NEW YORK – New York’s most iconic park has unveiled a new traffic tracking map Cherry flower or Cherry Blossoms, to help people identify all the must-see trees in the Manhattan space just before the peak.
Central Park Conservatory, The nonprofit that oversees Central Park’s day-to-day care and fundraising, as well as the management of capital works, the interactive map announced Wednesday. Their expert arborists tend to over 170 species of trees in the park on a daily basis and will provide real-time information on color spikes that we supposedly can’t get anywhere else.
“Ranging from deep magenta to pale pink to rich white, the cherry trees of Central Park are a spring staple. Their blooms are beautiful, but those blooms are fleeting, and with this year’s warm winter, they’re blooming a lot. earlier than usual,” The Nature Conservancy said in a statement.
Peak bloom usually occurs in the last week of March, although as noted by TNC, it should arrive early this year. The Washington Post expects peak bloom to reach DC, site of the Cherry Blossom Festival, by March 25 of this season due to the speed at which blooms have developed (ie. say much faster than usual this season). However, the cold weather could slow the process down and since we have some on the way, you probably have time.
The Central Park Tracker (see full map here) offers the following:
- Where to go: based on six key locations, either east or west of the reservoir, overlooking Cherry Hill, or just south of the Great Lawns.
- When should we go: based on the color code system of Nature conservation which describes which areas are before the peak, the peak and after the peak.
- What to see: from the graceful weeping branches of the Higan to the delicate white flowers of the Yoshino.
Central Park Conservatory
For those looking for a more secluded spot to enjoy the cherry blossoms in the city, try the Green-Wood Cemetery.
The 478-acre cemetery in Brooklyn isn’t just a National Historic Landmark. Fun fact: It was described as the borough’s first public park long before Prospect Park arrived and became so popular that it inspired the creation of this land, as well as what would become Central Park.
And it just so happens to be a great place to see those magnificent cherry blossoms, with nearly 200 of the beloved trees dotted across the landscape. Learn more here. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden also has many trees.