Spring is officially here, and the cherry blossoms trees are already blooming in some parts of Queens. Since there are multiple varieties of the trees, they bloom at different times in the spring.
While Central Park and Brooklyn Botanical are popular destinations to see the bloom, Queens has several options to see the ground covered in pink and white petals in the upcoming weeks.
While some trees begin to bloom in late March, up until May, experts say that this year cherry blossom season is starting earlier all around the world as a result of warmer winters.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Near the iconic Unisphere at the “world’s park” in Flushing, dozens of Okame cherry trees are already blooming. According to the NYC Parks Department, they are some of the first to bloom in NYC in late March. And one parkgoer who visited on the first day of Spring captured the full bloom already underway.
On Sunday, April 14, NYC Urban Parks Rangers will host a free Cherry Blossoms Walk around the Unisphere. Attendees will be able to learn more about the variety of flowering trees and enjoy the bloom with a group.
Hunter’s Point South Park
Unlike the Okame cherry trees that bloom pink flowers, the Yoshino cherry trees have white petals. At this waterfront park in Long Island City, a grove of cherry trees wrap around the green lawn overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
While enjoying the bloom, the park also has a bikeway, basketball court, adult fitness equipment and a designated space for dogs.
Cunningham Park
The massive 358-acre park has everything from hiking trails to sports fields, but in the springtime there’s a neat row of 28 Kwanzan cherry trees. The trees, with their fluffy pink flowers, bring a pop of color to the baseball field along 193rd Street in Fresh Meadows.
The trees were planted in 2005 after the group, Friends of Cunningham Park, made dedicated efforts to bring cherry blossom trees to the area. With the help of city officials, and donations from private companies, they were able to beautify the park for decades to come.
Queens Botanical Garden
Near Flushing’s Main Street, Queens Botanical Garden is the perfect spot to see cherry blossoms in bloom, along with dozens of other plants. Cherry Circle, a winding path near the entrance, features a variety of cherry blossom trees that create a melody of spring colors.
While the batch is not the largest group of cherry blossom trees in Queens, the trees there have special significance. According to QNG, several of the trees have been adopted in the memory of a loved one.
Until the end of March, admission to the gardens is free. Come April, adult tickets are $6, and are $4 for seniors, students and those with disabilities.
Kissena Park
Also located in Flushing, Kissena Park has dozens of tree species. Some of the most exotic tree species in the world got their start there when it was part of a horticultural nursery in the 19th century. But their cherry blossom trees in the spring are considered the most striking by some.
Located near the Queens Botanical Garden and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, all three parks can easily be walked through in one day to decide which has the best bloom.
Rainey Park in Long Island City, which has a mix of both Okame and Kwanzen trees, would have made the list for its waterfront bloom. But the park is temporarily closed for reconstruction until September 2024.
Share your most stunning cherry blossom photos from around Queens with us, and get a chance to be featured in “Queens Snaps,” send your photos to editorial@qns.com.
