DAY# 112 of 365- EARTH DAY and the Magical Japanese Cherry Blossoms in High Park!
Happy EARTH DAY!
Today I had planned to do something else for ‘Earth Day’, but a dear friend invited me to see the Japanese Cherry Blossoms in High Park, instead. I like to go with the flow and I don’t really have a set plan everyday during this 365 day journey (and my plans over the past 3 months have often changed the last minute), so I decided at the last minute to go with her and be one with nature. I don’t do this enough, and the weather is getting much warmer and everything is in bloom and coming back to life now that spring is here. So today was the day. Getting out and enjoying nature is one of my favourite things to do.
After seeing the movie ‘Avatar’ yesterday and loving the message of the movie which to me was to ‘appreciate, protect and respect the beauty of nature’, I am reminded to get OUT of my tiny downtown apartment and enjoy nature. And a lot of people are not aware that, Toronto is over 18% PARKLAND, so there is a lot of beautiful nature to enjoy in the big city!
Today marks the 1st weekly series on Toronto 365 of “NATURE IN THE CITY” and I thought going to see the Japanese Cherry Blossoms in High Park, (that were a gift to Toronto from Tokyo many years ago) would be a fitting beginning of this series.
It was my first time seeing the Japanese Cherry Blossoms, even though I was born and raised in Toronto. Its one of those things that I always said I was going to do one day.
What a beautiful expression of nature. It was like we were transported to Japan.
People were walking, talking, singing, taking pictures, eating and EVERYONE was happy and smiling walking through this natural wonderland. When the soft pink petals fell it was like huge pink snow flakes were falling on my head. Living in Toronto for 30-something years, I cant believe this is the 1st time I have witnessed this hidden gem.
Japanese Cherry Blossoms in High Park, in Toronto, Canada
Here is an article about the history, and some interesting information about the Japanese Cherry Blossoms and how they arrived in Toronto….
Celebrating Japanese cherry blossoms in Toronto
I particularly liked this sentence in the article….
“In Japan, cherry blossoms are called sakura, and the delicate and ephemeral blossoms are said to remind the Japanese that life is short, and already over before we really understand that it has begun.”
As my motto for my 365 Day Vacation or Journey through Toronto says…. “Life is to be ENJOYED and LIVED, get out and have FUN!”
I have been fortunate to have vacationed in over 40 countries and 100’s of cities around the world, and after over 3 months of having a daily mini vacation in my home city of TORONTO, I can honestly say this has been my best vacation ever! I love discovering and rediscovering my city. I am having the most fun, meeting so many positive and friendly people, experiencing and learning something new everyday. I LOVE T.O. 
Being that is EARTH DAY, I am not going to get on a soapbox and preach to people how they should recycle more and turn off their lights, etc. because I don’t believe that is the most effective way inspire people to respect and take care of nature.
I may be wrong but I personally believe that showing people the beauty of nature or taking their hand and walking them through one of the many beautiful expressions that nature gives us, (as I captured in these pictures below) I think is much more effective and inspiring.
How could anyone not want to protect, respect and take care of NATURE after seeing and experiencing such beauty?
ENJOY
****’The blossoms vanish as the fruit grows’…So these cherry blossoms only last for a few days to 2 weeks so remember what the SAKURA remind the Japanese people, “the blossoms are said to remind the Japanese that life is short, and already over before we really understand that it has begun.”
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JUST THE FACTS:
WHAT : The Cherry Blossoms in High Park HIGH PARK
WHERE : 430 Parkside Dr. (416)392-1748
HOW: High Park Subway stop on the TTC and about a 15 minute walk into the park to the Cherry Blossoms
Today at 1pm is the High Park Nature Centres EARTH DAY OPEN HOUSE (details are listed in the website above)
WHEN: RIGHT NOW don’t miss it before the blossoms fall away!!!
We saw the Cherry Blossoms last weekend, BEAUTIFUL!!
Yes they are Angie…simply beautiful.
I plan to go back early in the morning tomorrow, with my friend.
I have not seen the Cherry Blossoms in High Park but from your descriptions and the wonderful photos that you posted, they sure look beautiful.
Another great park in Toronto is Thompson Park out in Scarborough (Lawrence and Brimley).
It is a huge park with numerous trails and paths to wander. During the week, it is not very busy at all but on weekends, especially over the summer, there are hundreds of people visiting the park and using the barbecue facilities to have a weekend picnic with their friends.
I have been in this park often in the past 10 years and highly recommend it.
Larry I was born and raised in Toronto and for 35 years I have never been before either. I will go every year from now on. It is too beautiful to miss.
I will call my friend who works in High Park and ask her how many more days or hours we all have left to experience this wonder of nature.
Yes I have heard about Thompson Park. Sounds lovely. Maybe I will go there next week for my NATURE in THE CITY #2, if the weather is nice enough. Definitely by the end of the summer.
I live in a small downtown apartment, and don’t even have a balcony and I work from home… so I am really excited about spending more time outdoors having fun this spring, summer and fall in all the beautiful expressions of nature in Toronto.