Vancouver Cherry Blossom Report 15 | The Late Cherry Blossom Tunnel on East 7th Avenue Is Amazing

🌸Location: 3095 E 7th Ave, Vancouver Date: Apr 17, 2025 As the morning light streamed through the window, I knew today was destined to be a grand date with the cherry blossoms. After researching late-blooming cherry blossom routes last night, I realized that even after twelve years of chasing cherry blossoms in Vancouver, there are still many hidden gems I haven't explored. Today, I plan to visit five late-blooming cherry blossom streets, three of which are new to me. But first, I want to recommend East 7th Avenue, a classic cherry blossom viewing spot. This seemingly ordinary residential area hides the grandest farewell performance of late-blooming cherry blossoms in Greater Vancouver. While the remnants of early cherry blossoms still linger poetically on Burnaby Mountain, Kwanzan cherry blossoms are sweeping through the streets and alleys of Greater Vancouver with overwhelming force. In this quiet community, the skyline is suddenly filled with layers of rosy clouds—a four-block-long cherry blossom canopy. Over eighty years of growth have left their mark on the gnarled branches, transforming all their tenderness into thousands of deep pink whispers. The sloping streets of East Vancouver fold the sea of flowers into undulating waves. The unique gradient colors of Kwanzan cherry blossoms shift in the light and shadow: the newly bloomed deep pink resembles a girl's blushing cheeks, the full bloom a rosy sunset, and the fading light pink petals dance a final duet with the emerging leaves. I tirelessly clicked my phone camera, as if collecting fallen stars. How luxurious it must be for the residents living in the cherry blossom tunnel! They can see cascades of flowers from their windows and enjoy the subtle fragrance drifting by their pillows. As dusk gilds the branches, I suddenly understand why the ancients said, "When the flowers bloom to their fullest, the flower season ends"—this kind of magnificent withering is the grandest tribute to spring. 🌸 Kwanzan Cherry Blossom Profile Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Sekiyama’), a deciduous small tree of the Rosaceae family, commonly known as "Sekiyama," is a subspecies of Japanese late cherry blossom and a representative variety of Yaezakura. Native to Japan, it grows 2.5-9 meters tall, with many branches and upward-curving twigs. The leaves are ovate, copper-red in spring and orange-yellow in autumn. In Vancouver, the flowering period is mostly in mid-to-late April, with flowers and leaves appearing simultaneously. The flowers grow in umbels, 5-6 cm in diameter, with double pink petals (25-30 petals). They prefer sunlight, are cold-hardy, and are suitable as street trees or for garden viewing. 🌸 Tips for Eating Kwanzan Cherry Blossoms Kwanzan cherry blossoms are not only visually appealing but also have edible value, with a history of culinary use in East Asia spanning millennia. However, special attention should be paid: ensure the cherry blossoms are pesticide-free and use only edible cherry blossom varieties. Cherry blossom petals can be salted or preserved in alcohol and then brewed into cherry blossom tea; used as a filling or wrapping for sweet glutinous rice balls (sakuramochi); added to cakes, cookies, ice cream, and marshmallows for flavor; mixed with sugar to make jams and preserves; battered and deep-fried as tempura; or used as a garnish for salads or cocktails.