March 20, 2022. It’s a chilly rainy first day of spring here, but that’s keeping some of these ‘Whitcomb’ cherries lingering. The first photo was taken by May Lin in Langley; the second is by Shirley Willard in Gibsons. You can share your finds on our forums at VCBF Neighbourhood Blogs | UBC Botanical Garden Forums.

Whitcomb_53Ave201St_maylin_20220316_IMG_0062 20220319 Grandview2nd Whitcomb Willard IMG_5195

You can find photos previously featured here this year in the Album at https://v1.vcbf.ca/about/photo-gallery/blossoms-from-2022.

The First International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition ended on February 28, 2022. Vancouver contributed a location for the competition: the ‘Akebono’ trees in Maple Grove Park, at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Yew Street. Douglas Justice, Associate Director, Horticulture & Collections at UBC Botanical Garden, has been photographing them beginning on March 10. These are so far pretty restrained, showing barely any discernable colour in this photo taken March 18. The same cultivar trees are about to pop open downtown and in the West End, and next week’s predicted 15C degree temperatures should hasten things along everywhere in the city.

Akebono_MapleGrovePark_DouglasJustice_22020318_IMG_2535

Douglas’s photos beginning on March 10 are being collected in the thread at Appreciation: – First International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition | UBC Botanical Garden Forums.

Festival Favourites in bloom

Some of our festival favourite photo-op locations will be shown here during the bloom season with current year photos and the approximate blooming dates. Red markers on our festival map show all our favourite locations. ​​​​When we talk about Festival Favourites, we mean you will be happy you made the trip to see them to photograph them. When you’re there, remember the neighbours:

1) do not climb the trees
2) do not break the branches
3) be respectful of the residents who live on the street
4) do not stop in the middle of the street
5) keep your visit to a max of 15mins (cause really, how long does it take to snap a few photos?)
6) stay on city property, do not go on private property
7) try to stay off the grass, especially if you are wearing heels.
Mostly – be respectful to the environment and the residents. Remember that it is the residents who are responsible for caring for those trees.

Learn How to Take Cherry Blossom Photos with your phone thanks to Cakewalk Media for the tips!

Festival Favourites in bloom

 

Accolade_ChilcoComox_Cutler_20220317_160342 West End ‘Accolade’

Chilco mini-park
Bloom Dates: Mar 8 to Mar 26

Read more at the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for West End / Stanley Park
20220316 CityHall Accolade Willard IMG_4866 Mount Pleasant ‘Accolade’

Vancouver City Hall
Bloom Dates: Mar 14 to Apr 3

Read more at the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Mount Pleasant
20220316 RockpooleDr59 Whitcomb Willard IMG_4982 2 Marpole ‘Whitcomb’

Rockpoole Dr, north of 59th
Bloom Dates: Mar 14 to Apr 3

Read more at the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Marpole
20220312_Accolade_DumfriesE33_Eng_6348 Kensington-Cedar Cottage ‘Accolade’

Dumfries near E. 33rd Avenue
Bloom Dates: Mar 14 to Apr 3

Read more at the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Kensington-Cedar Cottage
20220305_Whitcomb_E59PrEd_Eng_6256 Sunset ‘Whitcomb’

E. 59th Avenue, east of Main Street
Bloom Dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26

Read more at the UBC Botanical Garden Forums Blog for Sunset