Despite the light chill the Cherry Blossoms in Spencer Smith Park have opened the kimona

By Gazette Staff

April 29th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

It happens every year – the Cherry Trees blossom and crowds show up with cameras in hand.

Interestingly, however, most of the visitors are from diverse communities.

The cherry blossom trees (Sakura) in Spencer Smith Park were donated by the Nakazawa family of Itabashi, Japan, along with the city of Itabashi itself, as a gift to Burlington.

The former Itabashi City chairman Kan Nakazawa and his wife, Toshiko, donated the 54 trees and the limestone walkway (KanTo Walkway) in 1997 to symbolize the friendship between the twin cities.

The bloom is a spectacular sight to see, with peak bloom typically happening in late April – early May, and lasts anywhere from 6 to 14 days, depending on the weather.

The Japanese word “Hanami” translated directly, means “flower viewing”.