Cherry Esplanade
Cherry Esplanade is a broad green field bordered by two allées of the dazzling Prunus 'Kanzan'. One of the highlights of the cherry blossom season, these double-flowering cherries typically bloom at the end of April and are a centerpiece of the Garden’s annual cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri.
Along the eastern and western edges of Cherry Esplanade are two 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. The Liberty Oaks replaced a similar installation of Norway maples, planted in commemoration of the WWI Armistice.
The esplanade lawn is composed of eight kinds of grass, adapted for full sun as well as the shade of the leafy trees. The esplanade is the only part of the Garden where visitors can sit on the grass; BBG members often enjoy summer picnic nights here, the only time picnicking is allowed.
The Cherry Walk is a gently meandering path, east of Cherry Esplanade and behind the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. The cherries here, also a mixture of 'Kanzan' and other varieties, were originally donated by the BBG Auxiliary, purchased from a Long Island nursery in 1921; two from the original planting still survive.
Several of the trees here are the earliest to bloom during the cherry blossom season.
This pathway displays a selection from the Garden's 42 varieties of ornamental flowering cherries, which makes this one of the foremost cherry viewing sites outside Japan.
The monthlong cherry blossom season, called Hanami, is a centuries-old Japanese tradition of flower viewing. The blossoms of the cherries are symbols of isagiyosa, the transience of the world, and are to be celebrated without trying to hold on to their evanescent beauty.
Sakura Matsuri is a weekend-long festival held each spring to celebrate the flowering of the Sekiyama (Kanzan) cherry trees that line the Cherry Esplanade. The Sakura Matsuri festival has been held yearly since the early 1980’s and includes demonstrations of music, dance, and art for visitors of all ages.
To view more photos from the 2010 Sakura Matsuri Festival, visit Photos from Sakura.
Cherry Walk was first planted in 1921 and quickly became known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing sites outside of Japan. The planting of the allées of Prunus ‘Kanzan’ on Cherry Esplanade in 1941 added to this reputation and has become the centerpiece of the Sakura Matsuri Festival which was first held on the BBG grounds in 1982.
76 double-flowered Prunus ‘Kazan’ trees line the Cherry Esplanade and create a dazzling spring display. Along Cherry Walk and in other parts of the garden, more than 40 other varieties of oriental flowering cherries make BBG one of the foremost sites for viewing cherry blossoms outside of Japan.
