Bloomin' NYC

The Brian Lehrer Show celebrates the arrival of spring in New York City with a special segment on the blooming cherry, magnolia, and crabapple trees that are transforming the urban landscape. Host Brian Lehrer invites listeners to share their favorite flower-watching spots via phone or text, highlighting the beauty of seasonal change from gray winter slush to vibrant cherry blossoms. He is joined by Heidi Chu of The City, who discusses her team’s detailed mapping project of flowering trees across NYC, and James Ketchel, a certified master arborist and manager of the NYC Parks Department’s Tree Time Program. They share personal favorites—Hunters Point South Park in Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and Branchbrook Park in New Jersey—and explain the botanical distinctions between cherry and cherry plum trees. The conversation touches on urban tree policy, climate change’s impact on bloom timing, and the importance of protecting existing trees. Listeners and callers contribute beloved spots across the five boroughs and surrounding areas, underscoring the deep cultural and emotional connection New Yorkers have with their urban greenery. The episode closes with a celebration of nature’s resilience and the power of community-driven stewardship.