Cherry Blossom Time at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Last Sunday my husband and I spent the afternoon strolling around the grounds of the 52 acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, located at 1000 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.  I have already blogged about the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden in the BBG and the beautiful Magnolia trees that were in bloom, but for Pink Saturday I thought I'd show the wonderful explosion of cherry tree blossoms that we saw in the garden that day!

This is a view of Cherry Esplanade section of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, of the trees in first bloom, taken  from The Overlook.

The "Prunus kanzan" cherry trees along Cherry Esplanade and the Cherry Walk were beginning to bloom last weekend, and since the temperatures were in the plesant low 70's there were many visitors enjoying the day in the garden.The esplanade is the only part of the garden where visitors can sit on the grass.

The Garden's Japanese flowering cherry collection contains over 200 trees of more than 30 species and cultivars that bloom in succession during April. BBG is considered one of the best sites outside of Japan for viewing cherry blossoms.

(All photos can be clicked on to enlarge)

A description of some of the different types of cherry trees

According to the Brooklyn Botanic web site: "Hanami means “flower viewing” and is the Japanese cultural tradition of viewing and cherishing each moment of the cherry blossom season. Hanami is thought to have started in Japan during the Nara period (710–794 A.D.) with the viewing of flowering apricot and plum trees. But by the Heian period, (794–1185) cherry blossoms, known as sakura, had become the celebrated spring flower."

The BBG even has a Cherry Watch Blossom Status Map on their web site to inform the public of what tree is in bloom and where it is located.

There is also a Flickr Group with many more Hanami photos.

On May 1st and 2nd, 2010, there will be a "Sakura Matsuri," a phenomenal weekend celebrating Japanese culture with over 60 events and performances for both adults and children.

      

76 double-flowered "Prunus Kazan’ trees line the Cherry Esplanade and create a dazzling spring display.

Cherry blossom time is certainly a time to celebrate Spring and the color pink!

Please visit Beverly at the How Sweet The Sound blog to see links for more blogs participating in Pink Saturday today!