Sakura Watch May 2, 2021 - as petals fall, an average of 50% of cherry blossoms remain on the trees in High Park. The rain and strong winds of the past few days have managed to knock down some more blossom petals, though the amount remaining promises to hold out for the rest of the coming week.

Though no longer having their peak bloom fullness, the trees still continue to be a beautiful sight for anyone walking, running or riding through the park. The earlier bloom seems to have helped the trees be a bit more resilient against the onslaught of less than favourable weather for the start of May, so anyone who may have missed the opportunity may still have a chance to view the remaining cherry blossoms this week. Though what will be left for next weekend will be a lot less as the peak season winds down.

Watch for my latest YouTube update or continue reading below for details on each section of High Park.

Sports fields

Starting in the sports fields, we see over 50% of the blossoms remain on the trees. This area does seem to show the most loss over the trees. Most branches you can see the blossoms stems without petals, though there is still a good amount to see and enjoy as evident in these photos:

Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill is currently showing between 45-55% of the remaining bloom, with different trees noticeably showing more or less as you make your way down the winding path. Walking across the top of grassy hills you will see trees that are already near empty, with others, including the large sakura that was featured in the live stream video, still having a good amount of bloom, but leaves are starting to show.

Neighbouring Magnolias are also in bloom near the top corner of the hill, as well as the bright yellow forsythia can also be enjoyed as you get closer down the hill toward Grenadier Pond.

Here are some photos of the trees in bloom on Cherry Hill:

Grenadier Pond (along the path, dock and steep hill)

The path along Grenadier Pond and the Maple Leaf Garden also continue to have some beautiful trees with up to 50-55% remaining blooms to enjoy! First seen are the small groupings of trees at the base of the path as you walk along the path by Grenadier Pond. The next grove of trees located by the dock also has a nice pink and white canopy of remaining blossoms to take in. Following the path further down you find even more trees spread out in sections until you reach the steep hill where these trees have closer to 45% of blooms remaining.

Here are some photos captured by Grenadier Pond:

Jamie Bell Adventure Playground

Finally, we make our way over to the collection of trees near the High Park Zoo and the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground. The trees in this area were slower to open, so they are the fullest in the park and currently are at about 55-65% of bloom remaining. Besides the better-known area along the paved path closest to the Zoo, there is another corridor of trees to see to the right of the Playground that follows the contours of the duck pond. Tucked away with younger trees, this area will definitely be a show stopper in the years ahead as these photos can attest to:

Rain Continues, Blossoms Fall

The weather this week has lots of rain in the forecast, which is always a catalyst in knocking down the delicate cherry blossom petals off the trees. This means this week will be the final chance to see any substantial amount of bloom before the weekend where we will see only a few scattered clusters of flowers on the trees.

At least many were able to view the cherry blossoms this year, even at a distance, which was a welcome reprieve from all that is going on with the pandemic today. Getting outside to enjoy the fresh air and nature is always a fantastic way to lift spirits and let your mind and body gain a fresh, new perspective. But we also need to remember that even though High Park is open to the public, it is still not meant to be a meeting place for gatherings or crowds as we all need to do our part to support the lockdown measures.

Keep Park Visits Safe and Clean

Anytime you visit the park, it's essential to be safe and remember to follow these health guidelines. Social distance from others by keeping at least 2 meters or 6 feet apart, avoid public crowds or engaging in large gatherings, and if ever in doubt, protect yourself and others by wearing a mask that adequately covers your nose, mouth and chin.

And also, please respect the park and others when you are out. Dispose of your mask and other items in trash bins, or take them home instead of tossing them on the ground. This helps keep our parks clean and safe.

For more COVID-19 information

Every day we're seeing just how highly contagious this virus is and how it can infect both young and old alike. Even if you don't have the symptoms, you may still be carrying it and spreading it to your family and friends. Your best and only right option is to listen to the advice from our medical professionals.

City of Toronto - https://www.toronto.ca/COVID-19/

Health Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html

Thank you all for visiting the site. Be careful, be safe, and watch for more updates soon.