The High Park Nature Centre has reintroduced its Cherry Blossom Watch for the 2024 season, an online resource aimed at forecasting the peak bloom period of cherry blossoms in Toronto’s High Park.
This initiative tracks the development of cherry blossoms from bud to bloom, utilizing factors such as historical bloom data and temperature trends to predict peak periods.
The cherry blossoms’ journey through six distinct stages of development, from green buds to full bloom, is meticulously documented, offering insights into the blossoming process. Peak bloom, a period when at least 70% of the blossoms are open, typically occurs between late April and early May, although this can vary annually due to temperature fluctuations.
As of March 13, 2024, the cherry blossoms in High Park display mostly brown buds, with some beginning to reveal green tips. It’s too early for an accurate peak bloom prediction, as upcoming weather conditions will significantly influence the timing. A more precise forecast is expected in the forthcoming weeks, depending on weather trends.
The current status can be viewed online or via Cherry Blossom Hotline. People can dial 647-946-2547 for additional information about bloom status and predictions.
High Park’s cherry blossom trees were initially planted in 1959, following fundraising efforts by the Japanese Canadian community and a donation from Tokyo’s citizens, symbolizing gratitude towards Toronto for welcoming relocated Japanese Canadians after World War II. The park has seen subsequent donations, including a significant one in 2001 as part of a Sakura Project aimed at enhancing Japan-Canada relations.
The park hosts a variety of cherry tree cultivars, notably the Yoshino and Somei-yoshino varieties, renowned for their white-to-pink flowers and distinct appearances. These cultivars, along with the Kwanzan ‘Fugenzo’, are not native to High Park or Canada, representing centuries of selective breeding in Japan.
During High Park’s peak cherry blossom season, the park enforces a vehicle-free policy, except for TTC’s Wheel-Trans.
Besides High Park, Toronto boasts several other locations for cherry blossom viewing, including Trinity Bellwoods Park, Centennial Park, and the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, among others.