What Cherry Blossom Season in Vancouver is Really Like
April showers bring Vancouver cherry blossoms, and let me tell you, I’m quite literally here for it. Of course I’m still a Summer girl through and through, but I do appreciate the rain and all the beauty that exists because of it. However, all too often the down pours are the talk of the city, leaving less conversation for the blooms. With that said, I figured I’d dedicate this post to what cherry blossom season in Vancouver is really like, including some interesting facts.
Let’s start with the initial origin:
Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) are believed to have originated somewhere in the Himalayas prior to making their way to Japan, where over 300 varieties are now known to exist. It wasn’t until sometime during the 1930’s that Vancouver, Canada would be blessed with 500 trees to plant, courtesy of Japanese cities Kobe and Yokohama. This was considered a gift to honour all the Japanese Canadians who served in the First World War. Pretty fascinating, right?
Okay, fast forward to 2024 and the release of the iPhone 16 pro max asdfjjkkisisjdjbs. If people aren’t out taking selfies, they’re taking up space on the sidewalk, along with their iCloud storage where thousands of literal cloud stills and slow scenic videos for Instagram Stories are kept. Where do the cherry blossoms come in? I mean, besides the reels tab, featuring the latest track by Suki Waterhouse (guilty af), nearly everywhere. No seriously, put your phone down for a second and look down the street. From February to June, it is estimated that there are around 54 cultivars of cherry trees in Vancouver, alone, with many varieties of blossoms, ranging from light pink Accolades to deep, bright pink Okame.
Simply put, Vancouver cherry blossom season is pure bliss, minus the larger crowds of people getting in each other’s way to get the “perfect” shot. I once nearly got pushed into the street by a lady who was going for an extra wide angle (a story for another time I’ll probably never get to). But hey, at the end of the day, could I really blame her? Most of these blossoms only last 1 - 2 weeks anyway, which brings me to my next paragraph…
To get the most out of these blossoms, I suggest gathering some to elevate your living space and/or dry out for extended admiration. You may also add some (of certain varieties) to drinking water, cocktails, salads, or whatever feeds your soul (and stomach). I recently added some freshly picked and cleaned petals to a glass of ice-water and it was beautifully refreshing. I then refilled my glass to feature the rest of what I picked as a temporary decor piece. I hope to experiment more in the future. Note, ALWAYS be sure to check which ones are edible before tasting.
For more info, I highly recommend checking out Cherry Cultivars on the newest iPhone (or literally any phone/device that connects to wifi). Sorry, couldn’t help myself. And for more Raincouver cherry blossom visuals, check the latest on my IG @haveyour.c.a.k.e
May you all have a blessed Spring!
Xoxo