Catching Cherry Blossoms Around the Globe

Cherry blossoms at their peak are practically visually unbeatable. The whole tree smothered in clouds of pink (or white) blooms is a beauty to behold and admire. It's a masterstroke of Nature.

But cherry blossoms are highly dependent on environmental conditions. Notably, temperature, rain and wind, elevations, and microclimates.

Temperature

In warmer places, cherry blossoms bud and peak early.

This happens whether we're talking about blooms in Japan or elsewhere. Japan is the best country to view cherry blossoms.

It also applies to southern USA, Canada, and other places with temperate winter-spring transition periods.

So, in coastal Japan, the warm ocean air brings cherry blossoms earlier in places facing the Pacific Ocean. In the southern part of Japan, the trees bloom mid to late. That's from Tokyo to as south as Nagoya.

Even earlier in blooming are those found in the northern parts of Japan. Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Nara are the first to lure cherry blossom tourists from around the world.

Inner cities have their cherry blossoms peaking in early to late April. Northern regions like Hokkaido and Sapporo bloom from late April to early May.

So tourists chasing cherry blossoms in Japan have about two months to spare.

RAIN AND WIND

Nature has it that the rain and the win come on the heels of the cherry blossoms peaking.

It's a proverbial "come and go" for the beautiful blooms. Or, is it "enjoy while it lasts?"

Cherry blossoms are be very beautiful but they are very short-lasting.

Cherry blossoms typically bloom for 10-14 days. Peak blooming lasts about a week, even shorter if the rain hastens in its coming.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE NOW ALL OVER VANCOUVER

Cherry blossom season in Metro Vancouver (Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey) generally runs from early March to early May. However, we had couple of freak snowstorms last month so the blooming season has been pushed a week later.

Peak blooms usually occur from late-March to mid-April.  Early varieties (like Whitcomb) begin in March, while popular pink Akebono bloom in late March. They are followed by darker Kanzan in mid-April. 

However, as mentioned earlier, cherry blooms are at the mercy of the rain that frequents the Vancouver area. Vancouver is even jokingly called Raincouver.

The cherry blossoms are now all over the Vancouver area, blooming so beautifully as if to taunt the rain to deflower them if it can.

And sure, a heavy rain conniving with blustery wind can wipe out the prettiest of blooms overnight.

Vancouverites are now heaving a sigh of relief as the next rainfall is forecast for next week yet. Ooops, slight showers are already coming this weekend though.

BLOOMING TIMES IN CANADA

Blooming times in other parts of Canada are about two to three weeks later in Vancouver. The rest of Canada also see their cherry blossoms a week or two later than their American counterparts depending on geographical locations.

Toronto and Quebec, for example, blooming times are late April to early May, a week or two behind Chicago.

Cherry blossom season in western Canada past the Rockies are even later. Their cold season is longer. Edmonton sees cherry blossoms from early to late May; Calgary sees cherry blossoms slightly later, from late April to early-June.

Blooming Times in the U.S.

MID-ATLANTIC: (example: Washington, DC) - generally bloom between late March and early April for Yoshino cherry blossoms; early to late March, for Okame cherries; late March to mid April, for Kwanzan cherries.

SOUTHEAST: (Atlanta and Charleston areas, Macon in Georgia) mid March to early April

NEW ENGLAND: (like Boston, Massachusetts) mid to late April

MIDWEST: mid April to early May in Chicago, due to the warm lake effect; late April to mid-May in Traverse City in Michigan

CALIFORNIA: February to March in the south (like San Jose, San Francisco area); mid to late March in the north (like LA & Sacramento)

PACIFIC NORTHWEST: (Seattle-Tacoma and Portland areas) late March to early April

MICROCLIMATES

In general, trees bloom earlier in the cities than in the surrounding rural areas. It's due to the warmer city island effect. Cities generate and reflect more artificial heat.

Also, trees in higher elevations bloom later. Higher altitude gives rise to cooler temperature.

Wherever cherry blossoms show off those frothy blooms, they are sure to attract your attention and admiration.

They certainly have that WOW factor!

Because the blooms are ephemeral, you just have NO time to dilly-dally to seek out those heavenly blooms.