ROOSEVELT ISLAND — Across New York City, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, with vibrant displays spanning from Central Park to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Roosevelt Island, nestled in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, stands out as a particularly favored spot to admire these beautiful pink blossoms.
This location boasts the city’s most flourishing array of cherry blossom trees.
Over 100 trees paint the landscape with their vibrant hues for several weeks each spring, attracting throngs of visitors from all corners of the world.
During this bustling season, a dedicated group known as the ‘Petal Protectors’ is working diligently to safeguard the trees.
“Our mission is to ensure the protection of these cherry blossom plants,” explained Kavita Rani, a member of the Petal Protectors.
The volunteers live on the island and can be seen wearing authoritative pink vests.
They’re trying to protect the trees from visitors who pull on branches or petals, climb on them or sometimes worse.
“They grab hold of them and pull them down. Sometimes get on somebody’s shoulders and pull them down and break them,” Bonnie Cordova said.
“We saw somebody who brought a step ladder just to cut down some branches,” Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Bryant Daniels said.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation started the initiative last year not only as a way to protect the cherry trees, but to also to promote all the island has to offer.
Social media did most of the marketing.
Sometimes it’s also the reason why the trees need protectors.
“Most people are pretty respectful. Every now and then you get some folks who don’t want their Instagram photo ruined but by and large, people are pretty respectful,” Daniels said.
