High Park cherry blossoms 2012

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When the High Park cherry blossoms hit full bloom, you know spring has arrived in Toronto. A yearly tradition, the pilgrimage to shoot the Sakura trees — a gift from the Japanese Ambassador to Canada in 1959 — is rite of the season for hordes of local photographers. And while the scene doesn't tend to change much from year to year (aside from the increased number of visitors), the excitement that accompanies the promise of warm weather to come is always palpable. And besides, who can really tire of such pretty photos?

The timing this year is fortunate in that the ideal period for Sakura Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) falls on a weekend. There are sure to be crowds at High Park when the sun is out, so if you're looking for that perfect people-free photo you best arrive early (or try your hand at the Content-Aware Fill tool in Photoshop CS5). For more on the history of the cherry blossoms and viewing tips, check out this helpful site.

Last year, we focued on the photographic spectacle of the tradition. This year we just hope the weather holds out. If it does, we'll be sure to add additional photos to the collection below. So send your snaps to the blogTO Flickr pool. Happy spring! Lead photo by Stephen Joniak.

UPDATE (Monday, April 16): More photos!