Early to bloom, early to fall: How record March weather is impacting Vancouver's cherry blossom trees
The organizers of the annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival used to be able to accurately predict when the city’s iconic trees would come into bloom. But in recent years?
“It’s gotten trickier,” said festival founder Linda Poole. “They used to follow suit pretty well and come out predictability, and now with climate change, this year was the most challenging.”
After a run of record-breaking heat in March, the pale pink Akebono cherry trees blossomed two weeks early, throwing a bit of a wrench into the festival’s April activities.
“I blame it all on climate change, but we have to deal with it. And today the cherry blossoms have laid a pink carpet for us, so it’s still beautiful, petals falling is very romantic,” said Poole.
The festival’s executive director Andrea Arnot says there are still plenty of events to enjoy.
“We will have our Sakura days Japan fair at Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, where we celebrate everything Japan, from food, arts, culture, performances," Arnot said.
"We will have a bike the blossoms announced soon when people can get on their bike and ride around with a guide and see some beautiful blossoms, and we still have a few tree talks and walks left where people can learn tree facts."
One of those fun facts? Vancouver got its very first cherry trees as gifts from Japan back in the 1920s.
“The mayors of our sister city Yokohama and Kobe gifted us 500 flowering cherry trees and that's how it all started, and then Vancouverites fell in love with them, and the park board started to plant more and more in every neighborhood,” said Poole.
While the weather has made planning the festival more difficult, it’s also gotten more popular.
“At first it’s for the locals, and then the world finds out you have great cherry blossoms, and then the world comes,” said Poole.
Tour companies are now offering springtime guided trips to Vancouver just to see the blossoms.
“What I love is when they see the cherry blossoms they start dancing and singing, they just kind of break out in joy,” said Poole.
“Lonely Planet has just named Vancouver as the fourth best place to view cherry blossoms in the whole world, so we hope that will bring even more people to Vancouver,” said Arnot.
While a cherry blossom shot has become a must-post Instagram photo, festival organizers hope locals and tourists take it beyond social media.
“We want people to come out and interact with people at our events, because it’s more than just the selfie, right?” said Poole
“We have dark grey winters in Vancouver, and Vancouver has been dubbed a lonely city, and I think our festival is kind of that coming of spring and coming out and seeing your neighbours and friends and being outdoors again,” added Arnot.
And it’s not over yet. The Akebono trees are already nearing the end of their flowering, but the darker pink Kanzan variety have yet to blossom.
“We need warmer temperatures, 15 to 17 degrees and more sunlight, and that brings them out,” said Poole. “So it will depend on the location of the street, but I would say in a week some of them are going to come out.”
The festival’s website has a map listing the best places to see cherry blossoms in Vancouver, including the variety and when it should be in bloom, which can be seen here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.