Sakura Watch April 21, 2023 - High Park is in peak bloom, with cherry blossoms visible throughout the park! Here is a peek at what you will see upon visiting the park this weekend.

Watch the Youtube video update below or continue reading further down.

Sports Fields - 75-90% of blossoms open

Starting in the Sports Fields by the Bloor St entrance, 75-90% of open blossoms are visible on the trees. Always the first area to bloom in the park, the trees are full of fluffy white flowers for all to enjoy.

Here are photos of the blooms from today:

Cherry Hill - 65-85%

This area has the largest group of sakura cherry blossom trees and has 65-85% of open blossoms today. Trees closer to the top of the hill are the fullest, while the further down the slope and path you travel, the less open blossoms can be seen. Located across from Grenadier Cafe, the trees dot the slope and wide paved path that leads down toward our next stop.

Here are photos of the blossoms from today:

Grenadier Pond & Dock - 45-75%

Continuing alongside Grenadier Pond, you can see that these trees are on average about a day slower to bloom, as compared to the trees on the hill. The trees that line the path and extend toward the dock are showing 45-75% of open blossoms. Keep in mind that with these trees slightly behind only means they will open later in the weekend and possibly help us have a longer Sakura Hanami next week!

Here are photos of the blossoms from today.

Jamie Bell Playground & High Park Zoo - 25%

Moving to the other side of the park by Jamie Bell Playground and High Park Zoo, these trees are still early to bloom, showing only about 25% of open blossoms. Some trees are surprisingly still in late Stage 5! Always blooming later than the rest of the park, the one bonus is it offers another area that may continue the bloom well into next week and even next weekend.

Here are photos of the blooms seen today.

Temperatures remain favourable

How long will the peak bloom last? Rain is forecast for Saturday, but the sun returns on Sunday, so there should not be too much impact on the bloom overall. Looking into the week ahead, Monday calls for more light rain, but again, the rest of the week is quite fair and ideal conditions to help keep the cherry blossom bloom going to the end of the week and even possibly extend into the weekend.

Peak bloom from April 20 to 28

As predicted, High Park is now enjoying a peak bloom that started on April 20 and will continue into the 28th. And maybe even longer - we will have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for more details and follow-up updates!

Do Your Part to Help the Trees from Damage

As much fun as it is to get up close to enjoy the cherry blossoms truly, there are some who take it a bit too far and cause damage to the tree that can lead to irreparable harm so the trees can not protect themselves from insects and disease and eventually die. This leaves us with less mature trees to enjoy, so please, if you really want to enjoy the blossoms for many years to come, you need to do your part to help protect the trees and prevent any harm to them:

• Don’t pick or break off any blossoms

• Don’t pull down, shake or break off the branches

• Don’t climb, sit or stand on the trunks or branches - the mature trees are very old and not strong enough to support the weight and stress of people, even small children!

• Don’t leave any litter IN or around the trees - it’s so sad to see people putting their garbage in the hollow trunks of the older trees, which invites animals and other insects to nest inside and cause internal damage.

• DO take photos without harming the trees

• DO enjoy the blossoms and respect their immediate surroundings

• DO remember that respecting the trees from root to branch will help everyone to enjoy the blooming trees for many years to come

Donate to Support The Cherry Blossoms

The City of Toronto now accepts donations to help maintain existing trees and plant future ones. See this link for details.
Read more details and information on the City of Toronto - Cherry Blossom Website

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