Cherry Esplanade

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

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.