After a long winter and cold spring, the wait is almost over. Here’s the latest 2025 cherry blossom update and tips for viewing.
I’ve been lucky to live in two places where life darn near grinds to a halt when the cherry trees blossom. And why shouldn’t it? The spectacle of an endless blanket of light pink blossoms, the perfumed breeze, the ambient hum of bees is a sensory feast.
The Japanese call it Hanami—flower viewing. Ages ago, I took an after-college job teaching English in Osaka and my first spring there was a revelation. Tunnels of cherry trees lining the streets burst into so much bloom that the breeze created an urban blizzard of swirling petals. Parks and castle grounds turned into blanket-to-blanket picnic zones, where the sole purpose was to park under the trees as the petals drifted down, picnicking and drinking for hours. The crush of crowds and frenzy of enjoyment was in service of a moment that was sweet because it was fleeting.
Here in Northern Michigan, the orchards tend to burst into bloom reliably around Mother’s Day, signaling a crop of sweets that would be ripe in time for July 4. And while picnics and sake aren’t the way we do blossom time, there are some great ways to experience the orchards in this gorgeous stretch of May days.
We asked Joelle Feenstra, farm manager at Rennie Orchards, for her best blossom viewing advice.
Bloom time: “We’re on track for a typical bloom time and expect it to be around Mother’s Day weekend (May 9). The best two weekends will be May 9 and May 16.“
Farm visits: “If you plan to stop by an orchard to see the blooms, be sure to call first—they can let you know if there’s a good time to visit, although most aren’t staffed for visitors this time of year.”
Best spots for viewing: “Just drive! Elk Rapids area has so many continuous orchards; Elk Lake Road is a great spot. You’ll also get gorgeous views driving north on US-31 just before and after the town of Elk Rapids.”
How long will they last? “Many orchards also have apple trees, so including apple blossoms, you’re looking at about two full weeks of blooming. The warmer the weather, the more sun they get, and the faster they pop. But rain, not warm temps, is the biggest influence on how long the blossoms last, so check the forecast before viewing.”
Are we late this year? “This is a traditional year, time-wise. It’s too early to tell what kind of crop we’ll have; we have what’s called a June drop, when the little growing cherries, the weaker ones, will drop and give us an indication of what our upcoming crop will be like.”
What this means for U-Pick: “We like to be open July 4 weekend with early sweet cherries; as of now, we’re on target for that.”
Mind the bees: “Most farmers don’t encourage visitors in the orchards because of the sheer number of bees out there working during peak blossom time.”
Where to go for blossoms: County Rd. 633 in Leelanau County; Elk Rapids; Old Mission Peninsula. For routes, check out these scenic drives that pack a flowery wallop for cherry blossom viewing.
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