This weekend, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
is hosting a spectacular series of events in celebration of Sakura
Matsuri, their 20th annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival
celebrates Japanese culture and the flowering of the Garden’s
more than 200 cherry trees in the cherry esplanade.
Inspired by the beautiful and short-lived
cherry blossom, which signifies spring’s arrival, this year’s
festival – April 28-29 from 10 am to 6 pm – will include some
of the original performers from the first festival, including
the Soh Daiko Taiko drummers and Fumiko Allinder’s ikebana (flower
arrangement) demonstrations.
The Garden has more than 45 varieties of
cherry trees ensuring that their blossoms bloom from March until
May. On Friday, the Higan and weeping Higan cherries (above)
surrounding the Japanese Hill and Pond garden were coated in
pink blossoms.
To track the Garden’s blossom progress
visit their Web site at www.bbg.org/cherrywatch2001/.
This weekend’s events include a sumi-e
(black ink drawing) exhibition, bonsai tree exhibit and demonstration,
as well as guided tours of the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden.
Other demonstrations include doll-making, origami, calligraphy
and musical and dance performances.
All events are free with garden admission
($3, $1.50 seniors, free children under 16) and will be held
rain or shine. The Garden is located at 900 Washington Ave. For
a complete schedule call the Sakura Matsuri hotline at (718)
623-7333.
– Lisa J. Curtis
