With the petals starting to fall at High Park this week, I was lucky to have made it down last week to see the cherry trees while they were in full bloom. The cherry blossoms came a few weeks earlier this year after a much milder winter. Last week was my first time visiting High Park after many years of living in Canada. I still remember going to Kariya Park last year with my mom to see the cherry blossoms in the garden. However, the trees at High Park almost puts the ones at Kariya Park to shame.

I’m not sure what the tradition is in Toronto for hanami, but when I went most people were taking walks along the path admiring the blossoms. In Japan, surely all the good picnic spots would have been taken and people would be having full fledge parties in the park. Unfortunately for us, it’s illegal to drink in public places in Toronto. =P

It was also Toshi’s first visit to the park. It was a bit of a long ride in the car for him, but I think he really enjoyed taking an early evening stroll amidst the sakura trees. Even though the bloom is short lived, it still has the power to bring people together.