Sakura Watch April 6, 2026 - Buds move into Stage 2, but cold weather returns
Sakura Watch April 6, 2026 - Buds move into Stage 2, but cold weather returns for yet another round of winter-like temperatures, and even a hint of snow! Mother Nature teased us with a couple of days of very mild, even early-summer-like conditions, before plunging us back into a deep freeze. Hope is on the forecast horizon, and I hope we get back to at least more seasonal temperatures soon. As for my latest visit, I’m happy to see the buds have made some progress into Stage 2 - read more below and watch the video to see my latest visit.
Watch the YouTube video update below.
Buds move to the second Stage
Nearly all the sakura cherry blossom trees throughout High Park are now showcasing buds in Stage 2. This is the stage where the buds begin to take on a fuller, rounder, more bulbous shape and reveal more exposed bright green tips. The couple of days of warmer temperatures, especially into the high double digits, really helped to propel the buds ahead. But now that the cold has returned for another week, the progress will slow a bit before we see more progress into the third and fourth stages. Here are a few photos from what I saw this weekend:
warmer Weather awaits
According to the most recent 7-day and 14-day forecasts from The Weather Network, daytime temperatures are set to rise again, averaging near or above 10º C for the rest of the month. The warmer and sunnier conditions we can get, the more likely the buds will progress a bit faster. Remember that, on average, Toronto sees sakura cherry blossoms bloom in late April or early May. This year, I’m predicting the bloom to start near the end of April and continue into the first week of May. The tough part about predicting is how eratic the weather is now and often can change quite drastially from what is forecast. So hopefully, if the warmer trends return and continue, the end of the month may be when we finally see the first blooms open.
For now, we continue the waiting game. I hope to finally have a more accurate prediction after my next visit, which will bring us closer to mid-April. So, as always, stay tuned for more updates soon!
Do Your Part to Help the Trees from Damage
As much fun as it is to get up close to enjoy the cherry blossoms truly, there are some who take it a bit too far and cause damage to the tree that can lead to irreparable harm so the trees can not protect themselves from insects and disease and eventually die. This leaves us with less mature trees to enjoy, so please, if you really want to enjoy the blossoms for many years to come, you need to do your part to help protect the trees and prevent any harm to them:
Don’t pick or break off any blossoms
Don’t pull down, shake or break off the branches
Don’t climb, sit or stand on the trunks or branches - the mature trees are very old and not strong enough to support the weight and stress of people, even small children!
Don’t leave any litter IN or around the trees - it’s so sad to see people putting their garbage in the hollow trunks of the older trees, which invites animals and other insects to nest inside and cause internal damage.
DO take photos without harming the trees
DO enjoy the blossoms and respect their immediate surroundings
DO remember that respecting the trees from root to branch will help everyone to enjoy the blooming trees for many years to come
Donate to Support The Cherry Blossoms
The City of Toronto now accepts donations to help maintain existing trees and plant future ones. See this link for details.
Read more details and information on the City of Toronto - Cherry Blossom Website
Thank you all for visiting the site. Be careful, be safe, and watch for more updates soon.