Cherry trees overflowing with lacy blooms

By Terry Lendecker

Every spring at the Dallas Arboretum’s Dallas Blooms floral festival, there’s a miraculous moment when the 150 Japanese cherry trees begin to bloom along with the 5,000 azaleas. 

A wave of delicate pink and white cherry blossoms on the cherry trees are now blooming, indicating that springtime is here in Texas. The flowering Japanese cherry trees — Prunus x yedoensis, also known as Yoshino cherry — are expected to be in full bloom within the next week. Many of the cherry trees were given as gifts to the Dallas Arboretum, including trees from Peggy B. Braecklein in honor of her parents, John R. and Thelma N. Black.

In its 39th year, Dallas Blooms, presented by Amegy Bank, is the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest. According to Dave Forehand, Dallas Arboretum’s vice president of cultivation and garden engagement: “The time to come to the Dallas Arboretum to see the cherry trees and tulips are in the next week. As we say, we usher in spring in the garden.” Dallas Blooms features 500,000 spring blooming flowers from more than 120 varieties. Of that total, 350,000 are tulips, and the others are hyacinth and daffodils. Travel+Leisure published that this “Texas Flower Festival May be the Most Beautiful Springtime Destination in the U.S.”

In Japan, cherry blossom time is known as Hanami, with parties held both night and day under the Sakura (cherry blossom trees), to celebrate this yearly occurrence and the delicate beauty of life. Hanami dates back to the Heian Period (794-1185) when the Imperial Court in Kyoto held flower-viewing parties beneath the blossoming cherry trees. The flowers were praised by poets as a metaphor for life, “beautiful yet fleeting.” 

Today, branches on many cherry trees at the Arboretum are overflowing with thousands of lacy blooms, and each tree blooms only once a year. Throughout the world, cherry blossom time runs from late March to early May, depending on the climate and local weather conditions. 

Tickets, which range from $13 to $22, are required and can be purchased online at dallasarboretum.org or by calling 214-515-6615. 

Parking is $12 purchased online or $15 at the gate. For the latest information, visit dallasarboretum.org/blooms.