Sunday was a beautiful day in Toronto: sunny, no wind, pleasant temperatures, and the Japanese cherry blossoms were at their most beautiful. It's an event that is not to be missed.
Japan is often seen as a warm, even subtropical country, whereas Canada has the reputation of being cold and icy. Of course, those are exaggerations in both cases, but they are based on reality, at least in part.
Japanese cherry trees are therefore not exactly associated with Canada. Yet, they are here. They flower later than in Japan, which is to be expected, but they are nevertheless here.
For most of the year, these somber trees give a somewhat depressing image to their surroundings, but for about two weeks in spring, they really spring to life, displaying their abundant and magnificent blossoms. In Japan, these are the days of o-hanami (お花見) or flower viewing. People gather under the trees for picnics with rice balls, washed down with generous amounts of Japanese rice wine and beer, while having lots of fun, talking, aping around, singing karaoke... Except for the alcoholic part, Toronto does its part.
All the fun aside, the fact remains that the cherry blossoms are beautiful and that, in a good year, this can lead to spectacular views, even in Toronto. As can be seen in the pictures, this is a good year.
The Toronto cherry trees were a gift from the city of Tokyo. They are of the Someiyoshino prunus yedoensis matsum type.
Of course, as Westerners, we do not necessarily understand how the Japanese view these trees. It is said that the short-lived blossoms reminds samurai (soldiers) of the shortness of their lives.
If you would like to see this flowery beauty for yourself, by all means, go to High Park! Don't wait too long. It will all be over in a few days from now. I can highly recommend it, for this is one case where pictures are completely unable to give an impression of the beauty of the real thing.
The cherry blossom trees in High Park are easy to find. Take the subway to High Park, enter the park by the main entrance at Colborne Lodge Drive, follow this until you see the Grenadier Café, stand with your back towards the restaurant and look to your right across the street, you will see the first cherry trees there. Don't forget to enjoy it!
Bart B. Van Bockstaele Cherry tree - Someiyoshino prunus yedoensis matsum.
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Japan in Toronto, Cherry blossoms in High Park
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