Flowering Cherries at BBG

Sakura Matsuri
May 2–May 3, 2009

Celebrate New York City's "rite of spring" at a weekend-long family festival of Japanese culture and arts with over 50 performances. (Photo: Barbara Alper, courtesy of BBG)

CherryWatch
Blossom Status Map

Track the gradual blooming of the Garden's more than 200 cherry trees. Updated every weekday during Hanami, to help you plan your visit.

What is Hanami?

Hanami is the Japanese cultural tradition of viewing and cherishing each moment of the cherry blossom season. At Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Hanami is a New York City "rite of spring."

Visitors can stroll under a canopy of cherry trees, view artwork inspired by cherry blossoms in the Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery, and savor special Japanese entrees at the Terrace Café.

Cherry Time-lapse
Watch Last Year's Bloom!

Created from over 3,000 digital photos, one taken every 3 minutes from April 18 to April 26, 2008, this time-lapse shows off Brooklyn Botanic Garden's famed Cherry Walk like nothing else.

Stages of Bloom
Photographs

Get a close-up view as BBG's cherry trees go from buds to beautiful blossoms.

Cherry Tree Collection
A Helpful Guide

Visit our guide to the cherry tree collection to learn where the trees are located in the Garden and how you can tell them apart.

Hanami on Flickr
Visitor Photos

See visitor photos on the BBG Hanami Flickr pool. Add pictures of your own visit!

Above: Planet Cherry, by David Reeves at flickr

BBG on Martha Stewart
Planting and Care Tips

Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Vice President of Horticulture and Science Pat Cullina talks cherry trees with Martha Stewart.