The magnificent display of cherry blossoms in Toronto’s High Park will arrive a bit later this year – because of the harsh winter we’ve had.

This time last spring the cherry buds were ready to explode.

The year before they had already bloomed and gone by the end of April.

But here in 2014 the stunning white and pink petals are hidden away – due to the brutal Polar Vortex and it’s extreme cold.

The blossoms are not expected to unfurl until mid-May… or even later.

Toronto’s first Sakura cherry trees were a gift from Japan back in 1959.

Thousands of admirers descend on High Park for the show each year and the hillside near Grenadier Pond is especially popular.

Sakura is the Japanese name for the blossoms and the tradition of “hanami” or “flower viewing” goes back more than a thousand years in Japan.