Spring has sprung, but if you need more proof, take a trip over to Brooklyn Botanic Garden to witness the blooming of Hanami (better known to us Brooklyn folk as cherry blossom season). From early April to early May, BBG is host to more than 20 cultivars displaying the most diverse collection of cherry blossoms in the nation (200 flowering trees in total). During Hanami the garden offers free tours, with admission, to visitors, which focus on Japanese plant collections and specialty gardens, including flowering cherries, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, and the Tree Peony Collection. This Wednesday, at 1pm, is your last chance to take a guided tour of BBG’s cherry blossom bounty free of charge, so don’t’ miss out, and remember to return to the garden this weekend for the highlight of Hanami: Sakura Matsuri. The two-day cherry blossom festival is the biggest event to take place in a public garden in the U.S. and celebrates traditional and contemporary Japanese culture with over 60 performances, demonstrations and exhibits like tea ceremonies and Samurai sword fighting.
