The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cherry Blossom Festival
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Prospect Heights, near the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park, has a great collection of cherry blossom trees, most located in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. To the west of this area, you’ll also find the Cherry Cultivars Area, where there are different varieties growing all in one place, so you can properly compare and see how they all bloom on different schedules. The Cherry Walk is a pathway, lined with trees, that leads to the Cherry Esplanade, an open lawn with 76 trees. You can also find cherry blossoms in the Osborne Garden by the Eastern Parkway entrance and in the Bonsai Collection.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is famous for its celebration of the arrival of cherry blossom season, which is known as Hanami, a month-long celebration of the arrival of cherry blossoms. During the annual festival, which in Japan is called Sakura Matsuri, the gardens typically organize events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.
You can track the bloom status of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s trees, so you know exactly when to visit. While the blossoms will still bloom and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open, the 2021 festival was not rescheduled.
Halfdark / Getty Images
Visitors Can Enjoy Performances Tours Drop
In celebration of the spring season of cherry blossoms, magnolias, bluebells, and more, Brooklyn Botanic Garden presents Art in the Garden: Weekends in Bloom on Saturdays April 23, 30, and May 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy pop-up music and dance performances, learn about plants from BBG’s gardeners, join programs for kids and families, take Garden tours, and enjoy all spring has to offer at BBG during any of these three festive Saturdays.
Cherry blossom season at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the most anticipated spring events in New York City. Track the cherry blossom bloom progression at bbg.org/cherries, and learn about the Garden’s other spectacular spring flowers at bbg.org/bloom.
All programs are free with Garden admission. Tickets are required. Details on this year’s spring programming can be found below and at bbg.org/spring.
Weekends in Bloom programming is part of Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Bloom, a celebration of spring, featuring more hours and more flowers. Through May 15, the Garden is open Tuesday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-sunset and Friday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
Great Spots For Spring Blooms In Nyc
Park Avenue Tulips
Upper East Sides Park Avenue is always a sight to behold, but my favorite time to stroll the avenue is during spring. The cherry blossom trees are popping and the tulips cover the ground in a sea of yellow. Also, I have no idea what they do to these tulips but I swear theyre the size of teacups!
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Hudson River Park
Where Battery Park ends, Hudson River Park begins and stretches all the way to 59th Street. Not only does this lively NYC park span 550 acres, but it hugs the Hudson River and offers spectacular waterfront views.
In fact, more than 400 acres of Hudson River Park is located on piers that stretch over the water. You cant help but notice the plethora of spring blooms in the area, most notably the tulips planted along the paths.
The highest concentration of tulips is located at Belvadere Plaza.
West Side Community Garden
Located on 89th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, the West Side Community Garden is a true gem. Locals often consider lounging here one of the most relaxing things to do in the Upper West Side.
Originally founded in 1976 to address an eyesore , the garden is privately owned and run by volunteers that rely on donations and grants.
The garden is a joy to visit any time of year, but it try shines in the spring. More than 15,000 tulips adorn the garden in the most colorful display, its one of the best places in NYC to see spring blooms.
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Flushing Meadows Corona Park
QueensThe site of two Worlds Fairs, in 1939 and 1964, Flushing Meadows Corona Park was designed to impress, and while its photo-worthy in its own right, the cherry blossom canopies lining the park in spring certainly add to the allure. South of Roosevelt Avenue and Citi Field past Arthur Ashe Stadium, the sprawling landscape lights up pink in April, amplifying the steel Unispheres grandeur.
Breathtaking Spots For Cherry Blossoms In New York City
Post overview: Locals take on the best spots to find cherry blossoms in New York City.
I moved to New York City in the spring, so this particular season has a very special place in my heart. Every year, like clockwork, the burst of blooms serves as a reminder that Ive made it another year in the Big Apple a dream Ive nurtured for 10 years before making the jump.
Sentimental feelings aside, springtime in NYC is something else. The romantic blushing trees completely change the city landscape as busy feet scatter from one cherry tree to the next.
Luckily for the 8.4 million people that call the Big Apple home , theres no shortage of great spots to find cherry blossoms in New York City.
If you know where to look, you can find some incredible spots for spring blooms and thats exactly where I come in.
I created this quick list of my absolute favorite spots for cherry blossoms in New York City. These are the exact spots I take my own family and friends when they visit.
Make sure to bring your walking shoes because well be covering a lot of ground!
Visiting New York City? If you havent decided where to stay check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City . Dont have time? Heres our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
When is the best time to see cherry blossoms in New York City?
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Greenest Block In Brooklyn
Registration open March 14-June 1 | Winners announced in August
BBGâs Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest returns in person this year for the first time since 2019. Brooklynâs friendliest competition, the Greenest Block contest encourages streetscape gardening and tree care, block beautification, and most of all, community connection. The contest is free and open to all residential blocks, commercial blocks, and community gardens in Brooklyn.
Participants can attend a free workshop, How to Green Your Block, at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and host a free walk-and-talk block visit, led by BBG staff, to learn about their blockâs greening opportunities. Registration runs March 14-June 1, and winners are revealed in August. Dozens of prizes are awarded for greening efforts. Learn more at bbg.org/greenestblock.
The Cherry Blossom Trees At Brooklyn Botanic Garden Are Entering First Bloom For Spring 2022
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has an entire section dedicated to blooming Japanese Cherry trees called the Cherry Walk, and they have just started their first bloom for the Spring. It is the most highly anticipated event of the year at the Gardens, so the BBG has even setup a special webpage where you can track the blooming progress on their CherryWatch Blossom Status Map.
We’re not yet in full bloom and there are plenty of bare trees, but some of the Japanese Cherry Trees have started blooming! Time to plan your visit in the coming weeks!
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Cherry Blossoms In New York City
Cherry blossom season in New York City marks the beginning of longer, warmer spring days. Its time to shake off winter, pack a snackaroo and enjoy the great outdoors.
NYCs cherry blossoms bloom in late April. If you want earlier blossoms, head south. Washington DCs Tidal Basin goes into bloom in late March and the city celebrates with its famous annual cherry blossom festival in early April. Other popular US cherry blossom destinations include the Horticulture Center in Philadelphia and the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, GA.
But I think NYC is the best spot to see and snap the beautiful cherry blossoms in springtime. City residents are overjoyed that winters finally over. Theyre happy. And friendly. So its a great time to visit.
Although bloom time varies, plan on the peak occurring some time during the latter half of April. Cherry blossom festivals are held in various locations during that time. Or feel free to celebrate the season in the traditional Japanese manner, called hanami. Its the peaceful contemplation of the annual spring blooms.
TravelingMom Tip: Choose one of these fab NYC hotels for your familys trip to see the cherry blossoms!
Art In The Garden: Weekends In Bloom
Celebrate cherry blossom season and all the spring blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden with casual, pop-up music and dance performances, chances to talk with BBG gardeners, morning programming for kids and families in the Discovery Garden, and Garden tours. All programs free with Garden admission. Further details will be announced this spring. Learn more at bbg.org/spring.
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Types Of Cherry Blossoms In New York City
As I mentioned, one of the best things about spring in New York City is that theres a variety of cherry trees. The first cherry blossoms in NYC are Yoshino Cherry Trees , which are followed in early May by Kwanzan Cherry Tree blooms .
Lets break them down further below.
Yoshino Cherry Trees
The Yoshino cherry trees in New York City were gifted from Japan in 1912. Producing delicate white flowers that give off a very light almond scent, they can reach impressive heights of 40 feet. These are the first cherry trees to bloom in New York City and you can expect to catch them at peak around the first and second weeks of April.
Heres a closeup photo of the blooms below.
Kwanzan Cherry Trees
Kwanzan cherry trees produce heavy clusters of double-petal flowers adorned in deep pink shades. The clusters take on a full mushroom shape, making them exceptionally beautiful. These cherry blossoms dont bloom until early May.
Kwanzan cherry trees are slightly shorter than Yoshino cherry trees and grow to heights of 30 feet. However, the blooms are much more colorful than the muted cherry blossoms from Yoshino trees. You can typically spot these trees from a distance.
Crabapple Trees
Crabapple trees have some of the prettiest blooms, in my opinion. This is largely thanks to the explosion of color between the budding green leaves, the pleasant creamy white shade of the open petals and velvety fuscia shades of the closed petals.
Magnolia Trees
Cherry Blossoms At Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Consisting of more than 20 cultivars, BBG’s collection is one of the most diverse of its kind in a U.S. botanic garden. Throughout hanami, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossom display is tracked on the CherryWatch webpage. Updated daily, this map provides up-to-the-petal blooming status for each tree in the main collection, as well as detailed information about each cultivar.
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No: Visit The Japanese Hill And Pond Garden
The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is one of the oldest and most visited Japanese-inspired gardens outside Japan.
It really is just like being in Kyoto!
The Japanese Garden Brooklyn style has artificial hills contoured around a pond, a waterfall, and an island, along with carefully placed rocks.
Look out for wooden bridges, stone lanterns, a viewing pavilion, the red Torii gates, and a Shinto shrine too.
The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is an excellent place to experience the cherry blossom season from April to May too, even if you cant visit during the festival itself.
The Inside Scoop: Brooklyn Botanic Garden New York
Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in US dollars, unless otherwise stated
Brooklyn Botanical Garden Address: 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
Telephone: 718-623-7200
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Free Day?
- FREE Friday mornings before noon
- Winter weekdays FREE
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season
Spring would not be the same for Cindy Sipkin without a visit to see the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.âThe colors are beautiful,â Sipkin said. âEvery month, itâs pink trees in bloom.âSipkin, who lives in Manhattan, loves Central Park, but she also appreciates the beauty of this garden.
What You Need To Know
- The Brooklyn Botanic Garden features more than 200 cherry trees with about two dozen varieties
- This year, instead of holding one Cherry Blossom Festival, the garden is spreading out the festivities over several weekends
- Once the blossoms start blooming, they will last about 10 days to two weeks
For more information, head to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardenâs website.
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden Cherry Blossom
If you want to witness one of the citys most breathtaking spectacles, visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Prospect Heights during spring.
Each April through May, BBG is the site of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival , when the Gardens over two dozen varieties of cherry blossom trees reach their peak bloom.
Every weekend of the festival, BBG displays its finest cherry blossoms with a rich program of events heavily influenced by Japanese culture. Events include folk music and dance performances, educational programs, art exhibitions, etc.
Visitors can also take photos against the beautiful pink and white backdrop and enjoy lunch and snacks in the Garden during the cherry bloom season.
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What To Do Near Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Museum: This is one of the best museums in NYC, holding an art collection with roughly 500,000 objects!
Prospect Park: Lace up your running shoes and trek the loop or relax on the lawn at this spacious and scenic park.
Prospect Park Zoo: The zoo houses 864 animals representing about 176 species!
Grand Army Plaza: Be sure to take a picture of the arch at Grand Army Plaza. If you are there on a Saturday, check out the Farmers Market.
Jewish Childrens Museum: Travel down Eastern Parkway to this museum that teaches kids about Jewish culture.
Brooklyn Childrens Museum: This is the nations first childrens museum, creating experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity, and cultivate joyful learning.
Alright, thats everything you need to know about Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the best things to do, and tips for a great experience. Got any questions, leave a comment below.
Highlights Of The Discovery Garden
The new Discovery Garden includes meadow, marsh, and woodland habitats to explore, as well as a four-seasons garden and a fruit and vegetable garden.
The Meadow
In the meadow, let the children wander winding paths through tall meadow grasses and flowers.
Native plantings that attract butterflies, bees, moths, and hummingbirds also lend themselves to a focus on plant-pollinator relationships.
The Woodland
The Woodland is home to both deciduous and evergreen forest environments.
Raised boardwalks and platforms allow the children to explore the habitat from a variety of vantage points.
The Woodland is the biggest part of the Discover Garden at BBG.
The Marsh
In the marsh, children are invited to follow a circuit of split logs and boulders surrounding this rich environment populated with species that have adapted to living in or near water.
The Hamm Childrens Learning Courtyard
The Hamm Childrens Learning Courtyard is a garden dedicated to the cultivation of flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
It offers visitors hands-on scientific encounters with the natural world as they sow, tend, and harvest plants that relate to their own lives.
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The Bbg Is Awash In Blossoms Right Now Here Are A Few Pics From This Week Rose
It may be possible to get another bite of the cherry after all. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is in full bloom, and the gardens Kanzan cherriesconsidered the most ornamentalhave begun to pop on Cherry Esplanade.
Last spring, the garden was closed during the early peak pandemic weeks and its renowned cherry collection put on its annual show without an audience.
This year the Japanese tradition of hanamienjoying the transient beauty of these blossomsis back, and the garden has extended its hours through May 9 and is offering a series of pop-up music and dance performances on weekends. Other early spring blooms currently on display include the pink, white, and yellow magnolia blossoms on Magnolia Plaza and Daffodil Hill. Click here for the gardens Cherrywatch heat map of peak bloomage.
Photographer David Doobinin went to the park over the weekend to get a glimpse of the blooms and captured the following images. No rose-colored glasses required:
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is often considered the spot for cherry blossoms in New York City. In many ways, the garden feels like it was designed to be the top spring destination in NYC and it succeeded.
Indeed, during peak bloom the New York Botanical Garden takes on a fairy-tale appearance. Between the prolific daffodils and breathtaking Kwanzan cherry blossoms, you wont know which way to look.
The highest concentration of spring blooms can be found at Cherry Valley, the Arthur and Janet Ross Conifer Arboretum and Daffodil Hill.
Address: 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126
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Aquatic House & Orchid Collection
This is one of the most impressive features of the garden! Here, you will find a variety of tropical and subtropical aquatic and wet-environment plants from all over the world, including the collection of over 6,000 orchids representing over 1,000 species. Dont miss the 300-pound tiger orchid specimen!
In addition to these above, there are also Rock Garden, Lily Pool Terrace, Shakespeare Garden, which pales in comparison with the one at Central Park, Fragrance Garden, and Three Peony Collection.
Lavender growing between rocks at BBGs Rock Garden.