Cherry blossom season has been as amazing as ever this year, but we knew it had to end eventually — and resident cherry blossom bloom predictor Sakura Steve (also known as Steve Joniak) is predicting that this will be the last weekend to see the Sakura trees in peak bloom in Toronto.
Joniak visited the buds in High Park on Tuesday and noted that peak bloom continues in some areas, while in others, petals are already starting to fall. He said the warmer weather this week has helped the bloom last longer, potentially into Mother’s Day weekend.
His visit to the park found that popular cherry blossom spots, including the sports fields and Cherry Hill, are showing only 70-75 per cent of the flowers in bloom now. However, Grenadier Pond and the Dock, as well as areas by High Park Zoo and Adventure Playground, are still in peak bloom — so if you’re planning a trip to the park with Mom this weekend, visit those areas for your best chance at a glimpse of these pink blossoms in their prime!
According to Joniak, we are now in the final days of peak bloom. He predicted that the last day of peak bloom in High Park will be Friday, May 9 — so now is your chance before they’re gone!
As visitors flock to the park to take photos and get up close to the flowers, people pulling branches or shaking trees could shorten the lifespan of the blooms — so just don’t do it!
There are Sakura trees all over Toronto, so we’ve rounded up five of the best places in Toronto to spot the cherry blossoms when peak bloom hits the city. Just like last year, the city of Toronto is restricting vehicle access and parking within High Park for the duration of peak bloom, so prepare to head over on foot or on bike.
High Park
High Park is a staple spot for people to spend time outside, enjoying a walk, picnic and, around this time of year, cherry blossoms! The trees grow along the park’s main path, allowing you to step off the sidewalk and snag a few photos before continuing on your way. Standing at a whopping 399 acres, High Park is chock-full of different rare plant species. Within the grounds are also rare black oak savannah, moist red oak and hemlock forests. So feel free to adventure all over, searching for flowers at different stages of growth!
Trinity Bellwoods
For some of the best cherry blossom photos with the C.N. Tower in the background, head over to Trinity Bellwoods. These trees are placed scarcely, spanning across a 38-acre lot of land. Most of the trees can be found on the circular path, which resides in the southern portion of the park. Around here are benches and copious amounts of shade, allowing you to sit underneath one of these beautiful trees and enjoy Toronto’s incredible spring scene.
Robarts Library
A bit of a hidden Sakura gem is the John P. Robarts Research Library. Located at the corner of Huron Street and Harbord Street, a grove of 70 cherry blossom trees were planted here in 2005. A quieter spot for blossom viewing than other popular Toronto areas, this is a good place to stop if you’re looking to snap a picture of yourself with the pink florals in the background thanks to the lack of crowds and convenient arrangement of the trees. Lining the pedestrian pathways, take a stroll through this picturesque little walkway for the perfect spring detour before making your way to nearby Kensington Market or Chinatown.
Centennial Park
This particular park has the second-largest collection of cherry blossoms in Toronto, next to High Park. The park holds over 200 trees that are scattered across the entirety of the land. The highest concentration can be found in the garden closest to Rathburn Road and Centennial Park Boulevard. The park is also home to athletic activities galore — within its grounds are playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, a wading pool and even a BMX bike park!
Exhibition Place
This may surprise some, but cherry blossoms are scattered around one of Toronto’s most fantastic attractions. Exhibition Place features around nine marked sections where Sakura trees grow, with the majority residing in the northeastern part of the area. The highest density can be found near the kid-friendly Medieval Times show or the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. While searching for blossoms, why not check out a Toronto F.C. game?
For the best places to see the cherry blossoms in peak bloom all around Ontario, click here.