The annual return of Toronto’s vibrant sakura cherry blossoms has officially begun, with the first delicate white petals opening in High Park as of April 28, right on schedule.
According to Toronto’s go-to expert for cherry blossom updates, Steven Joniak — better known as Sakura Steve — this year’s full bloom is expected to begin on May 1, followed by peak bloom (when 90 to 100 per cent of blossoms are open) from May 2 through May 9 in High Park.
For over a decade, Sakura Steve has kept cherry blossom fans informed with updates on his site, Sakura in High Park. Since 2012, he’s been Toronto’s most trusted sakura tracker, even receiving special recognition from Matsunaga Takeshi, the Consul-General of Japan, for his dedication.
As always, the weather will play a decisive role in just how long that peak will last, with the upcoming rain and thunderstorms potentially shortening that window. Visitors heading to the park right now will spot only a few scattered open blossoms, mostly near the Sportsfields by the Bloor Street entrance, where Sakura Steve says the first flowers of the season are always spotted.
However, it’s important to note that these are still early days, and the majority of blossoms remain closed, with their petals looking like tiny white umbrellas just waiting to unfurl. According to Steve, nearly all of the cherry blossom buds are now at the end of stage five and beginning stage six, when the flowers start to open.
The update goes on to say that Cherry Hill, which is always the largest viewing area in High Park, has some open blossoms throughout, but most of the trees are also just beginning stage six.
“However, at the top of the hill across from Grenadier Cafe, the smaller, younger trees are showing the most promise today—although not fully open, they have about 10-15% of their blossoms open,” Steve’s latest post reads.
By Grenadier Pond and the dock, most trees are still in late stage five. “The blossoms are ready to open, but they are waiting for a few more days of sunny, warm weather and are slightly behind. Being closer to the water and near Lake Ontario, these trees will tend to be a day or two behind, but when they do bloom, they will be a sight to behold,” Sakura Steve wrote.
Still, these predictions could be disrupted by this week’s dreary weather. According to The Weather Network, Toronto could potentially see a heavy thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon, as well as light rain on Thursday and Friday. However, if all goes according to plan, the cherry blossoms should be in their peak bloom starting this Friday and all through next week.
While it’s always exciting to see the blossoms up close and personal, it’s just as important to respect the trees so they can continue to thrive for years to come. If you’re visiting the park, make sure not to shake or pull down branches, pick off any blossoms, or leave any garbage around the trees.
There are also tons of other places in the city where you can view cherry blossoms this spring. Trinity Bellwoods, Centennial Park, Robarts Library at U of T, Broadacres Park, and Toronto Island Park all also have their own sakura trees, which usually tend to bloom a bit earlier than those in High Park.
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