Cherry blossom fans who missed their fix of pink and white blooms due to lockdown can now enjoy the colours of Toronto’s High Park from the comfort of their living room.
Cameras are filming a 24-hour live stream of Sakura trees in the historic park after mayor John Tory announced High Park would be closed this spring to prevent crowds from gathering to see the annual spectacle.
The origins of High Park date back to the 1830s, when architect and landscape designer John George Howard bought a 160-acre estate in County of York, to the west of Toronto, as a sheep farm. He and his wife bequeathed it to the city on their deaths, and it is a public municipal park.
Hanami (or cherry blossom viewing) has been restricted around the globe, including Japan, where the buds began sprouting on 14 March 2020 – the earliest date since cherry blossom records began. It drew large crowds, despite warnings from the government to stay home.
According to the Guardian, 3,000 rose bushes across Yono Park in Saitama, north of Tokyo, were severed in an attempt to keep flower views at home.
Back in Toronto, it’s peak bloom time. Take a look at the live-feed for more.
