CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON IN NEW YORK CITY

BY MERYL PEARLSTEIN

Did you know that Tokyo is New York City’s first Sister City? Perhaps that’s why we are fascinated by the cherry trees that show up in parks all over the city in the spring. Many trees were gifts from Japan, further fostering a pink friendship between the two cities.

As spring trees bloom, the ones that elicit the most oohs and aahs are the cherries, the sakura. There are whites, pale pinks and vivid fuchsias. They stand tall, they spread wide, or they droop like weeping willows. For just a few months through the end of May, the varieties of cherry blossom trees bloom on varying schedules, with timing significantly dependent on the weather.

Riverside Park

Notable gifts from Japan to the US in 1912 and later from the Committee of Japanese Residents of New York have created Riverside Park’s (212.870.3070, nycgovparks.org/parks/riverside-park) gorgeous Cherry Walk. The stretch of the park from 100th to 125th streets is named for the Prunus cherry trees that line it and is again filled with cyclists and strollers. Reflections off the Hudson River make this an exceptionally beautiful area to spend time and contemplate how lucky you are to be in New York City during this glorious season.

Central Park

Central Park (212.310.6600, centralparknyc.org) has an area called Cherry Hill on 72nd Street, with stunning views of the pink and white trees. Central Park’s Yoshino cherries are also a gift from the government of Japan and can be found in abundance on the east side of the Reservoir and behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Ave., 212.535.7710) as you head towards the Great Lawn.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The queen of private gardens when it comes to hana- mi, the Japanese tradition of celebrating the transient beauty of flowers, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (990 Washington Ave., 718.623.7200, bbg.org) takes the guesswork out of when the cherries are blooming with their Cherry Watch online schedule—it is updated frequently so you can see which trees are blooming in which areas, especially helpful if you prefer pink Kanzan ones to whitish Yoshinos or an allee of trees where you can sit, paint or just meditate.

The two main draws are the aforementioned Cherry Esplanade and the Japanese-Hill-and-Pond Garden. It’s easy to envision yourself swept away to Japan when you look at the lovely trees and a beautiful vermillion torii set against the pond. Adding to the Japanese-inspired setting, the waters are filled with koi, as you might see in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo.

New York Botanical Garden

More than 200 cherry trees are scattered throughout the expansive New York Botanical Garden (2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, 718.817.8700, nybg.org), beginning with the entry walkway. The mix of Japanese art and Japanese cherries creates a transportive effect as you roam the grounds. The New York Botanical Garden’s Cherries Tracker will help guide your visit so you’ll know where and when to focus your time.

Streets & Parks of NY

Take a stroll through many neighborhoods of New York City, and you’re bound to run into the beautiful blossoms along the way. Parks like Union Square Park (201 Park Ave., S., 212.460.1200, unionsquarenyc.org) and Prospect Park (718.965.8951, prospectpark.org) are easy to wander by, and you’ll find the blooms on display. Neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights and Red Hook are also prime places to stroll for a great view of the cherry blossoms. You also can’t go wrong with a walk on the High Line.