On Saturday, we made our way to High Park to see the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom!
There are a number of Japanese cherry trees around Toronto, but one of the areas with the highest concentration is High Park. This means that for the one week during the year when the trees are blossoming, the crowds flock there. So this past Saturday we joined the crowd!
These trees are not native to Canada; in 1959, 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees (the most popular type of cherry blossom in Japan) were donated on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following WWII. Additional trees were then planted in High Park in 1984, 2001, and 2006 with the majority of them being gifts from a number of different sources. Now there are trees throughout the park.
These trees are not native to Canada; in 1959, 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees (the most popular type of cherry blossom in Japan) were donated on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following WWII. Additional trees were then planted in High Park in 1984, 2001, and 2006 with the majority of them being gifts from a number of different sources. Now there are trees throughout the park.
Look at all of the cherry blossoms!
We headed over to High Park on Saturday afternoon, and walked from High Park subway station. Immediately, we joined the throngs of people who also had the same idea to check out the cherry blossoms on a Saturday afternoon.
When we arrived at our first group of Sakura trees, we were blown away by the beauty. We got up close and personal to see the flowers that were much whiter than we imagined, highlighted by pale pink near the stem.
When we arrived at our first group of Sakura trees, we were blown away by the beauty. We got up close and personal to see the flowers that were much whiter than we imagined, highlighted by pale pink near the stem.
We then wandered off the beaten path, through a patch of trees and then down to Grenadier Pond, past a smattering of Sakura trees. Walking along the waterfront, we passed a Canada Goose and some other birds puttering around, before coming across another grove of Sakuras.
"Hanami", the Japanese custom of viewing and picnicking under blooming Sakura trees, started over 1200 years ago with the elite of the Imperial court. By the Edo period, this tradition had spread to the common people. On Saturday, unbeknownst to us, we also participated in this tradition... by buying and eating hot dogs under the blossoms.
"Hanami", the Japanese custom of viewing and picnicking under blooming Sakura trees, started over 1200 years ago with the elite of the Imperial court. By the Edo period, this tradition had spread to the common people. On Saturday, unbeknownst to us, we also participated in this tradition... by buying and eating hot dogs under the blossoms.
#classy
After our snack, we took the long way home, walking for 1.5 hours all the way to Bloor and Bathurst to meet up with Aunt Vicki for food and to watch a film called Pre-Crime, part of the Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival. Then after the film, we wandered the rest of the way home.
We had a great Saturday full of flowers, walking, and food and were ready for a nap by the end of it. If you want to get your fix of cherry blossoms, have no fear, the slideshow has you covered!
We had a great Saturday full of flowers, walking, and food and were ready for a nap by the end of it. If you want to get your fix of cherry blossoms, have no fear, the slideshow has you covered!
(SLIDESHOW)
