'Colt' wasn't meant to be an ornamental cherry - it's just that this one is such a nicely shaped tree, and it's fragrant, and I think it's my fault that we got all excited about it. Its primary use, as far as I know, is as a dwarfing rootstock. You can see them around town occasionally as sprouting rootstocks on some other cultivar. When I first saw it, I saw what I think was one red bud at the top of the trunk, so I've always assumed that this tree started life as a 'Kanzan'. Or maybe something else - 'Kanzan' wouldn't have buds when the 'Colt' flowers were out. 'Pandora' was not a bad guess, but they start a bit more pink, have petals that are more narrow, so they do not overlap on open flowers, and they're not fragrant.
These two young Akebono "brothers" (as we like to call them) are separated by a hedge on 8th Avenue between Balaclava and Bayswater. They are on separate properties and exhibiting different blooming stages. I don't think they are on the map yet. I've also attached two photos of the majestic Akebono located at Blenheim and 5th Avenue, right beside McBride Park (this was the first tree I mentioned to Wendy when joining the scouts). It's a great time to admire its vibrant blossoms!
So ... I'm not usually in this area, but the 'Akebono' s around Kits Beach are currently amazing looking. Here's one at the west end of Vanier Park, near the Maritime Museum: And these on the north side of Cornwall at Yew, taken from right underneath and from across Cornwall: And this one with the mountains behind it, taken from the Kits Beach parking lot:
Sunset and Burnaby neighbourhoods are claiming prize-worthy 'Tai-haku' trees right now, in the postings referenced in this posting. Here's the other contender, the two 'Tai-haku' at Seaforth Peace Park, on Burrard at Cornwall. These were very showy more than a week ago, have already dropped many petals. To me, the Burnaby tree is notable for its far-reaching limbs. These trees in Kitsilano intended to carry limbs like that, but there was a lot of pruning done to them, I think before I knew them. Here is the tree to the south, and some photos where limbs have been cut. This is the other (north) tree, which curiously seems to have a still-densely flowered half. I got into the moss on these trees. These are on the north one. And the south tree:
Across from the park in the above posting, on York Street, is a row of 'Shirotae' that have appeared here many times. They are clearly pruned to deal with their cramped situation, though one is spreading its limbs to the east and west instead of across the sidewalk and street. Across from these, on the north side, is a row of 'Kanzan' that already have a lot of open flowers, more than the ones in the West End, which I had thought were leading the show.
