Cherry blossoms, Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, Canada

© Harris Hui/Getty Image

Info. Cherry blossoms in Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, Canada

Known as “sakura” in Japan, most cherry blossoms bloom in spring. There are hundreds of varieties and the majority produce light pink to white blossoms. The trees are a symbol of renewal and hope. Enjoying a picnic beneath cherry blossom trees is a Japanese tradition. The old practice is known as “hanami”, which means flower viewing. In the 1930s, Japan gifted Vancouver hundreds of trees to thank Japanese Canadians who served in World War I. Today, over 43,000 flowering cherry trees bloom across the Canadian city each year.