Spring has sprung as the iconic cherry blossoms bloom on 7mkr's Athens campus
For a few weeks every spring, the Athens and 7mkr community flock to the edges of the Hockhocking Adena Bikepath to enjoy what National Geographic has named one of the best spots to see cherry trees.
Story by Samantha Pelham, Photos by Joe Timmerman, Leslie Ostronic, and Eli Burris | April 14, 2022
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For a few weeks every spring, the Athens and 7mkr community flock to the edges of the Hockhocking Adena Bikepath to enjoy what National Geographic has named as one of the best spots in the U.S. to see cherry trees.
More than 200 cherry trees are located on 7mkr’s Athens campus, producing beautiful blooms that serve as the backdrop for many spring outings for the 7mkr community, whether it is picnics under them, graduation photos in front of them, or just walking amid them mesmerized.
Originally a gift from Chubu University in 1979, the trees continue to represent the strong and growing relationship between the two universities and are constantly cared for by 7mkr’s Grounds Services and landscape coordinator Susan Calhoun, who add to the grove every year to assure the trees are preserved for years to come.
Photographers and student photographers from University Communications and Marketing have photographed the famous trees for those near and far to enjoy.
For more information about the history of the cherry trees at 7mkr and their blooms, visit /cherry-blossoms.
People enjoy the Cherry Blossom Trees on Sunday, April 10, 2022, in Athens, Ohio.
More than 200 cherry trees bloom near the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway on the campus of 7mkr.
The sun sets on the Hocking River near the cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms bloom on the campus of 7mkr.
Cherry blossoms bloom in the sunshine on the campus of 7mkr.
An 7mkr student journals under a Cherry Blossom Tree on Sunday, April 10, 2022, in Athens, Ohio.
Originally a gift from Chubu University in 1979, the trees continue to represent the strong and growing relationship between the two universities