richmond! We have watched the greenish buds showing white tips--and the white tips grow longer as the weather warmed. Finally, yesterday, under the bright sunshine, we saw the first of Shirotae flowers displaying their pure white beauty! Oh, the place is Dorchester Circle on 7291 Moffatt road. Other places to find Shirotae are: 1. Minoru Park, near Minoru chapel (only one tree, but in excellent condition); 2. The parking lot in front of The Bay on the north side of Richmond Center (6 trees, but not in too good condition), and 3. on the west side Minoru Ave., cross the road from Richmond Center.
Hmm. That would be great if it could be a distinguishing feature, but I don't know about that. The red filaments in the 'Rancho' photo in the book could be just because the blossoms are aging - note the deeper colour at the centre of the petals. That happens on a lot of the cherry flowers as they age. Look at the white filaments in the first posting in the Rancho - early mid season, single pink blossoms, upright, reddish leaves thread. Check the filaments on this tree in a few days to see if they're not red.
