Between mid-March and April, all eyes are on Ault Park’s Weeping Cherry Tree Blossom grove as the annual blooms start to pop. Located in Mount Lookout, the first signs of Spring arrive as little buds of white and pink fill the park.
As a gift to Cincinnati in the 1930s, one thousand cherry trees were given to Mayor Wilson. Since then, the Japan America Society and Cincinnati Parks have merged to introduce more and more weeping cherry trees to the city and Ault Park. Older cherry trees throughout the 223 acre park bloom earlier than the new cherry tree grove.
With about four weeks of blooms predicted, weather can affect how long the gorgeous blossoms stick around. We can take steps to preserve our beautiful Japanese gift by not using hammocks in cherry trees, look and admire but don’t touch and consider planting your own cherry trees at home.
With Earth Day around the corner on April 22, now is a great time to get the kiddos to the park to watch each step of the blooming process. With several trees yet to bloom, children can journal the process from dormant to blooms to defoliation. Grab the family bikes, throw a journal in your nature bag and enjoy a wonderful spring ride around Ault Park’s weeping cherry blossoms
As Cincinnati’s largest park, Ault is surrounded with acres of trails, adopt-a-garden plots, thousands of flower and plant varieties, paved walking paths, courtyards and a Lunken overlook. Watch planes fly overhead, fly kites in the rose garden, play on the shaded playground, burn energy in the new fitness loop and enjoy a picnic under the fragrant, weeping cherry trees.
Ault Park Location and Hours
5090 Observatory Circle Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
Open for visitors dusk to dawn, 6am-10pm