In the Country
Thousands of trees at the 34th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
This April the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States will bloom right here in the Garden State at Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark. The 4,000 cherries with their pink, white and yellow blossoms will be unveiled during the 34th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s celebration will feature the Cherry Blossom Gala, bicycle tours, nature activities, a speakers’ series and cultural activities held April 10 through 18. For more information, please visit www.branchbrookpark.org or www.essexcountynj.org.

4 top garden-lover events
New Jersey Open Days
(888) 842-2442; www.opendaysprogram.org
Join the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program for another season of exploring gardens May through July.

The Papillion Garden Tour
(908) 233-7572; www.gardenclubofwestfield.org
The Garden Club of Westfield will host The Papillion Garden Tour on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cape May’s 15th Annual Spring Festival
(609) 884-5404 or (800) 275-4278; www.capemaymac.org
Cape May’s charming gingerbread architecture and renowned gardens welcome visitors to the nation’s first seaside resort for the 15th Annual Spring Festival held April 23 to May 2.

Master Gardener Garden Expo and Plant Sale
The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties’ 18th Garden Expo and Plant Sale will be held Saturday, May 8, at the Ted Blum 4-H Building in Bridgewater.