After an insanely mild NYC winter that saw record high temps and barely any snow, spring is all we can think about–and we’re all totally putting our faith in Staten Island Chuck who predicted spring was near.
And NYC is absolutely proving to us that spring is closer than ever, considering cherry blossoms have already started to bloom–even earlier than last year’s first sighting!
And to ensure we don’t miss out on the best spots to view the cherry blossoms around NYC, Central Park is throwing us a bone…or a bloom.
Central Park’s cherry trees are a must-see in spring, and though peak bloom is typically in the last week of March, the Conservancy expects it to happen earlier this year. That’s why Central Park created their own interactive map to help us blossom-seekers track in real-time where these springtime florals are peaking around the Park.
Central Park’s cherry blossom trees range from vibrant, double-petaled pink Kwanzan cherry trees to whitish-pink Yoshino trees, and the map indicates whether the trees are pre-peak, peak, or post-peak.
The park’s cherry blossoms are currently peaking at the west side of the reservoir, and the rest of the park’s peak-status is as follows:
- West side of the reservoir – Peak
- East side of the reservoir – Pre-peak
- Great Lawn – Pre-peak
- Cherry Hill – Pre-peak
- Pilgrim Hill – Pre-peak
- Sheep Meadow – Pre-peak
The full interactive map, which can be found here, shows which trees can be found where, and is color coded to clearly show the peak status.
Be sure to check it frequently, as you absolutely won’t want to miss out on arguably NYC’s most gorgeous spectacle of the year!