New York Blooms Report

In New York City, observers at Madison Square Park Conservancy in Manhattan report early blooms on cherry blossoms, as well as on Japanese apricots (Prunus mume). Upcoming events at the conservancy include Letters to the Trees 2025, April 1-30, and a Garden Walk on April 8. Magnolias are budding at Riverside Park Conservancy in Manhattan. Cherry blossoms in Central Park have yet to bloom, but the park’s official cherry blossom tracker is live. Get real-time updates on peak bloom times and locations here. Take the Cherry Blossoms on the Reservoir Tour to admire some of Central Park's most stunning Yoshino cherry trees.

In Staten Island, magnolias, cherry blossoms, and tulips are budding at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Also, plum blossoms are blooming in the Chinese Scholar's Garden. In Brooklyn, early blooms are appearing on tulips at The Green-Wood Cemetery, and magnolias and cherry blossoms are budding. Blooms are also appearing on daffodils and snowdrops. Upcoming events include Buds and Blossoms: A Spring Walk at Green-Wood, on April 13. Observers at Brooklyn Botanic Garden report early blooms on magnolias, and budding cherry blossoms and tulips.

In The Bronx, staff at the New York Botanical Garden report that early blooms are appearing on magnolias: Magnolia zenii and Magnolia sprengeri are in full bloom, with Magnolia stellata beginning to open. Early blooms are also appearing on cherry blossoms. The garden’s winter blooming cherry, Prunus x subhirtella, is beginning to flower, and Prunus mume, the flowering Japanese apricot, is in full bloom throughout the garden. Lilacs in the garden are budding, and the garden’s Ladies Border is in full bloom with Japanese apricots, Edgeworthia, and fragrant Viburnum scattered with Icelandic Poppies and Adonis. Daffodils are also beginning their blooms around the garden. The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism, celebrating the colors, architecture, and flora of Mexico, is open at the garden until April 27.

In the Hudson Valley, magnolias, cherry blossoms, lilacs, and tulips are budding at Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson. In Tarrytown, early blooms are appearing on magnolias at Lyndhurst, and cherry blossoms are budding. Staff report that the first blooms in Lyndhurst’s seasonal bulb bed are dwarf irises, a feature of the newly extended rock garden behind the Welcome Center. Also, crocuses can be found throughout the lawns, daffodil foliage is starting to pop up (but no blooms yet), and dogwoods have set their buds. Lyndhurst's season opening flower show takes place April 5-6. At Clermont State Historic Site in Germantown, early blooms are appearing on star magnolias (Magnolia stellata), with many open blooms predicted for the weekend. Clermont’s spring bulbs and wildflowers display continues, with glory of the snow (Scilla sardensis) and crocus taking the place of the fading winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis). Spring snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) and snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) continue to delight, and trilliums buds are not yet open.

Staff at Untermyer Park & Gardens in Yonkers, report that the Okame cherry blossoms are budding, while the later-flowering cherry blossoms are still dormant. Additionally, crocus, snowdrop, and hellebore blooms are still going strong, and daffodils are budding, with some starting to bloom. In New Paltz, observers at Mohonk Mountain House report that magnolias, cherry blossoms, and tulips are budding. Cherry blossoms are budding at Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, and some dogwood blooms have been spotted. Upcoming events at Boscobel include Earthfest on April 26 and Mother’s Day Tea on May 11.

On Long Island, at Sands Point Preserve in Sands Point, magnolias are budding, as are forsythia and daffodils. At Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park in Great River, cherry blossoms are budding and crocus are in full bloom, with daffodils close behind. Staff at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay report that tulips are just beginning to bloom, while magnolias, cherry blossoms, and lilacs are budding. Additional blooms on site include azaleas, witch hazel (a stunning yellow and orange), daffodils, gorgeous purple flowers by the Playhouse and the Heather Garden, hyacinth, and hardy camellia, of which hundreds can be found in full bloom all throughout the site. On April 4, Planting Fields presents First Fridays: A Palette of Petals, a spring stroll to the Margaret Sullivan Heather Garden. Tulips have just begun to bud at Waterdrinker Family Farm in Manorville and Riverhead. The farm is hosting garden workshops every Tuesday at its Manorville location.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, cherry blossoms are budding and witch hazel is in bloom at Pine Hollow Arboretum in Slingerlands. Upcoming events include A Tour of Pine Hollow Arboretum with Levi O'Brien on June 7. In Albany, magnolias, cherry blossoms, lilacs, and tulips are budding in Washington Park's formal gardens. The park will host Albany's 77^th Annual Tulip Festival, May 10-11. Tulip Tours in the park begin in May, with many dates and times from which to choose. To book a tour, click here. In Esperance, staff at Landis Arboretum report that, in addition to magnolias continuing to bud, some crocus have begun to bloom. Landis will host a house plant swap on April 12, and will have a booth at the Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo, March 28-30.

In Central New York, staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County in Binghamton report that magnolias are budding, as are forsythia and daffodils are budding.

In the Finger Lakes, observers in Rochester’s Highland Park report budding magnolias, cherry blossoms, and lilacs, plus blooms of witch hazel, snowdrops, and Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa). The park will host the Rochester Lilac Festival, May 9-18. In Marcellus, magnolias and tulips are budding at Sycamore Hill Gardens in Marcellus, while snow drops, daffodils, crocus, winter aconite, spring iris have all bloomed and are bringing the garden to life. Sycamore Hill Gardens will reopen April 5. Book online for tours here.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, at Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, magnolias are budding.  The 3rd Annual Gardening Symposium, hosted by the Chautauqua County Master Gardeners, is taking place May 3 at Jamestown Community College.

In the Greater Niagara region, observers at Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls report that tulips are budding. In Buffalo, lilacs are budding at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Additionally, iris reticulata, crocus, and snowdrops are in bloom, and Helleborus is ready to bloom. The gardens’ spring flower exhibit is being held April 4-28.

In the Adirondacks, staff at Fort Ticonderoga’s King’s Garden in Ticonderoga report that magnolias are budding.

No significant activity reported this week from partners in the Catskills region.

No significant activity reported this week from partners in the Thousand Islands-Seaway region.