Peak Bloom For Cherry Blossoms Arrives In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Have you been waiting for “peak bloom” season to check out the cherry blossom trees at Branch Brook Park in Essex County? Now’s your chance.

County officials recently announced that peak bloom has arrived for the more than 5,000 cherry blossom trees at the park, which is located in Newark and Belleville.

“Weather permitting, the trees should remain in peak bloom through the weekend,” county park officials said.

The peak bloom may extend until April 14 with some varieties of the fragrant flora blooming through early May, giving local nature lovers a chance to check out the park’s collection all month long, according to the Branch Brook Alliance.

Need further proof of the “bloom” before you take a trip to Branch Brook? Check out the view from an online webcam at the park here. Visitors can also catch a view of the park taken on Tuesday, as captured on video by the Branch Brook Alliance (click here).

The cherry blossoms at the county-run park have been attracting visitors since they were first planted there in the late 1920s. It’s little wonder why: the collection is even bigger than the national display in Washington D.C.

Here’s a bit of history behind the cherry blossom grove in Branch Brook Park, according to county officials:

“Many of the original cherry trees planted in Branch Brook Park were donated to the Essex County Park System by the Bamberger and Mrs. Felix Fuld family in 1927. At its height, there were about 2,500 cherry trees in Branch Brook Park. According to the Branch Brook Park Alliance, the original cherry trees began to die because of old age and, in 2006, it was determined the original collection had diminished significantly. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. kicked off an aggressive planting program to strengthen and expand the number of cherry trees. To date, there are more than 5,000 cherry blossoms throughout Branch Brook Park.”

The Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival will be returning to the park from April 6 to April 14. It will culminate with two popular events: a family day on April 13, and the annual Bloomfest on April 14. See Related: Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival 2024 (Schedule Of Events)

The 2024 festival will get a boost from new welcome center at the park, which has an imitation tree that will enable visitors to experience a cherry blossom in bloom with pink petals throughout the year. See Related: $10M Cherry Blossom Center At Branch Brook Park Opens In Essex County

History, driving directions and a complete list of activities can be accessed by visiting www.essexcountynj.org/branch-brook-park.

• See Related: Essex County Begins Countdown To Cherry Blossom Season

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