Sakura Watch April 12, 2021 - Cherry Blossoms are getting ready to bloom in a week
Sakura Watch April 12, 2021 - Cherry Blossoms are getting ready to bloom in a week, thanks to the higher-than-average temperatures we’ve experienced recently. The progress over the past week has been incredible, with the majority of buds well into the fourth and fifth stages of development! This rapid transformation means the buds are all now just a week away from blooming! Further evidence of this is one of our readers sent a few photos from the cherry blossom trees near the University of Toronto Robarts Library this past weekend which was in bloom (see below, credit HN Photography). They are usually the first in Toronto to bloom, and when they do, that signals that High Park is not too far behind.
Photos courtesy of HN Photography
In previous years, we’ve seen warm-weather trends mixed with mild winters contributing to early blossom blooms. One of the earliest was in 2012, the first year of this blog when the peak bloom hit the first half of April! 2021 is also shaping up to be another early bloom year for High Park.
Watch my latest YouTube update below:
First Blossom Spotted in High Park
During my visit, I did come across the first open blossom for 2021 in High Park near the sports fields. Gently protected against the bark of the tree, the blossom was only partially open due to the cool, rainy weather. But the next chance it gets hit with some warm sunshine, it will be part of the first blossom grouping to show itself in the park! Here’s a photo of the first blossom:
First cherry blossom found in High Park on April 12, 2021, near the sports fields.
Warm Weather Precedent
In previous years, we've seen similar bud development patterns before. Past mild winters mixed with much warmer than usual springs have helped push up the blooming dates by weeks, as dramatically seen in 2012 when the peak bloom occurring between April 10-17 that year.
However, even with the cool, rainy weather forecast for this week, the temperatures are still in the ideal range and may only slow the blossoms down by a day or two. Looking at the buds today, we can see most have moved well into the fourth stage. This means that their florets are clearly visible and have begun to extend. Other buds have moved into the fifth stage! Here you see the fully extended florets with bright pink and white petals visible, signalling they will open within a week!
Here are some close-up photos of the buds showing their rich green bulb shapes and pink coloured tips:
Ready or Not, We’re in for an Early Bloom!
Thanks to the weather's help in 2021, we can expect to see the first few blooms begin opening on April 14. My prediction for the 2021 peak bloom is that we should see the cherry blossom trees at least 75% in bloom, starting around April 18, and continuing through to the 28th. How long they will last will be dependent on the weather as rain or wind can knock down the delicate petals prematurely. The week ahead will be an exciting one to see the progress!
Park Announcement Soon
I’m expecting to hear about what the City plans to do around High Park in Mayor John Tory’s next virtual press conference this week. Over the past weeks, I’ve watched daily COVID-19 numbers remain high, even as we’ve gone into a ‘shutdown’, so I would think that in the interest of the safety for the public, the decision will be to make the viewing a virtual one again. I hope to have an update in the next couple of days. In general, the only way we can reduce the numbers and stop the spread is to avoid having large gatherings and help keep everyone safe. While the risks still remain high, we will have to wait and see what the final decision by the City will be for High Park. Once again, I will keep you updated on this news in the weeks ahead.
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