The three 'Akebono' trees in the Cherry Grove are finishing their bloom and dropping petals at April 8, 2022. It is interesting that these flowers aren't showing the aging red eyes ("often stained rose red at the base") before petal fall. But the Somei-yoshino in the Cherry Grove, does show the red centres developing .
The mature Somei-yoshino on VanDusen's Rhododendron Walk is approaching peak bloom for Sakura Days at April 8, 2022. Behind it, the 'Yama-zakura' is starting, while the 'Umineko' is just past peak bloom.
Pine Crescent, between W. 34th and W. 35th is lined on both sides with mature trees of Avium Plena, starting their bloom at April 11, 2022.
'Royal Burgundy' is past peak bloom in VanDusen Garden at May 10, 2022. But it has a new leaf emerging, which, along with the colours of the sepals, are about the only 'burgundy' to be found on it. Older leaves are so dark, they look almost black.
'Little Twist' was competing with the Whitcomb to be the first cherry to open in VanDusen Garden on March 22, 2023. As of April 4, it was still in bloom.
The young Whitcomb cherry tree in full bloom on the Rhododendron Walk at VanDusen Garden, on March 29, 2023.
The 'Snofozam' trees at the bottom of the Great Lawn in VanDusen Garden were in bloom at March 29, 2023.
With a week to go before the Sakura Days Fair at VanDusen Garden, some of the cherry trees on the Great Lawn are already in bloom at April 9, 2023. Here is the 'Somei-Yoshino' planted for the VCBF 2015 anniversary in its Sakura Days wrap at the top of the Great Lawn/Cherry Grove, looking pretty close to full bloom. There is another 'Somei-Yoshino' at the bottom of the Great Lawn, to the right of the Beni-Shidare (first picture below). In the second picture below, the 'Beni-Shidare' trees have all opened on the Great Lawn. You can just see the 'Akebono' (lighter, whitish bloom on the left), and the three 'Snofozam' trees (past peak bloom) in the distance. In addition, 'Rancho' is also making early stage moves on the Great Lawn. At least, the two 'Rancho' trees should definitely still be in bloom for another week, and thus make it to Sakura Days. More than that, we dare not say!
Sakura Days are only one week away. As long as no-one cuts the lawn, the petals should be either in the trees or on the ground - good for photos either way.
Here is a lone Beni-shidare right across from the parking lot of VanDusen Botanical Garden, on April 8.
In a rare appearance for Sakura Days, the Sargent Hybrid trees at VanDusen are more than ready for the coming weekend at April 13, 2023. Here is the short tree on the Autumn Stroll in full bloom. The leaf at centre in the second blossom picture obligingly shows it is about to unfold. The two larger Sargent Hybrid trees on Oak Street, outside VanDusen's perimeter fence, are past prime bloom, dropping petals, and getting their aging centre red eyes.
The young 'Snow Goose' planted on Oak Street, near the Sargent Hybrid duo is in full bloom at April 13, 2023. Regarding the practice of using Birchbark Cherry as rootstock, according to the Oregon State University Landscape Plants website: " Sometimes cultivars are grafted on to Prunus serrula, Birchbark Cherry, at a height of about 5 ft to produce a tree with showy flowers and showy bark." Thus it could be said that the incongruous bark provides some winter interest for the tree when the blossoms are finished. Of course, some of us will also argue that no interest is better than eyesore interest.
'Snow Goose' is in full bloom and ready for Sakura Days on VanDusen Garden's Great Lawn at April 14, 2023.
The Schmitt Cherry on VanDusen Garden's Autumn Stroll is also ready for visitors at April 14, 2023. Clear flower pictures of: bronze-green, serrated-margin leaves emerging with the flowers; inrolling petals with rounded tips like the Star Cherry; sepals folding back.
Well, the Cherry trees on the Great Lawn/Cherry Grove are all dressed up, but if the weekend forecast for rain and cool temperatures hold up, they're all dressed up with no where to go. 'Rancho' and 'Some-Yoshino.' 'Beni-shidare' and 'Snow Goose.' 'Beni-shidare' and 'Somei-Yoshino.' 'Akebono' on both sides of the Great Lawn. At least, 'Beni-shidare' looks good, even in rain. It won't appear much different from this April 9th look.
In that photo in posting #240, is the Schmitt cherry tree the one to the left, in the foreground? What's the showy tree in the background with branches down to the ground?
Thanks. I was having trouble seeing what was going on there. All those white flowers, that in the photo looked to me like they belong to the tree in the back, really belong to the tree on the left. Then I thought that the flowers looked a lot showier from a distance than I would have expected, but that's because of the dark background. I've driven by the ones in Kits recently and could see no flowers, even knowing that they must have been there and I'd have seen them if I'd walked up to them.
Hi Anne, Thank you for this and all other postings about cherries at VanDusen Gardens. I was there yesterday and today for Sakura Days, and was able to find most of them. I wouldn't have gone to Autumn Stroll to look for Schmitt and Sargent Hybrid if I didn't see your posts. By the way, here is the Schmit cherry tree Wendy was asking about, from a slightly different angle.
Thank you, Taka! I couldn't believe all the people who came out for Sakura Days despite the rain on both days. We actually offered two kinds of walking tours this year; a long one-hour garden tour that included cherry blossoms as well as other plants; and half-hour tours focusing just on the cherry trees. Guess which one most people preferred. We were running tours back-to-back, right from opening. I had to insist one guide take a half-hour lunch, she was so dripping with water—both from rain and perspiration—excitement, and eager visitors, she didn't want to stop, just one tour after another all day. Too stimulating, if you ask me. We need more visitors, like yourself, to wander around—quietly.
Nice to know there was such enthusiasm for the tours, even with such miserable weather. That seemed very unfair to have the sun appear finally an hour before the festival end time, and then two hours after it was over.
I hate to do this because I know it's not the right thing, but I happened to be in Shaughnessy yesterday when it wasn't raining, and I noticed a beautiful cherry tree on The Crescent, near the intersection with Tecumseh. I rather stupidly didn't take a photo, because I was fairly sure I would not be able to identify the cultivar, and that someone else would most certainly have done so. Now that I have looked at this forum and the old neighbourhood map, I see that nothing has been posted in that location. My feeling was that it was either a Tai Haku or a Mikuruma Gaeshi, but now I have no idea. Does anyone know the tree I'm talking about? Do I need to cycle back there to find it?
I read your posting 15 minutes before we were heading to Delta from Kitsilano, so we left right away and stopped by. The map says this is Shaughnessy Park. 'Takasago', and yes you need to cycle back there right away, as it's at its most beautiful stage right now, with deep purplish-red buds with lots of open pinky-white flowers against branches totally covered with moss. It was pouring rain, but so breath-taking I could not stop taking photos. I didn't actually feel the leaves to be sure they were fuzzy - but I do see some pedicel hairs on the third photo, cropped from the final photo. This 'Akebono' was a block along on The Crescent at McRae.
