Blossoms bring spring smiles

With the weather finally warming up, it’s a great time to enjoy the blossom trees in North Hagley Park.

The rows of cherry trees are in frothy pink bloom making the perfect backdrop for tourist photos and a magical setting for children going on a spring walk, like  the little girl wearing pink filmed here by Newsline’s videographer.

The flowers are nearly all white but are tinged with a very pale pink. The trees in North Hagley Park are a hybrid species that is very popular in Japan, called Yoshino Cherry (prunus x yedoenis).

The trees along Harper Ave were planted on Arbor Day in 1936 by members of the Domains Board (who managed the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park at that time) and the Riccarton Ave blossoms were planted about 1905. The tree-lined corridors were designed to enhance a well-used route into the city centre and have become a defining feature of Hagley Park.

The trees generally bloom and fall within one or two weeks in mid-September so make sure you grab the chance to see them this weekend before wind and rain damage the petals.