There is a 'Shirotae' blooming outside of the North Parkade near Hillel House. It's nice to see that even though the area is under construction, the tree is fenced off. The sign says "Keep Off. Tree Protection Area."
The 'Shirotae' at Purdy Pavilion are still lovely although a little passed their prime. The 'Tai-haku' trees near Cecil Green Park House parking lot are raining petals in this windy weather.
Sweet cherry, mazzard cherry, Prunus avium. We don't consider them ornamental, so they're not in our Ornamental Cherries (eBook) - Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival book. This is what has been used since forever for the rootstock of our ornamental cherries. There are a few others now, but on old trees, you can depend on the rootstocks being this. The most noticeable identifying feature is what you have captured in your second and fifth photos, and have noted in your list - the sepals curled back against the calyx, so when you look up at the flowers or through the flowers, you see circles instead of stars. Only Avium 'Plena' ornamental cherries do this as well, since they are a form of P. avium. 'Plena' means "double-flowered". Have you seen the thread on https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/magical-two-tone-trees.102176/? Or is that why you knew to use the word "magic"? All of those involve avium rootstock.
Thank you! That clears up the mystery. I remembered hearing about the "magic" trees in one of the lectures Douglas gave on cherry trees.
Also next time you're near a sweet cherry, take note of the leaf margins. There are no hairs or serrate-like points; margins have uneven bumps. I just posted some photos in the West End blog. That helps to recognize this when there are no flowers.
I could not find the 'Rancho' cherries off of Osoyoos Crescent, but I did find these two young trees in the similar area of the map marker for the 'Ranchos.' It is hard to tell because the blooms are so far gone, but I am guessing they may be 'Akebono.'
The 'Ama-no-gawa' on Agronomy Road in between Wesbrook Mall and Western Parkway are in bloom. Continuing down Agronomy Road past Western Parkway, the right side of Agronomy is lined with many (possible 12) 'Kanzan' trees.
After a bit of searching, I found the eight 'Shirotae' on the map near Thunderbird Boulevard and Larkin Drive. The trees are in a lane or courtyard between Thunderbird Boulevard and Hawthorn Lane, just beyond Larkin Drive. If you find 6395 Hawthorn Lane, you will find the 'Shirotae.' The 'Shirotae' at 2896 Acadia Rd are also in bloom still.
Those photos were taken four days ago. The flowers are so finished now. But @Kyrie, did you see the 'Ito-kukuri' just around the corner at the end of the parking lot? It's in full bloom now, and looks so different from my photos last year when the flowers were just opening, see https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/ubc.36223/page-13#post-442550.
I am sad to report that the new construction project behind Regent College cut down 26 (!!!) 'Shirotae' today. Before: After: Luckily the 'Shirotae' were planted on three sides of Regent College and (so far...) only one side was cut down. There are still just as many on the other sides so there is no need to remove the map marker.
Wow, caught in the act! Thank you for being the bearer of the sad news, Kiri. Good thing we had an early blooming season this year or they'd have been cut down at their peak bloom. And two days earlier, they'd have cut down all those 'Shirotae' on @Douglas Justice's birthday. That would have been so wrong.
I took these pictures of 'Kanzan' on Thursday April 24th, but they still look just as nice today. On University Boulevard On Acadia Road between University Boulevard and Chancellor Boulevard On Chancellor Boulevard
There are six trees on University Boulevard around Browns Crafthouse. They appear to be 'Shiro-fugen.'
There seem to be two 'Shiro-fugen' amidst the remaining 'Shirotae' outside of Regent College along Western Parkway. One is at the corner of Western Parkway and University Boulevard One in next to the sidewalk leading to Regent College and right at the edge of the 'Shirotae' that were cut down.
