Try comparing the back of the flowers, with the stems on, preferably on the tree (since the stems don't fall with the flowers anyway). Mariko's theory is that 'Somei-yoshino' should have longer thinner sepals, and longer thinner pedicels; from the front, backlit on the trees, the flowers of 'Somei-yoshino' should have larger stars. I'm adding to that hairier pedicels. I think all these distinctions are unreliable. In the April 1 first photo, I would jump to the conclusion that the whiter-appearing trees in the centre green patch were 'Somei-yoshino' and the ones near the building 'Akebono'. I think that's where @Jacqueline Lee and I were sure some trees were 'Somei-yoshino' that @Douglas Justice said were 'Akebono' (but I'm usually lost out there, maybe it's not the same location). So much for some discussion I was part of recently about 'Somei-yoshino' dropping whole flowers but 'Akebono' dropping petals. That's not reliable either. OH, I also used to think 'Somei-yoshino' flowers were a bit smaller than 'Akebono' (well, our Ornamental Cherries book does say that), but I saw large 'Somei-yoshino' flowers last week, and new flowers would not have reached their full size. The system just notified me that the posting #349 came in as I was working on this. You can see in the last blossom photo some short thick pedicels and some long thin pedicels, and some short thick sepals and some long narrow sepals. Really, these things don't follow rules. You're determined to sort them out, and they're determined that you will not.
There are about 15 cherry trees near the Old Barn Community Centre on Thunderbird Blvd in between Eagle Dr. and Larkin Dr. I did not examine each tree closely, but from a quick perusal they all seem to be 'Akebono.' They are not at peak bloom yet, but they are well on their way!
The 'Akebono' on Agronomy between Main Mall and East Mall are in full bloom. These pictures are the ones on the south side of the road that are doing a little better.
The 'Accolade' at Main Mall and Stores is in full bloom. The ground is covered with petals and blossoms.
The 'Akebono' behind the David Lam Learning Centre are in bloom. The 'Akebono' are blooming on Memorial Rd in front of the Old Administration Building. Some trees appear full of blooms while others are still mostly buds. Unfortunately, a group of school children were swinging on branches and ripping clusters of blossoms off.
There is a tree in bloom at the end of the C.K. Choi Building at the corner of West Mall and Crescent Rd. I think it is 'Somei-yoshino' because of the whiter petal colour, long sepals, and prominent star shapes. (Against this is the fact that it seems to be top grafted.) The 'Somei-yoshino' at 6205 Cecil Green Park Road is starting to bloom.
Lower Mall is a sight to behold! The 'Somei-yoshino' and 'Akebono' along lower mall are not quite at full bloom yet, but they are on their way The 'Akebono' at Lower Mall and University Blvd are stunning! The wooden platforms make it a great place for picnics and portraits, but it is usually very busy here.
There are three trees in front of Harvest Market at the corner of University Blvd and West Mall. I think they might be 'Somei-yoshino' because the petals are whiter than the nearby 'Akebono' and because the tree shape resembles the 'Somei-yoshino' on Lower Mall.
There were lots of people doing serious photo shoots yesterday, especially around Lower Mall and University Blvd, but I was shocked to see several ill-mannered people climbing on the branches of the 'Somei-Yoshino'. [Lower Mall at University Blvd.] ’Somei-Yoshino' [Lower Mall at University Blvd.] 'Akebono' [Behind Chan Centre] ’Somei-Yoshino' [Cecil Green Park Rd.] ’Somei-Yoshino' [Memorial Rd. by the School of Music building] 'Akebono'
The 'Somei-yoshino' on Thunderbird Blvd north of Father Bauer Arena/Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. (The map marker is in the correct place but the location given on the map says "Agronomy Road in front of Stadium.") The 'Akebono' on Thunderbird Blvd between Eagle Dr and Larkin Dr are in their full glory! The same goes for the 'Akebono' on the footpath across the athletic fields (2700 East Mall on the map). It looks like the leaves are starting to come through in places. The 'Akebono' and the 'Accolade' at 2707 Tennis Court.
I think there is a 'Somei-yoshino' behind the UBC Tennis Centre (the side facing Wolfson East Field). There are pronounced stars in the blossoms and the pedicels are hairy.
There is a tree in Acadia Park in between Acadia Park Lane, Keremeos Ct and Oyama Ct. I'm guessing 'Akebono' but it is difficult. It is a rather odd tree as it seems that each branch is developing at a different stage. Some are full of buds, others are in bloom, and others are already growing leaves!
I think it looks like 'Somei-yoshino', particularly because of those nice hairs on the pedicels in your last photo, and the stars, and some white buds. And the weirdness, particularly since it looks grafted, which should not have been necessary for 'Somei-yoshino'. Maybe different limb grafts were more or less successful than others. On the group of three trees of which I was following the blooming progress for the international blooming date prediction competition (Blooming Now - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival; as of right now, the peak photos are only at https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/kerrisdale.36008/page-9#post-447322), the trees were all progressing differently, but also, the slowest tree had one section still with opening buds at the over-all peak bloom date; one tree had a section with all open flowers before the rest of the tree had hardly any open flowers; and one tree seemed to be between those two, which was good because the flowers were up high and it was almost impossible to get photos of the buds in focus.
The 'Shirotae' have started blooming. Most of the 'Shirotae' around Regent College are still buds, but some of the trees have started blooming. One of the 'Shirotae' 2075 East Mall is still mostly buds, but the two smaller trees on the other side of the door are full of blossoms. The 'Shirotae' directly in front of Fraser Parkade only have buds while the smaller trees across Memorial Road are in bloom.
There are two trees at the corner of Wycliffe Road and Acadia Road. The branches are high above the sidewalk, but I think they are 'Akebono.' The rest of Wycliffe Road is lined with plums.
There is an 'Akebono' hanging over the sidewalk on Western Crescent halfway between Kingston Road and Chancellor Boulevard.
There are several 'Akebono' on Western Parkway and Allison Road. This tree is on Western Parkway near house number 1758. This tree is on Western Parkway at the corner with Campus Road. This tree is on Allison Road at the corner of Allison and College Highroad This tree is on McMaster Road at the corner with Allison Road.
These are the trees on Thunderbird Blvd in front of Totem Park. They are listed on the map as 'Akebono.' The blossoms are still nice but nearing their end and the leaves are coming in.
The 'Shirotae' surrounding Regent College are in full bloom. These pictures are on the side of Wesbrook Mall.
There are 2 "magic" (aka grafted) trees and one young 'Kanzan' in between the parking lot of Cecil Green Park House and the back of the Anthropology Department. This is the 'Kanzan': Here are the two mixed trees: Half of the branches appear to be 'Kanzan': The other half of the branches have white cherry blossoms that I'm struggling to identify. Prominent features include: -fragrant -white -petals not overlap much -very long style -2-4 (3 most common) flowers per umbel -flowers hang down -long, hairless pedicels -bulbous red/green calyx tube - green sepals recurved -green/bronze leaves -back of new leaves hairy My guesses include 'Washi-no-o,' 'Yama-zakura,' and 'Avium Plena' 'Washi-no-o': - Pro: fragrant, white, single flowers with prominent stigma. Green to bronze-green leaves emerging with flowers -Con: Pedicels are not hairy, no bracteoles, does not have 4-5 flowers per corymb, no hair-tipped teeth on leaves 'Yama-zakura': -Pro: white, single blossoms, hairless calyx-tube, recurved sepals, finely serrated copper and green leaves -Cons: no red bud scales, petals are not floppy, caly-tube is not narrow and tapering, sepals are not narrow, leaves are not as coppery/brown 'Avium Plena': -Pro: calyx-tube recurved with rounded tip, broad sepals, green leaves emerge with flowers, drooping flower umbels -Cons: Flowers are not double What do you think?
There is a 'Kanzan' between East Mall and the Buchanan parking lot. Its blossoms are more advanced than other 'Kanzan' at UBC.
