Spring is finally here, and we have organized an outing to the Berlin Botanic Garden.  While it's impossible to admire all of the blossoms simultaneously, there should be a maximum of plants, trees, and shrubs in flower at the beginning of May: with any luck the last cherry blossoms and white magnolias (both are at their peak right now), plus lilacs, dogwoods, rhododendrons, and perhaps peonies.  Note that the main entrance on Unter den Eichen is closed all this year as part of a renovation project, so please use the entrance on Willdenowstraße, approximately 350 meters north of Unter den Eichen.  If possible, please buy your entrance ticket (6€) on-line, so you can skip the queue at the ticket kiosk.  If you are coming from the S-Bahn station (Botanischer Garten, S1), also please note that part of the bridge over the S-Bahn is closed for construction; you'll need to make a loop.  Allow 15 minutes to reach the Willdenowstraße gate from the S-Bahn.  We'll spend approximately an hour covering the most important plants in flower, but you can obviously stay as long as you like if you want to see more; masks are required only in the greenhouse.  You may want to bring your own refreshments; there is an Imbiss at the entrance to the greenhouse, but the queue on weekends is usually quite long.  The tour will end near the Königin-Luise-Straße gate (bus lines X83 and 101, nearest U-Bahn station Breitenbach Straße, U3).