Torontonians are upset after some people were seen disrupting Japanese cherry blossoms over the weekend as the trees are in peak bloom across the city.
Watching the Sakura trees fully bloom in Toronto is a highly-anticipated activity that marks the beginning of spring in the city. Every year, tens of thousands of people head to parks to watch the pink trees and take aesthetic photos.
But some visitors are being exposed online for going too far and climbing, plucking or even shaking the cherry blossoms during its full bloom season that began last week.
A photo shared by a Reddit user of someone sitting on top of a cherry blossom tree, sparked debate online over the appropriate etiquette for tree watching.
“I thought these trees are protected and were gifted from Japan? But correct me if I am wrong… It’s just a tree after all and trees are meant to be climbed,” the user wrote.
But in the comments, many users seemed upset with this behaviour, saying that it is inappropriate to touch the gifted trees, as they can be damaged in the process.
“I was there too and honestly just disappointed [on] people plucking out, pulling the branches or even climbing the tree,” one user said.
“No. Do not climb the trees. Do not yank the branches to make the petals fall, tear the petals off for a ‘souvenir’, bend and twist the branches around your head for a cuter photo, or allow your kids to chip away at the bark out of boredom,” another user commented.
“Saw a bunch of people shaking the trees to make the petals fall at Trinity Bellwoods yesterday. The amount of disrespect is astonishing,” a different user said.
“I was there Friday. The trees are beautiful, but this behaviour is ugly,” a user also added.
The City of Toronto’s park by-laws prohibit behaviour that can damage trees, including climbing, removing tree materials, cutting branches, attaching things to the trees and more. Visitors who damage protected trees could receive a fine that goes from $500 to $100,000 per tree.
According to the city’s website, visitors are encouraged to keep a safe distance and refrain from damaging the blossoms.
“Climbing the cherry trees, pulling on the branches and plucking off the blooms can damage the trees. Stay on existing trails to protect ecologically sensitive areas. Be mindful of local wildlife. Keep a respectful distance and avoid disturbing their natural habitat. Keep the area beautiful by putting litter in its place,” it says.
Residents who witness visitors breaking park by-laws can report incidents by calling 311 or using the city’s website or mobile app, and submit information like the tree location, photos and videos, date and time of the incident and more.
Last year, Sakura Cherry Blossoms in High Park, a blog dedicated to documenting the different blooming stages of the trees in the region, urged residents to refrain from climbing them, as it can cause significant damage.
Sharing a photo of a cherry blossom with a broken branch, the blog explained that these trees are not as resistant as other trees in North America, which can resist being climbed or shaken.
“This tree is now severely damaged and now more vulnerable to disease and have a much more difficult time to survive,” it said. “These trees won’t be replaced, and I ask everyone to respect the beauty and fragility of the Sakura and please stop climbing the trees or THIS is what happens…”
HISTORY OF THE JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOMS
The cherry blossoms first arrived in Toronto in 1959, when the Japanese ambassador in Canada presented 2,000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the city as a gift from Tokyo citizens to Torontonians.
At the time, some Japanese citizens were relocated to Toronto following World War II, and the gift was accepted as a symbol of appreciation for the city’s support. They were then planted across High Park Trail and Grenadier Pond, where they still remain.
In 1984, publishers of a Japanese-Canadian newspaper, Yoriki and Midori Iwasaki, donated more cherry blossoms to the city, as “a joyful symbol of life.”
Years later, in 2001, the city launched the “Sakura Project” along with the Japanese consulate, planted 34 more Yoshino ‘Akebono’ and Kwanzan ‘Fugenzo’ sakura trees in Grenadier Pond, near the Maple Leaf garden. And a few years later in 2006, another 16 trees were added to the original planting locations.
In 2019, the city celebrated 60 years since the original Japanese gift in 1959, planting some new trees during a special ceremony in High Park.
