Experience Cherry Blossom Season at Reynolda
You know spring has arrived in Winston-Salem when the daffodils paint the mile-long drive of Reynolda Estate in a cheerful golden hue and the iconic cherry blossoms burst into a breathtaking sea of pink, signaling the season’s vibrant awakening.
While we cannot predict the exact date that the iconic Cherry Trees come into bloom, the season typically lasts from early to mid-March through early April.
A History of Breathtaking Beauty
In 1912, while Katharine Reynolds planned her formal gardens, the Mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry trees to the United States. The gift celebrated the friendship between the Japanese and American people. Reynolda’s Cherry Allée was originally planted in 1917, most likely inspired by Washington D.C.’s cherry trees, as Katharine urged her sister Ruth to see the cherry trees while visiting the nation’s capital.
By 2019, with the removal of the last original cherry, it was apparent a full reset was needed of this iconic feature of the gardens. No longer were the east and west flanked with matching cherries but rather a mixture of colors and sizes as a result of piecemeal replacements over the years. In late fall of 2020, spearheaded by a generous gift from Barbara Babcock Millhouse, the process of removing the existing cherries beagan, followed by a wholesale replacement of all 44 weeping cherries (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’)
Reynolda’s Cherry Allée lines the eastern edge of the formal gardens and is closest to the historic house. These trees drew crowds yearly as their blooms marked the start of spring.
Today, visitors are invited to create lasting memories in our formal gardens with special Cherry Blossom Tea events, capture the moment with the blossoms as the perfect backdrop or find a spot on the front lawn of the Historic House for an afternoon picnic with the Cherries in view.
Events in Full Bloom
Reynolda Gardens and Tea & Toast presents “Cherry Blossom Tea” hosted in our Cherry Allée. Sip teas from around the world and create themed crafts.
Learn about Reynolda’s Cherry Trees, crafting botanical syrups, sampling tea varieties, and sipping gimlets and alcohol-free spritzers.
Bring your young explorers ages 2 – 5 to spend the morning in the Gardens learning all about these stunning trees and their historical significance.