Reasons to visit Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the spring
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| Prunus "Accolade" in bloom |
When you really think about it, a cemetery is a great place to appreciate trees any time of the year. I don't find it morbid at all!
Right now, members of the Prunus genus are strutting their stuff, to mix metaphors, and since my last post "Sakura dreams: Cherry blossoms at the University of Toronto" seems popular, why not give the reading public more of what they want? My family and I spent a few hours bike riding (them) and staring at the spring blooms (me) recently on a beautiful afternoon at the cemetery. I think this beats going to the mall any day!
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| Prunus "Accolade" Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms Prunus "Accolade" at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus "Accolade" sakura blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Mount Pleasant Cemetery Japanese Flowering Cherry Prunus "Accolade" sakura blossoms |
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| Prunus "Accolade" Japanese Flowering Cherry blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Prunus "Accolade" Japanese Flowering Cherry sakura blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto rivals any local arboretum. Many visitors jog, ride their bikes, pay their respects, and a few, like me, wander around appreciating the foliage and flowers. Spring and fall are special times to visit for the botanically-inclined.
The "Amanogawa" tree above is a memorial for this gentleman who I think, um, was a Who fan. The label is actually incorrect as "Amanogawa" is very columnar. (My best guess is this is Prunus "Accolade".)
Food for thought: if you were to pick a memorial tree for yourself, what would it be and why?
Nearby, a Leonard Messel magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri "Leonard Messel") was in full bloom.
The "Amanogawa" tree above is a memorial for this gentleman who I think, um, was a Who fan. The label is actually incorrect as "Amanogawa" is very columnar. (My best guess is this is Prunus "Accolade".)
Food for thought: if you were to pick a memorial tree for yourself, what would it be and why?
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| Fleeting beauty, eternal rest |
Nearby, a Leonard Messel magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri "Leonard Messel") was in full bloom.
I didn't crop out the statue and marker since the grave does reinforce the idea that the blooms, like ourselves, are only here for a short time. We might as well enjoy ourselves and others while the opportunity exists!
I don't find the Japanese flowering cherries very fragrant. This can't be said for the several weeping American plums found in the cemetery. Prunus americana has a sweet odour and the specimens here were covered by pollinators (bees and flies that are, bad pun intended, wanna-bees) hungry for nectar.
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| Smells heavenly! Prunus americana (American or wild plum) in full bloom |
I don't find the Japanese flowering cherries very fragrant. This can't be said for the several weeping American plums found in the cemetery. Prunus americana has a sweet odour and the specimens here were covered by pollinators (bees and flies that are, bad pun intended, wanna-bees) hungry for nectar.
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| Detail of American plum blooms |
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| American Plum (Prunus americana) blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| American Plum (Prunus americana) spring blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| American Plum (Prunus americana) spring flowers at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Prunus americana (American Plum) spring blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| Weeping American Plum (Prunus americana) blooms at Mount Pleasant Cemetery |
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| My two special blossoms tucked in there |
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