The cherry blossom tree is a nonfruit-bearing (flowering or ornamental) tree. The flowers of the many varieties of cherry trees bloom in shades of white and pink. Winter conditions determine the bloom period, which is always in the spring between March and April.The different varieties of trees bloom at different times; the trees do not bloom at the same time every year. The flowers last between one and three weeks.
Cherry blossom trees were gifted to the city of Vancouver by the mayors of Kobe and Yokohama in the early 1930s to honor the Japanese-Canadian soldiers who fought in World War I. Vancouver was given another gift of cherry blossom trees in 1958 by the Japanese Consul, Muneo Tanabe, to symbolize the friendship between Japan and Canada. The city continues to plant and cultivate cherry trees throughout the city and in 2010 planted 3,000 new trees in celebration of Vancouver's 125th birthday.
The city's thousands of cherry blossom trees are located in several areas of Vancouver and the neighboring city of Richmond. Long stretches of cherry blossom trees can be seen in almost all Vancouver neighborhoods and even in the commercial downtown area. Vancouver's VanDusen Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park and Nitobe Garden each have a significant number of cherry blossom trees. Garry Point Park in Richmond has a path lined with these trees, and they can also be observed throughout the city's residential neighborhoods.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival aims to promote the preservation of the cherry blossom trees in Vancouver. Among the many events are open air concerts, bike tours, cherry blossom painting exhibitions, guided cherry blossom tours and films. The month-long festival also includes a weekend dedicated to the Sakura Matsuri, the traditional Japanese cherry blossom festival that features traditional Japanese music, dress, dance, tea and food.
