Here’s a bit of clarification about the trees in Riley Park (which is a park in the Riley Park neighbourhood). There are in fact two ‘Umineko’ and also one young ‘Akebono’ (done). The location shown on the map is not quite right. Here’s an annotated map for clarification:
The avium 'Plena' trees running a block on the north side of W. 29th, from Yukon to Cambie, are in full bloom at April 28, 2023.
Another illuminating walk and talk with Egan Davis last night - an evening stroll at Mountain View Cemetery. Egan shared his passion for trees with us, emphasizing their form, structure and growth habit. The trees’ silhouettes were beautiful against the twilight sky. And it was warm, too. ‘Kanzan’ blooming now, ‘Shirofugen’ to follow in a week or so.
Lovely eve walk in Mountain view Cemetery on Saturday with Egan and the Tree Talks and Walks. We got a better appreciation for looking at trees at a distance and in profile! Thanks Egan. On our ride home we had to stop to take this quick pic of Shirotae. Illuminated with bike lights! You could Smell the almond scent too.
It's missed the usual 'Somei-Yoshino' blooming time, but it will comfort Lisa to know that her grande dame did finally put out some flowers between April 21st and now, and has managed to finish a brief, belated season at May , 2023.
The three trees of 'Kiku-zakura' near the Duck Pond area of Queen Elizabeth Park are putting out their carnation-like crimson buds at May 1, 2023. Monitor your visits, as the one tree on the right has a few shoots with white blooms that are clearly not the Chrysanthemum Cherry.
The 'Ukon' trees in their grove by the fence in the Pitch and Putt golf course of Queen Elizabeth Park (south side 33rd, west of Ontario) are in full bloom at May 1, 2023. Two of the trees are outside the fence, one with a low hanging branch for very accessible photo shots. Some of the blossoms appear to have more of a creamy white than a yellowish tone. The staminodes adding to their petal count and their red floral bracts are very visible. A bit tricky to find, if your sense of direction is not great, as car, bike and transit access is very indirect and there is a lot of foliage around. But with a successful scouting, you'll share the same sensation of accomplishment of the 18th century plant explorers. Hint: stick close to the fence.
'Mikuruma-gaeshi' (on the south side of W. 37th, west of Alberta) is finishing its bloom at May 1, 2023.
The two young 'Shogetsu' trees to the north of the W. 33rd/Cambie parking lot at Queen Elizabeth Park are just starting their bloom at May 3, 2023. Which gives the opportunity of getting a shot of the "squarish" buds in the last photo.
'Shirofugen trees' showing red phosphorescent centres on the Hillcrest Bike Route, photos taken on May 7th: At 30th & Sophia: And at 31st & Prince Edward:
Hello Willard - more beautiful photos from you - which type of tree is in your autumn foliage photos ? Kanzan is usually upright tall structure, yes? are these the shirofugen (like at Horseshoe Bay ferry ticket booth, blue bus 257, West Vancouver BC - please correct me, I am learning slowly :)
Georgia, (almost) all the cherry scout postings have the tree name in the photo name, including these. The Willard named the first 'Shiro-fugen', second 'Kanzan'. I know it's harder on a phone to see the photo names. Egan did talk about how 'Shiro-fugen' limbs and branches stretch out more straight, and 'Kanzan' limbs and branches are more weepy, particularly on older trees. I'm not very confident about figuring that out this time of year.
Janice, thanks for posting this! I'm going to give the posting a like, but that doesn't mean I like the sad news. We knew it was coming anyway. Nice colour on the 'Akebono' trees.
First Riley Park posting of the year, and my first cherries seen this year, same as post #2 on this neighbourhood's blog Riley Park, from 2008. Two accolades on East 30th Ave between John and Sophia Sts., about 30% in bloom:
Accolade, SW corner of Sophia and 18th. Looking full of bloom this past Thursday. The tree looked skinnier last year!
The 'Pandora' at SW E. 27 and Quebec is past peak bloom at March 25, 2024, a week ahead of its 2023 blooming. It seems to be radiating changing colour from the inside out.
The swarm on a sunny day around the 'Umineko' trees in Queen Elizabeth Park, by the Duck Pond, which are at peak bloom on March 29, 2024. Some flowers starting to show red eyes
A walk along 28th Avenue, from Main Street going east, yielded the following: 'Shirotae', on private property, on the north side of 28th at Sophia 'Akebono' on the north side of 28th at John St. 'Akebono' again on the north side of 28th, between Prince Edward and St. George, fighting it out with an evergreen of some sort 'Akebono' on the south side of 28th closer to St. George Turning south on St. George, at 28th, a few 'Akebono' trees And a nice 'Akebono' planting, with two babies among the full-grown trees, at 29th on St. George One block further south, I came to what I was really looking for - the block of venerable 'Umineko' on both sides of St. George between 30th and 31st Aves.
On the Ontario bike route, between 18th & 16th (the curvy part), 'Ukon' and 'Kanzan' in full bloom - now is the time to see them, and they're quite spectacular - this photo doesn't do them justice. Photo taken today, April 10th:
