Cherry Blossoms Bloom Just Days Before Snow Storm Slams NYC

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — The season’s first cherry blossoms bloomed at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden just days before a big snowstorm hit New York City, officials announced.

BBG officials celebrated the first pink flowers, which were spotted on the garden’s Fudan-zakara and Juhatsu-zakara trees Thursday, as a harbinger of the spring weather to come.

“Their blooms herald the start of hanami—the Japanese cultural tradition of savoring every moment of cherry blossom season,” BBG officials wrote, calling the blossoms, “a sign of spring’s arrival in New York City.”

Four days later, the city was blanketed with snow for the fifth time in five weeks.

A BBG spokesperson did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment on the blossom's status, but forecasters predict Monday's winter weather will transition into a rainy Tuesday and a more temperate Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

In the weeks to follow, Brooklynites will be able to watch more than 200 cherry trees bud and bloom on the Cherry Esplanade, Cherry Walk and the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden will celebrate cherry blossom season with Sakura Matsuri — the Japanese festival slated for April 28 and April 29 — and with the launch of Garden After Hours, which will allow patrons to walk the Cherry Esplanade at sunset.

To track the cherry blossom blooming progress, check out the CherryWatch website, where garden officials will post daily updates on every tree.

Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden