Chicago's cherry blossoms emerge in Jackson Park

CHICAGO - Cherry blossoms are making a vibrant return to Chicago’s Jackson Park this year, just in time for spring.

What we know:

The trees began blooming just a few days ago and are expected to last around two weeks.

With recent stretches of warm and sunny days, the roughly 190 cherry trees that surround the Columbia Basin—just south of the Museum of Science and Industry and east of Cornell Drive—are on full display.

"This is fast becoming one of the busiest moments of the year for the entire park," said Eric Rogers, treasurer, Jackson Park Advisory Council. "It’s really a big draw to Jackson Park for the entire region and we love to see people coming to the area to enjoy it."

With most of the trees planted in 2013 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the World’s Columbian Exposition, they are now a seasonal highlight on the South Side.

However, as Rogers explains, they are dependent on Mother Nature.

"These cherry trees first started becoming a bit of a phenomenon four years ago, but really the last two springs, the weather didn’t cooperate, so I think there is a lot of excitement about the fact that it looks like we are getting a good show this year," Rogers said.

On Monday, the park was filled with families, friends, and visitors stepping away from work or school to take in the pink and white cherry blossoms.

"I’m here with my fiancée, Beth. She’s seen the cherry blossoms in Japan before and we’ve been trying for the last two years to see them here in Chicago, but we’ve missed them both times," said Jeremy Gumkowski, visitor. "I think they’re beautiful, and part of the beauty is they’re only here for so long."

Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation to and from the park, or if driving, to park in the public lots on the East and Southeast sides of the museum.

"As much as I would love to keep this a little secret, it’s nice to see people enjoying it," said Simone Allen, visitor.

Allen says she and her mom stopped what they were doing Monday evening to enjoy the springtime display.

"She was making dinner, and I was like, ‘let’s go see the cherry blossoms,’" Allen said. "She turned the burner off and we came to see them."

Weather permitting, the cherry blossoms will be in bloom for about two weeks.

"They’re just large and they have such a presence, so I think that’s why people really enjoy them," said Jacob Burns, curator of living collections, Chicago Botanic Garden. "I just think people in Chicago get very tired of winter, and they are just looking for some fun color and they want to smell flowers, and I think that cherry trees are great because they are so early."

The Chicago Botanic Garden is home to several varieties of cherry trees.

"Accolade, Yoshino, and Autumnalis are some of the best ones," Burns said.

Burns says the Yoshino variety is what visitors will find in Jackson Park. He adds that cherry trees are sensitive to high winds and temperatures below 28 degrees.

"The tighter the bud, the safer it is, the more open they are, the more vulnerable they are," Burns said. "So as long as there are no major storms in the forecast, and the temperatures are above 28 degrees, which it looks like they will be, we should have a really good cherry blossom season."

Since the cherry blossoms won't be around for long, there's no better time than now to plan your visit—either to Jackson Park or the Chicago Botanic Garden!

What's next:

The Japanese Arts Foundation is partnering with the Chicago Park District to host a Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival, also known as Hanami, on April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The festival is also being held in conjunction with the Japanese Culture Center and Tsukasa Taiko of Asian Improv Arts Midwest.

The event is free and will include performances and origami folding, but it’s weather dependent—so those interested are encouraged to keep an eye on the forecast.

More information about the festival can be found HERE.