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.
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.
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.
Here’s an artist’s rendering of the grove containing seven cherry trees.
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.
For more information visit the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival website.