Where in the US can you admire cherry blossoms besides Washington

The cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C., came and went in just a few days, after strong winds blew the blossoms off the trees. Where else in the U.S. can you see the blossoms of Japan awakening, says NPR.

Photo: Lukas Gojda | Dreamstime.com

The National Park Service announced that Washington's cherry blossoms had peaked on March 28. But a storm with high winds and rain swept through the nation's capital on the evening of March 31, knocking down most of the blossoms and putting an end to the springtime spectacle that draws millions of admirers each year.

There are nearly 4000 cherry trees along the National Mall. Japan initially donated 1909 trees to the United States in 2000, according to Mari Nakahara, a cherry blossom expert at the Library of Congress.

“But when they arrived in Washington, the saplings were found to be infested with pests, so they had to be burned,” Nakahara said. Another shipment of more than 3000 trees arrived in the U.S. in 1912, according to the National Park Service.

While Washington, D.C.'s cherry blossom season is perhaps the most famous in the country, it's not the only place to see the beautiful spring spectacle.

Want to know where the largest collections of Japanese cherry trees are? Read on.

Branch Brook Park in Essex County, New Jersey

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Kate Hartwick, deputy parks director for Essex County in New Jersey, said the collection of cherry trees at Branch Brook Park dates back to the 1920s.

Now, according to her, there are 5300 Japanese cherry trees of more than 16 different species. According to the park administration, the optimal time for viewing is from April 6 to 13.

The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival begins on April 5.

Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

Photo: Kwan Tse | Dreamstime.com

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, horticulturist Daria McKelvey said people come from all over the Midwest to see their trees.

"We have a few weeping cherry trees. Many people love them for their drooping branches and pink flowers," McKelvey said. "They seem to dance in the wind."

Flowering usually begins in March and continues until early April, but weather conditions can affect the length of this period.

Portland Japanese Garden

Photo: Jpldesigns | Dreamstime.com

At the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon, cherry blossoms typically bloom during the first few weeks of April. Hugo Torii, the garden's curator, noted that cherry trees can be found throughout the city.

A large collection of cherry blossoms at the Japanese American Historical Memorial in Portland honors Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps. The trees are thought-provoking, Torii says.

"In Japan, sakura is associated with transience and ephemerality," he said. "This cherry tree reminds us that life goes on, evolves, changes, and we must learn to accept that."

A free cherry blossom festival is planned at the memorial complex on April 6.

Read also on ForumDaily:

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