Eve is here. As most readers know, outside of Central Park, Prospect Park, and perhaps Madison Square Park, the city is pretty sterile. There are times when the trees on the side streets have enough color to catch the eye, such as when the green leaves of spring begin to thicken, when the ginkgo biloba of autumn turn yellow (regardless of how vivid the rest of autumn’s color changes are), and, of course, when the cherry trees bloom. The idea of having cherry blossoms on duty in spring is also appealing.
Sadly, I have never been to Japan during cherry blossom season. Local television was broadcasting the progress of the Sakura Line, not the train operations, but the progress of the cherry blossoms blooming across the country.
By Lily Sabella, Spring 2026 THE CITY Editorial Intern. His work has been published in the Nashville Flag, Legislative Gazette, and Oracle. First published on THE CITY
When cherry blossoms bloom in early April, Roosevelt Island’s idyllic boardwalk turns into a catwalk. Visitors visit this small island to capture the floating beauty of flowering trees overlooking the Manhattan skyline and take their own portraits for Instagram.
Crowds dressed in their best clothes smile broadly under the pink and white blooms, admiring the more than 100 cherry blossom trees that bring a brief burst of life to the normally quiet island. But in their eagerness to get the best photo, some visitors turn the tree into a prop.
“They like to break flowers off trees, or I’ve actually seen someone cut branches off,” said Jennifer Engstler, who has lived on the island for 23 years. “I’ve seen people crawling up trees and hanging on trees like kids. It just drives me crazy.”
Engstler is the island resident behind the effort to protect the cherry trees, where volunteers in neon pink vests and sunglasses patrol the rows of cherry trees to stop people shaking them and pulling down or breaking branches in an attempt to knock off the flowers.
She felt that signs asking people to respect cherry blossom trees was not enough to enforce good behavior, and brought up the idea of a cherry blossom guard squad at a community meeting last year.
“You can put up all the signs you want all over the world,” Engstler said. “I think the majority of people are respectful, but it only takes a few people to mess up a tree.”
When people shake or pull branches, they can break, weaken the tree, and shorten the expiry date of the flowers. Touching them or rattling them will leave fewer petals for others to enjoy. Rather, experts say visitors should leave the short spring bloom alone and let the petals fall naturally.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, the quasi-national agency that manages the island, took Engstler’s idea and launched the Petals Protector Initiative, which received positive feedback from residents, so it brought it back this spring season, said Bryant Daniels, RIOC public relations director.
“On Roosevelt Island, people are very invested in their neighborhoods and doing their part to keep the island special,” he said. “We want to ensure that the cherry blossoms are protected for future generations.”
The island’s “human treasure”
Volunteers wearing brightly colored uniforms will be walking in two-hour shifts, handing out “Let’s protect the cherry blossoms” flyers with maps of the island’s trees and QR codes to local businesses. Thankfully, it retains its reflective pink hue even after completion.
Daniels said 26 people signed the petition to protect the cherry blossoms this year.
Petal guardian Romeo Cayanan, 67, who has lived on the island for 10 years, said the cherry blossoms are the island’s “living treasure.”
The short period during which the trees bloomed made him determined to do whatever he could to save them. “We only have two weeks, so we have to have fun, and it’s free!” Kayanan said.
Cherry blossoms bloom on Roosevelt Island, April 8, 2026. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY
Another volunteer, Kavita Rani (31), had never seen cherry blossoms before this season. She immigrated to the United States from India about three years ago, but as a new resident of Roosevelt Island, this is her first time living where cherry blossoms bloom.
“It went from being so dead to suddenly becoming so beautiful,” she said.
According to petal guardians the city spoke to, most visitors to the island hang out around the flowers and listen when asked to look at the flowering trees but not to touch them.
“I noticed that people get really excited when they see these beautiful plants,” Rani said. “Sometimes I would get excited and touch the flowers.”
But Rani politely asked the violators to stop, saying: “I never thought it would be this easy.”
To her surprise, she told The City, “people were really receptive.”
On a recent weekday, Zell, who lives in Astoria, wore a kimono the same shade as the flower petals swaying above her head and used a tripod to take photos and videos of herself under the trees.
“I just love cherry blossoms,” said the man, who lived in Guam and frequently traveled to Japan, another famous cherry blossom spot. “I grew up loving them.”
People enjoying cherry blossoms in full bloom on Roosevelt Island, April 8, 2026. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY
Protector’s Covenant
Trees are blooming across the five boroughs, but only Roosevelt Island in New York City has people trained to protect the flowers. However, such efforts are sprouting in other parts of the country.
Sign up to volunteer to protect cherry blossom trees on the National Mall in New Jersey and Washington, DC
“We have found that educating our visitors on best practices for caring for cherry blossom trees is the best way to ensure their long-term health,” said Mike Litterst, director of communications for the National Mall and Memorial Park.
Cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn on April 3, 2026. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY
The campaign includes encouraging people, especially children, to take a pledge to protect the cherry blossoms.
“I will protect the tree.
because they can’t speak
take a photo
not a flower
So they may remain
for you and me
“And to the future”
“Kids are especially fascinated by it,” Litterst said. “Many of them take it seriously as if they are their agents. They yell at adults who are picking flowers or dragging tree branches.”
Cherry blossom viewing boom
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation wants visitors to explore beyond the cherry blossoms when they visit the island.
“Roosevelt Island has great public spaces, and right now the cherry blossoms are the star of the show,” said BJ Jones, CEO of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “But the island has a lot to offer,” he said. They include a monument to reporter Nellie Bly. Incidentally, it is the same name of The City’s beloved pigeon.
As the corporation encourages tourism, residents like Engstler are forced to contend with tourists flocking to the tranquil island she calls home.
Mae Cabonon poses for a photo along a row of cherry blossom trees on Roosevelt Island on April 8, 2026. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY
“Our island has become even more popular,” she said. “It’s so beautiful. I can see why people want to come here.”
The land between Queens and Manhattan has been overwhelmed with crowds of people traveling to admire the flowers in the past.
However, as long as the cherry blossoms are in bloom, tourists will definitely flock there.
“This is my first time here,” Jackson Heights resident Mae Cavonon said with a smile as her friend took photos of her under the tree, keeping an appropriate distance from the petals themselves.
“I heard from a friend that this area is the most beautiful.”
