No need to schlep all the way to Washington to catch the cherry trees in bloom when you can catch this rite of spring right here at the Morris Arboretum.

John Morris, whose estate is the Arboretum’s heart, was an avid collector of Japanese plants, and the Cherry Blossom Festival showcases one of the area’s finest Japanese gardens and plant collections. The festival kickoff, on Sunday, April 1, features drummers, a tea ceremony, garden tours, a lecture on Asian gardens, activities for kids and Japanese-inspired items on the café menu.

--S.S.

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: Sunday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Morris Arboretum, 100 Northwestern Ave., Chestnut Hill. Admission $6, seniors $5, students $4, children under 6 free. Festival continues Saturdays and Sundays through April 22.