Hanami 2014: Part 1

Hanami is the Japanese custom of enjoying cherry flower blooms. Each year, there is a period of one week where the cherry blossoms come out to bloom. In Toronto, hundreds make the pilgrimage to High Park to see the cherry blossoms bloom.

Hamami at my Parent's Place

What was unfortunate about this year is because we had a prolonged, harsh winter - the blooms were not as striking or dramatic as in previous years. Usually the blooms out out first, and then the leaves , but instead we had both come out at the same time.

Hanami in High Park

At high park, we went this past weekend and it was cloudy, very cold and very dreary. The blooms had suffered through five days of rain, of which 3 of them were heavy. So most of the blossoms had fallen and were very dreary at that point.

Pink Magnolias

Luckily we found a magnolia tree, which seemed to be the only tree in high park that seemed to have decent bloom. We took advantage of the opportunity to take some nice photos:

My friends Fred and Aubrey, they actually did not need direction for posing of this picture.

Me with my friend Linda.

Hanami in the previous year

This year (on the left) vs. last year (on the right):

 

 Sakura blossoms from last year:

 

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