Cherry Tree planting

This morning, Mayor Gregor Robertson greeted media and dignitaries for a special cherry tree planting in conjunction with this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival. I wrote a story about the festival last month and today was a beautiful start as our city’s Cherry Blossom population gained one more tree to enjoy.

Kinji Shinoda, Deputy Consul General to Japan and Doreen Lau, daughter of the late BC Lieutenant Governor David Lam and Dorothy Lam were on hand to preside over the festivities.

Cherry Tree planting Cherry Tree planting

A trio of Japanese drummers kicked off the event, leading into opening remarks and the winning Haiku contest reading by Christopher Gaze, Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach.

Mayor Gregor Robertson

Afterwards, our crazy late winter weather cooperated while the Mayor helped to plant a cherry tree in front of City Hall. This will be the start of a new grove, adding to 37,000 cherry trees already planted throughout the city.

Cherry Tree planting-

Here’s an artist’s rendering of the grove containing seven cherry trees.

Cherry Blossom Rendering 2011

To celebrate Vancouver’s 125th Birthday, the City has partnered with the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation, to make 3,000 Birthday Blossoms trees available for the public to purchase at the special price of $40 each, until March 29.

Cherry Tree cake

For more information visit the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival website.

2 Comments

  • Comment by Chris (@lyteforce) — March 4, 2011 @ 10:24 am

    Having grown up in Vancouver, there’s just something mystical about the Cherry Blossoms as we transition into Spring that I can’t get enough of. Too bad I live in a condo and can’t grown one of my own – the balcony just wouldn’t cut it.

  • Comment by arianec — March 22, 2011 @ 2:10 pm

    Chris, They’re on their way! I can feel it and smell the air 🙂

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