Toronto’s cherry blossoms could bloom ‘earlier than normal’ this year

When will the High Park cherry blossoms bloom this year? According to Toronto’s very own Sakura expert, Steven Joniak, the countdown is officially on and it’s sooner than you might think.

Joniak, a.k.a. Sakura Steve, monitors the buds each spring and updates the public about their progress on his blog, Sakura in High Park.

On Friday, Sakura Steve visited the park and updated his website with some very exciting news.

“All signs are pointing to an earlier-than-normal bloom,” he wrote on his website.

“The blossom buds are well into the second stage of development,” he wrote.

He also said that the warm temperatures coming to Toronto this week “can help lead the buds into an earlier bloom.”

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The typical peak bloom season for High Park’s cherry blossoms is from late April to early May.

However, Sakura Steve says that the incoming surge of warm weather and the current stage of the buds give him confidence that the bloom will take place on the earlier side.

According to his website, “the bloom will begin by the end of April, most likely somewhere between April 23 to 30.”

“These dates may change if the weather gets cold enough again to slow the tree’s progress, but all signs are pointing to an earlier-than-normal bloom.”

Those hoping to see Toronto cherry blossom activity a little bit early this year can head east of High Park, to the University of Toronto campus.

According to Joniak, “the cherry blossoms near [U of T] Robarts Library downtown tend to be the first to bloom in the city, and when they do, High Park will follow within 2-3 days.”

It’ll finally look and feel like spring in the city pretty soon, and we can’t wait!