Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

[nycgirl]

Visiting the Brooklyn Botanical Garden during cherry blossom season is a beloved New York City rite of spring. The BBG is home to over 200 flowering cherry trees of many different varieties, making it one of the best cherry tree viewing sites outside of Japan. Japan gave the trees to the U.S. back in 1912, a token of the then-budding friendship between the two countries.

Cherry blossom season culminates with Sakura Matsuri, a two-day festival at the end of April that includes Japanese music and dance performances, samurai sword-fighting demonstrations, and other cultural events. Unfortunately for me, the trees peaked early this year, and the gorgeous pink blossoms were long gone when I visited the Sakura Matsuri. But I consoled myself by enjoying the park's other flora...



... as well as its collection of colorful visitors.











You may wonder, as I did, what some of these costumes are doing at a Japanese festival. I found out that "cosplay" (short for "costume play") is a part of Japanese subculture. It apparently has some popularity in the U.S. as well. Participants commonly dress as characters from comic books, video games, or movies, but there is no limit to who or what can be portrayed.

Here are the cherry trees, sadly stripped of their petals. But that didn't stop people from relaxing under the trees and enjoying the lovely weather.



I bought some sake and a vegetarian bento box and joined them. It was tasty.



More later...

[lola]

Love the costumes and the wisteria. Thank you, nycg! What a fun festival.

[nycgirl]

After lunch, I checked out a classical Japanese dance performance, but I couldn't really get a good view of the stage. So I wandered around and took more photos of the visitors, many of whom were happy to strike a pose.













I think this one was an off-duty dancer.

[nycgirl]

I next admired the exquisite Bonsai display.











This sculpted Juniper tree died in 1971, shortly after arriving from Japan, but it lived an estimated 800 years, judging from the number of growth rings.



I went exploring some more, snapping photos of the cosplayers as I went.









My wanderings brought me to a sea of thousands of Spanish bluebells.



Unfortunately, some of them were trampled because some people can't resist tromping through them like children, like these two posing by the tree. Fortunately, park staff was on hand to yell at them, but people really shouldn't have to be told to not stomp on the flowers.



A few more photos.























Well, that's all for now. I'm determined to capture those cherry blossoms next year.

[Jazz]

What a fabulous day! Your photos are wonderful, nycgirl. You have an exceptional eye. Somehow, I think that your presence relaxes your subjects. The costumes are beautiful.

Your recent post has two photos that I love. The bluebells, this reminds me of a scene in the film, Howard’s End...for me, unforgettable. The sculpted juniper tree which is 800 years old...it looks like a dancer. Thanks for this!

[Deleted]

Manga schoolgirl outfits (picture #4 in reply #2) absolutely freak me out.

[nycgirl]

Thanks, Lola and Jazz!

May 11, 2012 18:00:30 GMT Jazz said:

What a fabulous day! Your photos are wonderful, nycgirl. You have an exceptional eye. Somehow, I think that your presence relaxes your subjects. The costumes are beautiful.

Your recent post has two photos that I love. The bluebells, this reminds me of a scene in the film, Howard’s End...for me, unforgettable. The sculpted juniper tree which is 800 years old...it looks like a dancer. Thanks for this!

That'svery sweet of you to say. I worry about being annoying or intrusive when I take photos of people.

That reminds me, I've never seen Howard's End but have been meaning to.

May 11, 2012 18:13:03 GMT kerouac2 said:

Manga schoolgirl outfits (picture #4 in reply #2) absolutely freak me out.

I have more photos where that came from. Schoolgirl and French maid costumes were very popular.

[Deleted]

Thanks so much for this NYCgirl!!

Of the 2 major botanical gardens in NYC I prefer the Brooklyn,although NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx now has that fabulous refurbished huge Victorian greenhouse.
Anyway,my last visit to BBG was a real treat because I was there to see the cherry blossoms in bloom and it was a stunning display. Please do try to make a point of getting there if you can next Spring.

I loved seeing the bluebells and would have been soooo irritated had I seen children being allowed to stomp around on them,

The bonsai just lovely.

It appears everyone was in good form costumed. I love the image of the woman with the lace parasol.

You really shouldn't tease poor Kerouac with the French maid outfits,everyone knows that's his weakness,well,one of them anyway.

Again,thank you for this.

[nycgirl]

Thanks, Casi!

You're so lucky you got to see the cherry blossoms. If you have any photos you'd like to show, feel free to add them!

It's hard to predict when the cherry blossoms will be at their peak. Last year, judging by people's flickr photos, their peak perfectly coincided with the Sakura Matsuri festival. That was definitely not the case this year. Next time I'll try to go twice in April to make sure I don't miss them. Also, my husband didn't like sharing the park with so many people and would have preferred to go on a non-festival day.

Adults and children were strolling through the bluebells! It was infuriating!

I was really impressed by the attention to detail in some of the costumes. A lot of cosplayers handmake their outfits, which takes a lot of time, skill, and resources.

[Deleted]

Clearly, Halloween is no longer sufficient for some people.

[Deleted]

Great photos, nycgirl! I just love Japanese costumes, always so feminine. Cherry trees are so colorful this time of the year, such nice Gardens.

[lugg]

Fabulous report and photos NYCgirl. The bluebells and the wisteria are beautiful. yes please - try to get to see the cherries and post for us next year. I have never read about / seen cosplay before, some of thecostumes especially as you say those hand made are amazing.

I will have to ask elsewhere what the term manga means

[nycgirl]

Thanks, Deyana and Lugg!

Manga are Japanese comics.

[Deleted]

Considering the number of Japanese residents in Paris and the number of Japanese tourists who come here, I am surprised to note that I don't know of any Japanese "events" in Paris other than a few discreet cherry blossom events.

Yet, the Japanese cultural center in Paris is absolutely huge.

[Deleted]

May 12, 2012 14:34:02 GMT kerouac2 said:

Clearly, Halloween is no longer sufficient for some people.

You forgot Mardi Gras....I think you just have an aversion to costuming in general Kerouac. Fess up....

[Deleted]

I confess. I despise costumes with a few excessively rare exceptions. But I don't mind looking at photos of them.

[nycgirl]

I've seen a lot of handmade costumes that are impressive examples of creative self-expression. If I had any talent for sewing, designing, make-up artistry, etc., I certainly would seek every opportunity to show it off, especially if I wasn't able to use those skills in my professional life. But I don't, I can barely apply eyeliner correctly.

[lola]

Great photos.

[bixaorellana]

Well, I certainly learned from this thread! There was a cosplay event this past Sunday in the park here, which I didn't attend, partly because I didn't know what cosplay was. Do now!

Very interesting, but your flower & bonsai pictures are a huge thrill. That bonsai flowering crape myrtle ~~ oh my!

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 17:11:23 GMT nycgirl said:

I've seen a lot of handmade costumes that are impressive examples of creative self-expression. If I had any talent for sewing, designing, make-up artistry, etc., I certainly would seek every opportunity to show it off, especially if I wasn't able to use those skills in my professional life. But I don't, I can barely apply eyeliner correctly.

Here in NOLA costuming is an art form to be sure. Many people I know have a stash of different things that can be fashioned and or refashioned into a whole new costume with little money being spent. I eschew the idea of going out to an overpriced costume shop (and here they are aplenty!) and buying a bunch of overpriced crap. Recycling old clothes and notions is much more fun and creative an endeavor. It also pretty much ensures that you have a one of a kind costume. Many of the thrift stores here have a whole section devoted to just costumes.
I will often design and make 2 costumes with the idea that the weather may not allow for me to wear one,in which case I have a back up. I have frozen my butt off one too many Mardi Gras....