Sakura Watch April 12, 2024 - First open blossom was spotted, and the full bloom is now a week away
Sakura Watch April 12, 2024 - First open blossom was spotted, and the full bloom is now a week away. It was a wet and windy morning in High Park, but despite the weather, there was plenty to be happy about. At first, I noticed the trees were well into Stage 4, where the peduncles were beginning to extend out of the buds. Then I spotted a dot of white near the lower portion of the trunk, and lo and behold, it is the very first blossom to open for 2024! In fact, later, I would find 2 more right at the base of the tree, but this is the inevitable beginning of the Sakura cherry blossom season this spring! Read on to find out more…
Stage 4 and beyond
Upon approaching the trees by the sports fields, we see the buds have accelerated into stage 4. This is when the peduncles have begun stretching out of the buds, and the dark pink bulbs are visible - these will make the outer base of the blossoms. Some of them even show a brighter pink tip, almost white in some cases - these are the actual folded-up flower petals that will eventually begin to open once the peduncles are fully extended. I first spotted the open blossoms near the lower trunk and base of a pair of Sakura trees closest to the Bloor St entrance.
Then, as I traversed down the road toward Cherry Hill, I was welcomed by the smell of burnt wood and brush from the prescribed burn the City had performed earlier in the week. Some were done next to a few cherry trees by both the sports fields and Cherry Hill, but none of these trees suffered any damage, so there is nothing to be alarmed about if you happen upon the blackened, burnt soil around some of the trees. My favourite part is the smell - there is something I find comforting with the scents of a wood-burning fire lingering in the air that reminds me of camping and fireplaces. But I digress…
The main thing of note is seeing all the trees in late Stage 4, with only a few sunny and warm days needed to push them out into the final blooming stages. There were also a few little surprises on this very quiet morning—I watched a lone coyote trot down the hill into the woods by the pond (see video) and the singing Blackbird and Cardinal (see photo) enjoying the trees.
Here are some more detailed photos showing the amazing progress during my latest visit:
Full Bloom is near
Keep in mind that this is only the beginning. As the weather continues to be wet and cloudy over the weekend, the buds still need a bit more time before a much larger majority of cherry blossoms will open. By Monday, we should see maybe about 5%-10% of the blossoms open—which means free random flowers open and scattered amongst the Sakura branches. With some sunny days and double-digit temperatures, we will begin to see a rapid improvement throughout the week.
This aligns with the original prediction, and I believe we should start to see the full bloom, where at least 75% of the sakura blossoms have opened, starting on April 18 and continuing through the weekend to the 24th. Each day more blossoms will open depending on the weather–the warmer and sunnier the weather, the faster they will open and bloom.
How long they last will depend, once again, on the weather AND people. Rain and wind will tend to knock down blossoms early, but warm and calmer weather will help the blossoms last longer. The other threat is from people pulling branches or shaking trees - see my tips below to help prevent damaging the trees or spoiling the event for everyone else.
Thanks for visiting, and watch for more updates soon.
Do Your Part to Help the Trees from Damage
As much fun as it is to get up close to enjoy the cherry blossoms truly, there are some who take it a bit too far and cause damage to the tree that can lead to irreparable harm so the trees can not protect themselves from insects and disease and eventually die. This leaves us with less mature trees to enjoy, so please, if you really want to enjoy the blossoms for many years to come, you need to do your part to help protect the trees and prevent any harm to them:
Don’t pick or break off any blossoms
Don’t pull down, shake or break off the branches
Don’t climb, sit or stand on the trunks or branches - the mature trees are very old and not strong enough to support the weight and stress of people, even small children!
Don’t leave any litter IN or around the trees - it’s so sad to see people putting their garbage in the hollow trunks of the older trees, which invites animals and other insects to nest inside and cause internal damage.
DO take photos without harming the trees
DO enjoy the blossoms and respect their immediate surroundings
DO remember that respecting the trees from root to branch will help everyone to enjoy the blooming trees for many years to come
Donate to Support The Cherry Blossoms
The City of Toronto now accepts donations to help maintain existing trees and plant future ones. See this link for details.
Read more details and information on the City of Toronto - Cherry Blossom Website
Thank you all for visiting the site. Be careful, be safe, and watch for more updates soon.