Cherry Esplanade is a broad green lawn bordered by allées of flowering cherry and red oak trees. The double-flowering ‘Kanzan’ cherries typically bloom at the end of April, one of the highlights of spring.
Cherry Walk is a meandering path east of Cherry Esplanade and behind the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. The trees here include double rows of ‘Kanzan’ cherries at the northern end and a wide variety of other cultivars along the southern end. Some of these are the earliest to bloom during cherry blossom season.
Along the eastern and western edges of Cherry Esplanade are allées of scarlet oak trees, the Liberty Oaks, planted in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, and to those who lost their lives that day.
Highlights
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Prunus 'Kanzan' is blooming on Cherry Esplanade. Photo by Blanca Begert. -
Prunus 'Kanzan' on Cherry Esplanade. Photo by Rebecca Bullene. -
Prunus serrulata ‘Ariake’ in BBG's Cherry Cultivars Area. Photo by Blanca Begert. -
Prunus serrulata ‘Hatazakura’, in the foreground, and Prunus subhirtella ‘Rosy Cloud’, in the background, in BBG's Cherry Cultivars Area. Photo by Blanca Begert. -
Prunus serrulata 'Kuramayama' (Japanese flowering cherry cultivar) in BBG's Cherry Cultivars Area. Photo by Blanca Begert.
Cherry Blossom Season
The monthlong cherry blossom season, called Hanami, is a centuries-old Japanese tradition of flower viewing. The blossoms are cherished for their ephemeral nature and are thought to represent the impermanence of life.
Sakura Matsuri is a weekend festival held each spring at BBG since the early 1980s that celebrates Japanese culture through music, dance, food, and art for visitors of all ages.
Video
See a time lapse video of Cherry Walk as it reaches peak bloom!
Learn More
Feature > CherryWatch
Blog > Can You Predict When the Cherries Will Blossom?
Blog > Eight Things You Probably Don’t Know About Flowering Cherry Trees
Blog > Identifying Flowering Cherry Cultivars
Gardening Article > Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Own Garden