Japanese beauty is alive and well in Queens.
This post reports on cherry blossom events and bonsai workshops before listing public spaces to see blooming trees.
Events
The Cherry Tree Grove in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is about to explode with flowers, floral fragrances, and nature lovers.
Urban Park Rangers lead a free stroll through the area, which features Okame trees with pink petals, on Sunday, April 13, at 11 am. Meet at the Unisphere.
Return to the same place for the 20th annual Sakura Matsuri Festival on Saturday, April 19 at 11 am.
Organized by the Japanese American Association, this free event features dance, drumming, martial arts, and plenty of colorful costumes.
Bonsai
Bonsai is the art of growing and shaping small trees into living sculptures.
SingleCut Beersmiths kicks off an 11-session workshop on Sunday, April 13. Geared for beginners, participants learn the fundamental skills, core concepts, and techniques behind the art form with Dwarf Umbrella Trees.
Scheduled to take place in the taproom at 19-33 37th St. in Long Island City, sessions start at 12:30 pm on April 13, May 18, June 22, July 13, July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 16, and Dec. 21. Each one costs $85.
Meanwhile over at 29-19 24th Ave. in Astoria, Bohemian Hall & Garden launches a four-session workshop on Wednesday, April 16, at 6:30 pm. The following ones start at the same time on April 30, May 14, and May 28. Each class costs $85.
Peeping
Cherry blossoms should start blooming this weekend (April 12 and 13). They’re incredibly beautiful, but they’re only around for about two weeks. So get out there. Pretty places to peep follow.
Hunters Point Park South (Center Boulevard, Long Island City). Yoshino trees, which have white petals, are near the NYC Ferry landing and the Ottomanelli’s By the Water concession. The East River and Midtown Manhattan Skyline are in the background, adding a surrealist feel.
Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main St., Flushing) has a Cherry Circle with a variety of species around a walkway.
Cunningham Park (vicinity of Union Turnpike and Francis Lewis Boulevard, Fresh Meadows) boasts almost 30 Kwanzan trees, which have fluffy pink flowers, across the baseball field near 193rd Street.
Astoria Park (vicinity of 24th Avenue and Shore Boulevard) features cherry blossoms near the waterfront and between the two bridges (Robert F. Kennedy and Hell Gate).
Lewis Latimer House Museum (34-41 137th St., Flushing) has several white-flowering trees in the backyard. Head inside the wood-framed, two-story residence to learn about a true Renaissance Man who was an inventor, a self-taught master draftsman, an expert on patent law, a poet, and a painter.
Socrates Sculpture Park (32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City) has a few cherries scattered around.
Kissena Park has cherries in the vicinity of 164th Street and Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing.
Editor’s note: We admit that Roosevelt Island and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have some beautiful cherry trees as well.
Images: NYC Parks and Daniel Avila