You don’t need to head to Japan or D.C. for a taste of the Sakura festival life. While L.A. may not be an obvious destination to marvel at cherry blossom trees, it still has plenty of blissful havens with clouds of pink blooms. These stunning dark-trunked trees are native to Japan but have come to represent a colorful spring greeting across the nation. The brief display lasts only a few weeks within March, with some lasting until early April (depending on the wind and rain), so don’t wait to see them.
1. Grand Park L.A.
Grand Park’s Sakura Grove is a gift from the Japan Consulate L.A. back in 2012 when the park first opened. It’s marked with a stone that reads “A living symbol of friendship between the people of Japan and L.A. County.” The 12-acre park located in the civic center offers plenty to do if a rogue wind sweeps the petals of the trees and lands in a confetti-like carpet on the floor.
2. Lake Balboa Park
With over 2,000 cherry blossom trees this Van Nuys oasis makes is certainly worth visiting anthophile. The trees tend to bloom at different times, but if you don’t catch a spectacular bloom you can always take the swan boats for a spin.
3. South Coast Botanic Garden
Escape to the shady paradise of the Palos Verdes Peninsula where you’ll find large cherry blossom trees that demand to be picnicked under.
4. Huntington Library
The Japanese Garden and other parts of this breathtaking haven offer pops of pink cherry blossom blooms. There are plenty of pink-petaled doppelgangers in the gardens to make for a cute Instagram backdrop.
5. Descanso Gardens
The Japanese Garden should be your early to mid-March choice for the ‘Pink Cloud’ cherry blossoms. But if you miss it, you have a plethora of vivid flora to take in throughout spring, including the stunning tulips.
Featured Image: @grandparkla via Twitter