‘Peak Bloom’ Nears For Cherry Blossom Trees In Essex County – Belleville, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Craving cherry blossoms? Mark down early April on your calendar; that’s when “peak bloom” is expected to happen at Branch Brook Park, officials say.

Essex County’s popular Cherry Blossom Festival is returning for 2022 at Branch Brook Park in Newark and Belleville, organizers recently announced. Read More: Essex County’s Popular Cherry Blossom Fest Is Back For 2022

For those seeking specifics, the peak bloom this year is anticipated to take place from April 1 to April 5 – just in time for the 2022 festival.

The free, family-friendly festival was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was held virtually in 2021, although people who wanted to check out the cherry blossom trees in Branch Brook Park were still able to visit and see the spring bloom.

The park is home to a massive collection of more than 5,000 Japanese cherry trees. And every spring – usually around mid-to-late April – they bloom and herald the coming of warm weather, bringing joy to the thousands of visitors who have turned out for the county’s annual festival in previous years.

In all, the cherry blossom collection at Branch Brook Park is larger than the national display in Washington D.C., and is one of the most diverse in the country, according to county officials.