Cherry blossom trees in High Park and across Toronto are expected to reach peak bloom later this week, the city said.
Peak bloom begins when at least 70 per cent of the blossoms are open, according to the High Park Nature Centre. It can last between four to 10 days depending on weather conditions, the city said in a news release Thursday.
Tens of thousands of people head to High Park every year to admire the blossoms, the city said.
There will be no vehicle access or parking inside High Park starting May 5 for the duration of peak bloom. TTC Wheel-Trans vehicles will continue to have access to the park to drop off visitors, the city said.
Visitors are asked to avoid climbing the trees and removing blossoms or branches.
They are also asked to remain on paved pathways and trails when visiting city parks to protect ecologically sensitive areas.
Visitors can also see cherry blossoms in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Birkdale Ravine in Scarborough, Centennial Park in Etobicoke and Toronto Island Park, as well as on some University of Toronto and York University campuses.
The first cherry blossom trees, known as Sakura trees, were planted in Toronto in 1959 after a fundraising project led by Japanese-Canadian leaders and community members, according to the High Park Nature Centre’s website.
Two thousand trees were initially planted in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese-Canadians following the Second World War, the website reads.
Several more groves were planted across the city in the following decades. The City of Toronto operates the Sakura Cherry Trees Project, which accepts donations to support the maintenance of existing trees and the planting of new ones.
