March 29, 2025 –

Magnolia Magic:

If you love magnolias, now is the time to enjoy them in full bloom.

• Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana) – At its peak, this variety showcases large, cup-shaped pink and white petals that brighten up parks and gardens, particularly in Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. These trees are known for their striking contrast against the still-bare branches of other trees.
• Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) – Also at peak bloom, this variety features delicate, star-shaped white blossoms that add an ethereal beauty to the cityscape. Their smaller, fragrant flowers are particularly captivating in areas like the New York Botanical Garden and smaller neighborhood parks.
  
  These magnolias won’t stay in bloom for long, so be sure to catch their stunning display while you can!

Okame Cherry Blossoms: A Stunning Display:

Distinguishing Okame from Yoshino: Okame cherries are known for their deep pink blooms and early flowering. Yoshino cherries, on the other hand, boast pale pink to white blossoms and bloom a bit later. Keep an eye on the color and timing to tell them apart! Yoshino cherries typically bloom a week or two after Okame.

Okame cherry trees are putting on a remarkable show this weekend. Some trees have reached their peak bloom, their vibrant pink flowers fully open, creating a stunning contrast against the early spring sky. Others are still in the process of blooming, with buds unfurling gradually, adding depth to the display. This staggered bloom makes for an especially picturesque scene, offering visitors the chance to witness different stages of the bloom cycle in one outing. These early-blooming cherries, known for their deep pink petals and graceful, airy canopies, provide one of the first spectacular signs of spring. Be sure to visit popular spots like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and Central Park’s Cherry Hill to experience their beauty before the petals begin to fall.

Yoshino Cherry: On Track for Peak Bloom

The famous Yoshino cherry trees have now reached the third stage of their bloom cycle, with buds swelling and the first hints of flowers beginning to emerge. As Washington, D.C., is currently experiencing peak bloom for these iconic trees, we can expect NYC’s Yoshino cherries to follow suit within the next two weeks—likely reaching full bloom by early to mid-April.

For those eager to track their progress, the best spots to observe Yoshino cherries include Central Park’s Cherry Hill, the Reservoir area, Roosevelt Island’s Cherry Walk, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cherry Esplanade. These locations will soon transform into breathtaking tunnels of soft pink and white blossoms, making for an unforgettable spring experience.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cherry Tracker is Live!

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has officially launched its cherry blossom tracker, offering real-time updates on the status of various cherry varieties. Visitors can track the progress of Okame, Yoshino, Kwanzan, and Weeping Cherry trees, each of which blooms at different times, creating an extended cherry blossom season.

• Okame Cherry – One of the earliest bloomers, these deep pink flowers signal the arrival of spring.
• Yoshino Cherry – The most famous variety, known for its soft pink and white flowers that create iconic cherry blossom tunnels.
• Kwanzan Cherry – A late-blooming variety with double-layered, rich pink blossoms, adding a vibrant splash of color later in the season.
• Weeping Cherry – Recognized for its gracefully drooping branches covered in delicate pink flowers, creating a stunning cascading effect.

Check out their tracker here for the latest bloom reports and plan your visit accordingly.

Daffodils & the First Signs of Tulips

Daffodils are brightening up all five boroughs, adding cheerful pops of yellow to parks and sidewalks. Meanwhile, the first signs of tulip blooms are beginning to emerge. While it’s still early for tulips, we can expect to see more of them flowering in the next week or two as temperatures continue to rise.

Spring is unfolding rapidly in NYC, so make sure to get out and enjoy these seasonal wonders while they last. Stay tuned for more updates on the city’s bloom progression!

Cherry Blossom – NYC Vs Washington DC

Cherry blossoms have officially reached peak bloom in Washington, D.C., creating breathtaking pink and white landscapes around the Tidal Basin. This serves as a key indicator for NYC’s own bloom timeline, as the Yoshino cherry trees here typically follow within a couple of weeks. If you’re planning a trip to D.C. to witness their full glory, now is the perfect time to go!

For comparison, in 2021, cherry blossom in DC had peaked bloom on March 21. NYC reached the peak bloom on April 7.

In 2022, cherry blossom had peaked bloom on March 22, while NYC reached the peak bloom on April 8.

In 2023, cherry blossom had peaked bloom on March 23, while NYC reached the peak bloom on April 8.

In 2024, cherry blossom had peaked bloom on March 17, while NYC reached the peak bloom on April 5.

This year, with D.C.’s cherry blossoms peaking around the same timeframe, we can estimate that NYC’s Yoshino cherries will reach peak bloom between April 10–12, 2025. This aligns with previous years and suggests that we are on track for another stunning early-April display in the city’s parks and gardens.

If you want more information about the cherry blossom in DC, I recommend checking HTTP://cherryblossomwatch.com @cherryblossomwatch for all reports.

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