This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival is underway with a showing of all the shades of pink blooms appearing across the Lower Mainland.
But one expert says the popularity of getting those close-up pictures for social media can have an effect on those trees.
Douglas Justice, associate director of UBC’s Botanical Garden, has a warning about walking along the roots of the cherry blossom trees while grabbing close-up pictures. While the trees are rather resilient, he says, constant disruption to their root system can have long term effects.
“Every year that’s going to shorten the life of the tree. We need to make sure that we try to reduce as much of the stress that we can possibly affect,” said Justice.
Justice encourages shutterbugs to try to avoid disturbing the root system, despite the resilience of the trees.
“If you go to David Lam Park, the thousands and thousands of people who trump around the roots of cherry trees. That kind of traffic would kill other trees, but the cherry seemed to do okay.”
The UBC Botanical Garden is home to about 55 different types of ornamental cherry trees boasting various shades of pink. Many of the varieties have come all the way from Japan.
“As well, there are hybrids that that were developed in in England and in the U.S. that also graced the streets,” said Justice.
2026 marks the 20-year anniversary of Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival which runs until April 17.
—With files from David Nadalini.
