Spring has sprung! Cherry blossoms begin annual bloom on campus

Cherry blossoms
The cherry blossoms in Sakura Grove at U of T Scarborough have started blooming. (Photos by Raquel A. Russell)

The cherry blossoms in Sakura Grove located between H-Wing and the Social Sciences building are beginning to bloom, signalling the symbolic arrival of spring.

There are 50 blossoms on campus that were planted in 2005 as part of the Sakura Project, established by the Consulate General of Japan to celebrate the friendship between Ontario and Japan.

Sakura is the name for the ornamental Japanese Cherry, and the blossoms symbolize the arrival of spring since they flower in spectacular but fleeting fashion – the blossoms may only last for about a week to a week in a half, depending on the weather.

Another 70 cherry blossoms were planted on U of T’s St. George campus, while the Sakura Project donated more than 3,000 trees that were planted in public spaces in Ontario from 2001 to 2012.

If you can’t make it out to Sakura Grove, check out these photos taken on May 7.

*all photo by Raquel A. Russell