OHIO preparing to celebrate iconic cherry blossom trees

Ohio University’s nationally recognized cherry blossom trees signal the arrival of spring in Athens, and this year they should begin blooming in the last week of March or first week of April.

Ohio University is home to 230 cherry blossom trees planted in the grove along the Hocking River (near Tailgreat Park and the Convocation Center) and has been named one of the best places in the United States to see the cherry blossoms. Every year, community members and visitors gather under the blooms to connect and share picnics, music, and important moments with one another.

The Ohio University Cherry Blossoms website is posting regular updates and photos of the trees this spring as they prepare to bloom. All members of the OHIO community are encouraged to check the site regularly to watch the progress.

Travis Post, assistant director of Grounds Services for Ohio University, explained that in years when we have higher than normal temperatures in March, it increases the growing days and speeds up the emergence of the blooms.

“Blooms typically last two weeks but are contingent on environmental factors such as heavy frost, heavy rain, and wind,” Post said. 

Image

History of the cherry blossom trees and Friendship Park

The trees are symbol of Ohio University’s historic partnership with Chubu University in Japan. The partnership began in 1973, and in 1979 Chubu presented OHIO with 175 cherry blossom trees in honor of Ohio University’s 175th anniversary.

Since the initial planting, the cherry trees have endured harsh winters and storm damage. In honor of OHIO’s Bicentennial, Chubu University gave 94 Yoshino cherry trees and 9 double weeping cherry trees in 2004 to replace the 97 plants that had suffered damage since the first planting. The OHIO grounds team has established a successful schedule of care and maintenance to give these trees the special attention required.

In November 2023, Chubu University gave OHIO an additional 50 cherry blossom trees in honor of the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the two institutions. The 50 Yoshino cherry trees were planted throughout the grove near Shafer Street, with 23 of them located across from the softball field complex. 

Additionally, OHIO broke ground on a Pavilion and renamed the area where the trees are located as Friendship Park in 2023. The Pavilion was completed in April of 2024.

On March 25, OHIO will welcome a delegation from Chubu University, as well as the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit to join President Lori Stewart Gonzalez and the OHIO community to dedicate the Pavilion and reaffirm OHIO’s partnership with Chubu. To celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Friendship Pavilion, Chubu University President Dr. Masayoshi Maeshima is gifting two weeping cherry trees, one white and one pink.

The weeping cherry trees are a symbol of enduring friendship between Chubu University and Ohio University. In selecting one pink and one white, Dr. Maeshima recognizes the auspicious occasion of the Friendship Pavilion dedication.

Image

Seeing the trees in the evening, and seeing them online

The Cherry Trees will be in bloom before we know it, and lights will be placed around the trees in the evening hours when the blossoms begin to pop out. You can find regular updates on the Cherry Blossoms website. Those who post photos online while visiting the cherry blossoms in person this spring are encouraged to use #OHIOcherryblossoms for a chance to be featured on OHIO’s social accounts.

In addition to the spectacular cherry blossom trees, OHIO also has many other flowering trees that will be blooming soon this spring on the scenic campus. These trees include redbud, dogwood, pear, crabapple and magnolia trees.

For additional information on the cherry blossom trees, and to see images of the trees blooming in previous years, please visit www.ohio.edu/cherry-blossoms.