Sakura

[jethrien]

On a whim on Friday, I suggested to Chuckro that we go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this weekend. I vaguely remembered there were some cherry trees and lilacs, and since the ones in our neighborhood were blooming, I figured it would be a good time to go.


When I checked their site, I noticed that they were having some kind of cherry blossom festival. Nifty.

We get there, and the place was mobbed. Because this isn't just some random minor thing - this apparently is one of their biggest events. They had giant tents set up on the Cherry Esplanade and dozens of Japanese events all day. And the gardens were spectacular. All the trees were in full bloom, and they have them planted on either side of a long grassy meadow. And more all over the gardens. And the lilacs were indeed in full bloom - dozens of colors, every shade of purple imaginable. Totally stunning.

We ended up sitting on the grass, eating a lunch from bento boxes (sesame noodles, chicken skewers, vegetable dumplings, and a California roll) while the trees showered pink petals on us. We saw people doing really amazing taiko drum demos and Okinawan dances. There were bonsai exhibitions and a bunch of seminars that we mostly skipped, and Japanese flower arrangments and cherry blossom paintings and calligraphy exhibits. A guy was making sugar cranes - he had slivers of colored sugar glass that he melted partway and made into origami style cranes. The gardens themselves were gorgeous. Amazing tulip displays and a bunch of early peonies were my favorites (besides the trees).

Only two downsides - I didn't bring my camera, because we were planning to go to laser tag without going home first. Laser tag subsequently fell through, so I could have brought the camera after all. Also - despite my being on Zyrtec and Chuckro being on Claritin, we both had nasty allergic reactions. To the point that we left by three because of sinus headaches. It was bad enough that we both ended up with nosebleeds.

When we left, the line to get in was out the gate and around the block. And more people were pouring off the subway. So glad that we got there early...

Comments

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I wouldn't think that anything that ended in nosebleeds could be all to the good.

What happened to the lasertag? I'm beginning to feel like my bailing on trips is cursing them to failure.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

We're just apparently really, really, really allergic to something that's in bloom right now.

With laser tag - you bailed, trinityvixen didn't show, edgehopper has finals and got totally overwhelmed, and Nathan got stuck at his parents' house for longer than he had expected. He was going to be an hour late. Chuckro and I decided that we had bloody noses and cranky feet and didn't really want to play laser tag all by ourselves.

[feiran.livejournal.com]

Ack! I'm sorry to hear it. I was very tempted to do Laser Tag, but I had to review several stories Sunday night and decided it was best to Exert Discipline. I hope we can all try again another weekend, when there's less general mayhem, 'cause I really do want to play Laser Tag. It's been years...

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

It's ok. It was a perfectly fine day, and we weren't too upset. We'll try again some other time.

[lyriendel.livejournal.com]

Dude! That sounds like so much fun. You guys should get a pair of serious particulate filter masks in case of repeat serious allergic reaction (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=726026&R=726026 , my brother used one of these all through my graduation at Princeton--they're a lot more comfortable to breathe through than they look) and we should all go next year. :) And laser tag! I've never gotten to play laser tag, always wanted to. We gotta come visit you guys sometime and go play laser tag.

[(Anonymous)]

And I just said to Dad this weekend that I want to go to Brooklyn Botanic Garden soon. But we could do without the crowds and the nosebleeds. I think it's just that so many things are blooming at once. We're both having allergic reactions. Dad's eyes were running so much in church the lady next to him asked if he was ok.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Ordinarily, it's not quite so bad. But I've been having nose problems already (my over-airconditioned office is horribly dry, so my skin's dried out, my hair's dried out, and apparently my nasal passages are dried out). And the number of trees in flower was really stunning. Plus, our area's had record pollen highs in the last week or two. I've been to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens before without incident, my parents have a lovely cherry tree that never gave me problems, I've even worked in a flower shop and been just fine. I think this was just a sheer magnitude issue.

We did see a janitor wearing one of those, though.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Some other time. Or we can go to the New York Botanic Gardens, up north of Fordham.

I think I'm currently glad I don't have a job like yours, though. As much as I love flowers and the outdoors, I think I'd cry if I had to go to work in that much pollen everyday.

[edgehopper.livejournal.com]

Technically, it was the timing. Had my exam been at 1:30 PM today rather than 9:30 AM, I would have joined you :)

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

Dude, you totally don't have to make any excuses. Law school finals are excuse enough. Just get through them intact, and then worry about social commitments. :)

[superjan42.livejournal.com]

awwwwww... supercute!