This is when cherry blossoms are expected in Mississauga

Spring is in the air and with it comes the return of cherry blossoms in Mississauga.

The warm weather Mississauga and much of the GTA is experiencing this week may have some thinking of spring flowers.

The beautiful flowering cherry blossom or Sakura trees are a welcome sight after a long winter.

Sakura trees need a minimum of 15 C to fully bloom, and this week’s temperatures are expected to be over that for a few days.

Cherry blossom trees — not to be confused with fruit-bearing cherry trees — produce soft white, blush pink and dark rose blooms and originate from China, Korea and Japan. In Japan, the trees have been cultivated for cherry blossom viewing. Friends and families head out to picnic under the trees when they are in full bloom.

In Mississauga, the best place to see Sakura trees is Kariya Park, and the spectacular pink flowers usually bloom in late April or May. This year they are on track to be a bit early.

The cherry blossom trees will likely start to bloom somewhere between April 23 to 30 in the GTA, according to Sakura Watch from Sakura Cherry Blossoms in High Park, a website that monitors the blooms in Toronto.

The dates may change if the weather changes. A cool snap could slow the trees’ progress.

“…all signs are pointing to an earlier-than-normal bloom,” according to Sakura Watch.

Kariya Park, at 3620 Kariya Dr. in the city centre, is a Japanese-inspired park, with more than 65 cherry blossom trees of four different varieties. The park honours Mississauga’s Sister City, Kariya, Japan.

For more information, see the city’s website.