By Allison Warren, Staff Writer
Spring has finally arrived in NYC. With cherry blossom season in full bloom and NYC home to hundreds of different Japanese cherry trees for us to enjoy, now’s the perfect time to take a breather and learn how spending time around these pink florals can actually make us healthier.
Cherry blossoms first made their way to America thanks to an American food hunter named David Fairchild, who was searching for novel plants that could be of economic value to U.S. farmers. In 1902 Fairchild discovered sakura, the cherry blossoms of Japan. Captivated by their beauty, Fairchild ordered 125 trees to be planted in his own front yard in Maryland. His trees bloomed for the first time during the spring of 1906, attracting many admirers.
Another key figure in the cherry blossom’s American story was Eliza Scidmore, National Geographic’s first official female writer, photographer and board member. After spending time reporting from Japan, she returned to Washington and petitioned President Glower Cleveland to plant cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in . However, it was only years later, in 1909, that President William Taft, aiming to “beautify” the country and forge a diplomatic relationship with Japan, that he sought cherry blossoms from the Japanese. That year, the mayor of Tokyo sent 2,000 young trees to Washington. Unfortunately, they were infested with insects and needed to be burned. In response Japan sent 3,020 trees, which were successfully planted, on March 27, 1912. The rest is history.
Although April is known as the prime blooming season, because there is such a variety of trees in NYC and the city is so expansive, cherry blossom season actually lasts much longer. One typically has around a month, until early May, to enjoy the flowering cherries. Blooming usually starts earliest in Brooklyn, then reaches Manhattan and ends in the Bronx. Weather plays an important role in when the flowers begin blooming and how long the bulbs maintain their shape. Once the cherry blossoms bloom, the flowers may only last for four to five days. Under hotter temperatures the flowers may wilt quicker, while in cooler conditions they may live longer. Rainy conditions may also cause the flower petals to be blown away.
However, cherry blossoms are more than simply pretty to look at. Research has found that even just a brief walk in the park, or a forestry environment, can help to reduce one’s blood pressure, pulse rate, heart rate and stress and can stimulate physiological and psychological relaxation. Studies have found that when one is in a park they experience a significant decrease in tension, anger, fatigue, depression, confusion and anxiety. Researchers coined the term “Urgent biophilia” to describe the way people look to nature when experiencing stress.
One study conducted in Japan analyzed the effect of nature on older adults’ health, measuring their heart rate and blood pressure when viewing an urban park versus a city landscape for 11-15 minutes. The researchers found that when viewing cherry blossoms and fresh greenery in urban parks, these adults had a higher heart rate, lower blood pressure and lower levels of anxiety, leading the researchers to conclude that viewing parks leads to physiological and psychological relaxation. However, other studies have contradicting findings, reporting that looking at blooming flowers, also known as flower therapy, decreases heart rate.
The color of a flower also plays a role in one’s emotional response to it. Research has found that white, blue and orange are the most preferred flower colors. Blue flowers tend to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Orange, yellow and red blooms are linked to positive emotions and energy, while white flowers strike a balance, both calming and uplifting. A person’s preference for a particular color can also provide positive psychological benefits, regardless of what that particular color is.
Some of the most famous types of cherry trees found in NYC include the Okame and Kwanzan, which are blush pink cherries, while the Yoshino cherry is white like snow. The cherry blossoms can also vary in form and shape, with some cherries appearing more bundled while others are more bell-shaped.
In addition to their visual beauty, cherry blossoms also have medicinal health benefits, such as their anti-inflammatory effect, which has been proven in vitro, reducing blood pressure or possibly even treating diabetes. It has been suggested that using cherry blossom extract may help to reduce inflammation when applied as a skincare product for skin infections. Bark extract may be able to treat hypertension by inhibiting contraction of the aorta because the extract increases nitric oxide formation and minimizes the entry of calcium ions into the aorta muscle. Leaf extract may be useful for treating symptoms of diabtetes by enhancing insulin and AMPK-p38 signalling, with experiments showing it helped to promote the uptake of glucose in rat skeletal muscle cells.
For those looking to explore NYC and enjoy the breathtaking views, some key cherry blossom spots to visit include the New York Botanical Garden, which is home to more than 500 cherry blossom trees, and Central Park.
As finals season creeps closer and the stress begins to mount, there’s no better time to unplug and step outside. Cherry blossom season is more than just a pretty view, it’s a science-backed way to boost your mental and physical wellbeing. Even short walks among the flowers can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and help clear one’s mind after studying for hours on end. The city is full of places to see the flowers in bloom, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to recharge under the blossoms, and let yourself take that much deserved study break.