The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is an annual event that commemorates the gift of the 3,020 cherry blossom trees from Japan. The month long celebration includes fireworks, a parade, Japanese street festival, cherry blossom branded merchandise and of course spectators walking along the Tidal Basin to view the pink and white blossoms. It’s an amazing occurrence to partake in, but you don’t have to travel all way to Japan or Washington D.C. to view the blooming cherry blossoms.
Sakura Park
In 1912, about 2,000 cherry trees were delivered to New York City from Japan. According to the NYC Dept of Parks and Rec, “the cherry trees were presented as a gift from the Committee of Japanese Residents of NY as part of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909.” Unfortunately, the first shipment of trees were lost at sea. Washington D.C. also ran into shipment issues getting the trees delivered all the way from Japan to the east coast of the US. The new shipment of trees were planted around the Riverside Park area and an area that was renamed to Sakura Park (sakura is a Japanese word for cherry blossom or cherry tree).
There is also another gift from Japan in view at the park. The traditional stone Japanese lantern was presented to the citizens of New York City from the citizens of Tokyo, Japan in 1960. This gift of international friendship was to commemorate the Tokyo-NYC sister city inauguration. The stone Japanese lantern is on display in front of the International House. Most of the trees in the park are already in bloom, so enjoy them while you can.
Randall’s Island
This Saturday, Randall’s Island is having their free Cherry Blossom Festival. It starts at noon and will feature four hours of celebrating spring, cherry blossoms and Japanese culture. If you’ve never heard of Randall’s Island before, you wouldn’t be the first. It’s located on the East River between East Harlem and Queens, and sits below the South Bronx. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms blooming along the western shoreline and the pedestrian trails on the Island. Spend your Saturday afternoon enjoying kite flying, trying on a kimono, making paper flower, hearing musical performances and more. Be sure to bring a blanket and sunscreen as it will be nice and sunny tomorrow.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has a 2-day Sakura Matsuri (Japanese cherry blossom festival) event happening next weekend (April 28 & 29). The cost for a ticket is $30 for individuals, $25 for students & seniors, and free for BBG members. The event starts from 10am to 6pm. The event will celebrate Japanese traditional and contemporary culture, and will include taiko drummers, martial arts masters, a flute concert, tea ceremonies, a flea market, musical performances, bonsai exhibits and many other events. If you can’t make it to the event, you can still view the cherry trees within the garden. The admission is $15 for adults, and their hours are 8am to 6pm from Tuesdays thru Friday and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sunday. There are currently 11 species of cherry blossoms in full bloom right now, and visitors can walk along the Cherry Walk or the Cherry Esplanade to view the pink and white petals in all their glory.
Central Park & Washington Park
In Central Park, you can visit Cherry Hill aptly named for the Yoshino cherry trees planted there. In the past, Cherry Hill’s Victorian fountain was used as a watering trough for the horse-drawn carriages. If you’ve missed the blooming blossoms, you can still enjoy the view of The Lake, walk to the Ramble and other notable attractions in Central Park.
At Washington Square Park, you might still be able to see the pink petals of the Sargent variety of cherry blossoms and the double flowering Kanzan trees as well as the yellow leaves of the Cornelian cherry trees. You can also view irises, crocuses, winter aconite and the daffodils planted as a living memorial to September 11th.
Where ever you choose to experience “Hanami” (the leisurely enjoyment and viewing of the transient cherry blossoms and other flowers), don’t wait too long. Once in full bloom, the cherry blossoms only last for about a week. This may be extended with cool weather. How and where will you experience hanami? Leave a comment below.