Beautiful Cherry Blossoms Can Be Viewed Around Howard County This Spring

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Residents don't have to trek to Washington, D.C., to see beautiful cherry blossoms. In fact, Howard County happens to be home to several cherry blossom groves, which can be found at historical sites, wide open spaces, shopping centers and restaurants.

The Howard County Cherry Tree Map offers residents directions where to go to see the cherry blossoms, including at Centennial Park in Ellicott City where Founder's Grove features the original 20 cherry blossom trees planted in the county. Clark's Elioak Farm also has cherry blossoms at its enchanted forest.

Turf Valley Hotel & Space boasts more than 50 Blossoms of Hope trees on its grounds and they also can be seen around Lake Kittamaqundi, Symphony Woods and The Mall in Columbia. Historic Savage Mill features cherry blossom trees as does the Bollman Truss Bridge and at Terrapin Adventures.

Blossoms of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to beautification projects across Howard County, worked with the Columbia Association to plant 15 cherry trees, four flowering dogwoods and six redbud trees in Kennedy Gardens along Lake Kittamaqundi. Blossoms of Hope also provided three National Cherry Blossoms Festival legacy trees that were planted in that area, which originated in Tokyo. Today they sport white blossoms.

By 2025, Blossoms of Hope aims to plant 3,700 blossoms.

“Through our efforts over the past 18 years, more than 2,700 Kwanzan cherry and native redbud trees have been planted in Howard County, including many on Columbia Association property. It is critical for us to work with partners such as CA so residents and tourists can enjoy the pink blossoms every spring," said Blossoms of Hope Senior Director of Community Outreach and Events Vera Simmons.

In conjunction with the cherry blossoms bursting forth, Columbia Art Center Director Liz Henzey has curated a collection of pink clad pieces every April for the past 14 years. This year's theme happens to be Bouquets and Baskets of Hope, and features 123 pieces of art from more than 80 artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public through April 28.

“I love when art can impact positive change in the community or bring awareness to a worthy cause or service,” Henzey said. “To be able to provide a venue to showcase the talents of our community artists and to bring attention to a worthwhile local organization feels rewarding on so many levels. Artists really love creating art that can move people, inspire them, make them think and lift their spirits.”