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Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Your Hamilton guide to the spectacular blooms of cherry blossoms and magnolias
Spring is here, and Hamilton is a destination to view the pink-white blooms on cherry blossom trees. Cherry blossom and magnolia trees both have short bloom seasons that are significantly affected by the weather. Burlington's Royal Botanical Gardens reported that cherry blossoms are in peak bloom now , through their ' Flowering Cherry Bloom Watch .' So if you'd like to see them, now is the time. The two Kwanzan flowering cherry trees in Gage Park are a favourite every spring. You can go on the annual magnolia ride on May 3 at 10 a.m., which will take you around the North End and Durand neighbourhood, starting at the Bay at Strachan hub and ending at Durand Park. If you miss the ride or would just like to do a self-guided tour, here is where you can see cherry blossom and magnolia trees locally. Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and Hamilton have both trees in various locations. Cherry blossoms in peak bloom can be viewed at the Arboretum, Rock Garden or Laking Garden. You can also view magnolias at the Arboretum and Rock Garden. People enjoy the canopy of cherry blossoms at Bayfront Park. A path lined with cherry blossoms makes for a perfect majestic walk to the waterfront or photo opportunity. Gage Park visitors enjoy the cherry blossoms. There are several mature cherry blossom trees near the Tropical Greenhouse and bandshell. This waterfront park is a spring destination for many during the Sakura Festival. Until May 11, a walkway of cherry blossoms is expected to be in full bloom. While you're there, you can also participate in Japanese tea ceremonies, face painting and watch performances. The Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School in Japan donated 37 cherry blossom trees to Dundas in 2014, which now stand in Centennial Park. On Spruceside Avenue in the Kirkendall neighbourhood, a magnolia with lovely soft yellow blossoms. You can view mature magnolia trees planted outside of Hamilton City Hall. These beautiful blossoms were photographed on Robinhood Drive in Dundas. There are two spots in Dundas you can view magnolias, according to Hamilton Bike Share : At Cootes Drive and Westaway Road, there is a small magnolia in the median. There is another at Emerson and Sussex streets. There are three magnolia along the short street of Oak Knoll Drive. In the south end, there are two trees on Main Street West at Newton Avenue and Bond Street South. There are also two near Parkview Drive and Uplands Avenue. Starting at Rosslyn Avenue South and Montclair Avenue, you can see three magnolia trees down Montclair Avenue toward Rothsay Avenue. There are another three down Rothsay Avenue. You can view several other trees along MacNab Street North between Macaulay Street West and Strachan Street West. You can view magnolias on Queen Street North between Barton Street West and Greig Street. A woman walks past the famous Durand neighbourhood magnolia in full splendour. At Markland Street and Chilton Place, you'll find a tree and a host of others travelling west along Markland Street. There are magnolias along Alanson Street and Emerald Street South. For more locations, go to . Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
It's cherry blossom season. Where to see the pink flowers in Arizona
As cherry blossom season begins, it's the perfect time to admire the delicate pink and white blooms at select locations across the U.S. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are iconic spring flowers known for their delicate pink-to-white petals. They typically bloom in early spring, usually lasting just a few weeks. The cherry blossom bloom is just getting underway now in Washington, D.C. In Arizona, cherry blossoms are a rare sight due to the state's dry desert climate. But it is possible to see cherry blossoms in Arizona. You just have to know where and when to look. Here's what to know about cherry blossoms in Arizona. Both types of trees typically produce fruits and flowers. The cherry blossom tree is cultivated more for its extravagant blooms while cherry trees are cultivated for their fruit, according to Chukar Cherries, a grower in Prosser, Washington. Cherry blossom trees can grow in certain parts of Arizona, but their success depends on the specific variety and location. They don't typically do well in the heat of the Phoenix area. In cooler areas like Flagstaff and the higher elevations of Arizona, some cold-hardy varieties, such as the Yoshino cherry or Kwanzan cherry, may thrive. In the low desert regions, including Phoenix and Tucson, the intense heat and lack of winter chill make it difficult for most cherry blossom trees to flourish. Seeing cherry blossoms in Arizona is tricky because of the state's warm climate. The Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix might sound like a place to see cherry blossoms, but it's not. Japanese garden design emphasizes harmony with the natural landscape, so the Japanese Friendship Garden features climate-adapted plants like ornamental pear, flowering almond, peach trees and purple leaf plum. But you can find some cherry blossom trees in higher elevations where temperatures are cooler. Cherry blossom trees are planted along some streets in Flagstaff. 'The cherry blossoms bloom in late spring and are found in various locations around town,' said Sabrina Beard, marketing specialist for Discover Flagstaff. "On Humphreys Street and at the crossroads of Milton Road and Butler Avenue by (Northern Arizona University), those are some good spots." Aside from those specimens, there's not a critical mass of cherry trees in Arizona. 'I don't believe we have any cherry trees on any of our state park properties,' said Michelle Thompson, deputy assistant director for Arizona State Parks and Trails. Cherry blossoms are at their peak in March and April in most places. However, the exact timing depends on the climate and variety of the tree. In warmer regions, such as the southern U.S., early bloomers typically flower between late February and March. In mild to temperate climates, including Washington, D.C., and Japan reach full bloom from March to mid-April. In colder climates, such as the northern U.S., Canada and high-elevation areas like Flagstaff, cherry blossoms appear later, usually between late April and early May. A full bloom cherry blossom typically lasts about one to two weeks, depending on the weather conditions. Since Arizona has a drier climate, cherry blossoms in higher elevations like Flagstaff may last a bit longer if conditions are stable. The difference between first bloom and full bloom in cherry blossoms is based on how many flowers have opened. The first bloom is when the first few blossoms begin to open on the tree. It marks the start of the blooming season. The full bloom, also known as the peak bloom, happens when 70% or more of the blossoms on the tree are open, creating that iconic fluffy pink or white canopy. Full bloom typically occurs four to 10 days after the first bloom, depending on the weather. Cooler temperatures can slow the process, extending the bloom period, while warm or windy weather can shorten it. It depends on the variety of the cherry blossom tree, but most start as pink buds and gradually turn white or lighter pink as they bloom. Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Follow @tiffsario on Instagram. Support local journalism and subscribe to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cherry blossom season 2025: Where to see flowers in AZ
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
When and where to see the best cherry blossoms in the U.S.
Since the introduction from their native Japan in the early 1900s, blossoming cherry trees signaled seasonal change in the United States. Bred for blooms and not for fruit, varieties like Yoshino, Kwanzan, and Akebono explode in a showy spectacle of delicate pink and white flowers for around two weeks each year. The downy blooms blanket parks, gardens, and towns in a visual transition away from the harsh chill of winter and toward the growing warmth of longer days. The tradition of cherry blossom festivals in the U.S. dates to 1935 in Washington, D.C. That's when the National Cherry Blossom festival was launched to honor Japan's 1912 gift of some 3,000 trees. Not only do these celebrations in communities around the country persist as symbols of international peace and friendship, but they also mirror hanami, outdoor fêtes beneath sakura, cherry blossom blooms, which have been held in Japan since the late eighth century. There, the fleeting flowers have long served as spiritual metaphors, and a reminder to live in the present moment. (How cherry blossoms came to America.) An individual tree's blooms only last around one week, while whole stands bloom and fall in about two. Understanding bloom timing is useful when trying to match a visit or festival to their short-lived, natural beauty. Typically, peak blooms—when 70 percent of flowers in a stand are out in their full, showy glory—arrive in the nation's capital sometime between the last week of March and the first week of April. In New England, cherry trees bloom some 20 days later, and in southern states—like Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas—a week-and-a-half to two weeks earlier. More precise predictions must consider year-over-year comparisons of the complex interplay of weather and climate, including factors like cloudy days, rain and snowfall, and temperature. The National Park Service, tasked with predicting peak bloom in advance of the capital city's National Cherry Blossom Festival, says it's virtually impossible to say with accuracy more than 10 days in advance of the actual event, and human-induced climate change can make precise estimates even more challenging. Bart Connors Szczarba, a locally dubbed 'Chief Bloomologist' based in New Haven, Connecticut, notes that 'Until you see green buds, there won't be blossoms. They fall into a pattern but can bloom out of nowhere!' He adds that cold winters are good for blossoms. 'What's bad is warmth followed by snow and freeze.' To make your own educated guess on when the tree will be at its best, look at the peak bloom times in the capitol in years past or watch the cherry blossom cam. Eleven species of flowering cherry tree ring the Tidal Basin fronting the Potomac River in National Capitol Park. Their scenic blooms draw some 1.5 million people during the four-week celebration, which salutes spring and international friendship. Events include a kite festival, parade, fireworks, and art installations, while across the capital, schools and neighborhoods plant new trees, and everything from buildings to busses don pastel pink. Georgia's Macon-Bibb county has the largest concentration of cherry trees in any U.S. county—and boasts nearly one hundred times more than the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The area celebrates its blossoms with plant sales, a parade, concerts, outdoor movies, and markets. The festival culminates with tethered hot air balloon rides and fireworks over downtown. The city's 70-odd cherry blossom trees—most planted in 1978—surround a rectangular park downtown and form a tree tunnel over one block of Hughes Place. A single-day springtime celebration doesn't always coincide with the best blooms, but it does with the anniversary of the city's founding in 1638 and includes artist and author presentations, food vendors, and live music. This Southern city celebrates spring and Japanese culture with its annual festival. Around 1,000 cherry trees have been planted in inner-city parks and neighborhoods in the last decade or so, a testament to the power of nature to revitalize. 'Nashville is beautiful during cherry blossom blooming time because of all the trees,' says festival organizer Ginger Byrn. 'It can often be a wonderful surprise when you round the corner or turn down a street and see all of the beautiful pink blossoms.' Popular festival events include trapeze performances, martial arts demonstrations, anime vendors, and a cosplay contest. See full-size and bonsai blooming trees spanning 42 cultivars throughout the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens during this nighttime event. The cherries are also on display daily from late March through early May, when different varieties of the trees bloom. Highlights include the Cherry Walk, which has been planted with the ethereal trees since 1921. Tiny Marshfield has a population of 7,300 that blooms with its cherry blossoms each April. Instead of a traditional spring or international cultural festival, this cherry blossom shindig is a showcase of Americana and Missouri heritage beneath the town's beautiful blooms. The Dallas Arboretum hosts a six-week celebration of spring featuring concerts, talks, floral arrangement classes, beer and wine pairings, and outdoor picnics. The backdrop is expansive gardens in full vernal splendor: 150 flowering cherry trees, alongside countless other flowers from daffodils to irises to 500,000 tulips. The only parade here is a progression of colorful blooms throughout the season; peak cherry blossoms are expected in mid-March. Ohio University's 217 cherry trees line the bike path along the Hocking River beyond campus, living gifts from its sister institution, Chubu University in Japan. Each year, during peak bloom—usually late March to mid-April—the blossoms across from Wren baseball stadium are illuminated for late-night viewing. The Japanese Student Association hosts a Sakura Festival in conjunction with flowering that features presentations and internationally-themed events. This article was originally published on March 6, 2019, but updated on March 12, 2025. Based in Hawaii, frequent contributor Meghan Miner Murray covers science and travel. Follow her on X @megminer.
