Signs of early spring abound — more daylight, active morning birds, baseball and, in some circles, talk of the annual and brilliantly colourful blooming of cherry blossoms has begun.

With a high of 17 C today in Mississauga and a call for 20 C on Tuesday, the warmer temperatures of spring are here, which means, among other things, the ethereal beauty of the blossoms is only weeks away in the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of southern Ontario.

Cherry blossom season, which usually arrives around mid-spring or so, is best viewed within the borders of Canada’s seventh-largest city at Kariya Park, the tranquil Japanese-style green space named for Mississauga’s sister city in Japan and located in the downtown core.

Depending on how warm the temperatures get, cherry blossoms can start to bloom in Mississauga and across the GTA anywhere from late April, as they did in 2024, into the middle of May, as they did back in 2022.

Last year, Kariya Park turned a near-full pink in the first couple of days of May.

The blossoms and their breathtaking beauty don’t last long, though. Once they bloom, they remain in that colourful pink state for only a week or two (see video below).

“Every spring, Kariya Park in Mississauga transforms into a pink wonderland with approximately 80 stunning Japanese cherry blossom trees in full bloom,” the City of Mississauga said in a news release last spring. “These trees, a gift from Mississauga’s sister city, Kariya, boast different varieties and hues.

“These beautiful blooms only last for a short time, usually up to two weeks, unless wind or rain knock the flowers off the trees.”

City officials also noted earlier that, typically, cherry blossoms begin to flower when temperatures reach at least 15 degrees Celsius for a continuous period of seven to 10 days.

Cherry blossoms have a celebrated history in Japanese art and culture, Mississauga officials noted earlier, adding many of the world’s cherry blossom tree varieties come from the Japanese cherry tree (Sakura).

Outside of Mississauga, people can catch cherry blossom season at High Park in Toronto, Centennial Park in Etobicoke (near Mississauga’s border), Broadacres Park in Etobicoke, Spencer Smith Park and Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and, a little farther away, in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Below is a post to social media, including a video, created by the City of Mississauga last May:

Kariya Park is turning pink! 🌸

Around 80 gorgeous cherry blossom trees are about to bloom, creating the perfect spot for stunning spring photos 📸

Don’t miss this magical moment — but please be kind to the trees, the park, and each other 💗

Learn more https://t.co/vSYALT9fzP pic.twitter.com/2uOVH1hv2v

— City of Mississauga (@citymississauga) May 2, 2025

(Cover photo: City of Mississauga)


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