Under the Cherry Blossoms

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inCourage, LadyBudd, Peace, Sunday Evening Reflection, The Gift of DaysTags:, , , ,

It was a fresh spring day 2020 when I read the sign on the garden gate that said “temporarily closed” due to COVID-19. The benches outside the garden had been taken away to encourage social distancing. It was the beginning of something that no one was able to define or categorize. We were heading into the unknown.

The word ‘temporary’ has different meanings, but I knew instinctively that the garden doors would not open in time for me to see the tulips come to life. The bulbs that had been planted in autumn by diligent gardeners, would awaken inside those closed doors, in quiet spaces, with the hum of bees and the sound of wind fluttering the trees.

When I turned away from the garden and into a busy parking lot adjacent to our local grocery store, I saw the cherry trees in full bloom. They beckoned me to stand under their branches. The rattling of grocery carts, the occasional car honk and the chatter of passersby, receded as I looked up into the pink blossoms and blue sky.

That was when I remembered the words of Vincent van Gogh: “There is peace even in the storm.” The unknown will always be with us, but in the midst of uncertainty, the cherry blossoms are a reminder that our lives are contained in moments.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

76 thoughts on “Under the Cherry Blossoms”

    1. Thank you, my friend, for your lovely comments. Nature has a marvelous way of reminding us to stop for a moment in our busy lives and remember that we live in a beautiful world. Take care!

      Liked by 4 people

  6. Dear Rebecca,
    what a fine van Gogh quote. Indeed, there is peace even in storm.
    Wishing you a happy week. With lots of love to the Budd-Clan and big HUGs
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Dear Klausbernd – Vincent has the best quotes and I’m grateful for the people who translated his words into English. I was looking into his letters and found that many were written in French. I did not know this. There is so much yet to learn and explore. Exciting!! Sending much love and hugs to my dear friends The Fab Four of Cley.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Dear Rebecca,
        I once read all the letters of Vincent to his brother and we have a German translation of them in our library.
        A friend of ours is a translator. It’s nearly as much work as writing a book. I once translated a book, never ever again. I was naive, had no idea how much work that is. You have to be perfect in the language you translate from and you have to really good in the language you translate into. It sometimes took me days to find the right expression.
        With lots of love ❤ ❤ to our dear friend and keep well
        Wishing you all the best. Keep well
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I can only imagine the difficulties faced by translators. I admire your tenacity, Klausbernd. There are some words and ideas that cannot be fully translated. I was reading an article that indicated we only use a small portion of words within our language. Every day, I receive an e-Mail with a word of the day. Today was esoteric and its opposite, exoteric. Now all I need to do now is to integrate those words into my daily interactions! Always something new to learn. Many thanks and hugs to my deaf friends The Fab Four of Cley.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. The way you describe this beautiful garden, now hidden from people, the benches that disappeared i feel sorrow both for the garden and people..
    Bless the Cherry Blossoms that gave succour. I love Van Gogh’s quote.

    miriam

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Miriam, for joining me under the Cherry Blossoms. I recall thinking, at the time, about how everything can change in a moment – that doors can shut quickly without warning. This past year has taught me that in times of rapid transitions new opportunities for growth appear in the least expected moments. And that gives me comfort!

      Liked by 2 people

  8. Cherry blossoms are enchanting and so lovely – I hope you get to see them again this year! They are a great reminder of spring… 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Meg! I am looking forward to the Cherry Blossoms that will be coming in a couple of months. Right now, Vancouver is under a deluge of rain, so have my umbrella with me on my walks. Rain brings a freshness to the air and the scent of the awakening soil. I have found new growth on some bushes. Spring is near….

      Liked by 3 people

  9. Ah, dear Rebecca, your thoughts and the written version you give to them are pure poetry to me. What a wonderful way to awaken on this sunny winter morning, despite the 21 below crackling temperature, so much so that one can almost hear the wings of the birds squeaking as the fly in to breakfast at our feeders. May the gods of flowerdom reward you, for your thoughtful gift of warming cherry blossoms thoughts ! Thank you my friend…

    >

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Dear Jean-Jacques – to be compared with writing poetry is far too great a honour. Thank you for the lovely thought. I heard that the East Coast of Canada was expecting a huge blizzard and my brothers in Alberta are in a deep freeze. We are under a deluge of rain. I keep these photos of spring close by to remind me that Spring will come again, that the earth will wake up.

      Liked by 4 people

    1. Shehanne – so glad that you joined me under the cherry trees. It was a great sight to see the cherry blossoms that day. With all the noise and confusion of cars moving this way and that, a couple of dogs barking, car horns and the clatter of grocery carts, the trees emanated tranquility, their branches dancing in the wind. I recall thinking that if trees could continued to do what they always do not matter the external drama, I could too. Sending many hugs!!!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. They are so tranquil. We used to have this lovely wee one in the garden of our last house. It was a small, thin one, so delicate, the blossoms hanging like an arch over the steps but unfortunately it died off. There’s a row of big ones all along this lengthy road here and they are wonderful when in bloom.

        Liked by 3 people

    1. I am so glad that you joined me under the cherry blossoms, Jennifer. Thank you for bringing Vivian with you. I heard there is a storm brewing on your side of Canada. Take care and stay warm….

      Liked by 3 people

  12. Gorgeous photos and video, Rebecca! You write so poignantly about these moments as you experience them…filled with some regrets but lots of resilience. The garden gate was closed but cherry blossoms were right nearby, open and free for you to enjoy! Creating this lovely post must surely have gifted you succor. I can smell the sweetness of those blossoms! So many hugs for you, dear friend…

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Mary Jo! There are been so many closed doors this past year which prompted us to consider other doors that we may not have opened or explored. When I was at a decision point a few years ago, someone sent me this quote by Wendell Berry. Serendipity came calling for it came at the right time. I especially appreciated “a mind that is not baffled” which gave me the idea that being baffled was a way to grow… I

      “It may be that when we no longer know what to do,
      we have come to our real work
      and when we no longer know which way to go,
      we have begun our real journey.
      The mind that is not baffled is not employed.“
      The impeded stream is the one that sings.”

      Sending many hugs back to you!!!

      Liked by 3 people

      2. Misty rules the world. Wasn’t it jim Davis that said “Cats rule the world”? I think that Cats only let us think that we are in charge. I know that there is a scientific citing out there to confirm my thinking on this matter.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for stopping by, Michael. I am enjoying following your blog! The Atlantic provinces of Canada are heading into a huge snowstorm, whereas Vancouver and the West Coast of Canada is under a deluge of rain. Whenever we have snow all the photographers are out to take photos of snow before it melts, usually in a few days.. I try to get out before all the track marks are made in the snow!!! LOL!

      Liked by 2 people

  15. Ah, cherry blossoms are so gorgeous snd your photos really do them proud, Rebecca. We can always look to nature to give us hope. She is so constant amid all the challenges that life throws our way. Hugs to you. 🤗🤗

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I agree wholeheartedly, Sylvia. Nature envelopes us in hope and reminds us that we belong to story that reaches back into time. Transitions and disruptions have come before and this is our time. When I turned away from the closed gate I realized that the tulips would bloom, without my presence, and in spite of all that was occurring around me. Your words “she is so constant amid all the challenges that life throws our way” is exactly what I felt that day. Exciting and profound. Sending many hugs back your way.

      Liked by 2 people

  16. Cherry blossoms against a clear blue sky…that is one of the most peaceful sights one can imagine. Thank you for sharing the corner of bliss that you found.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you for joining me under the Cherry Blossoms. It was indeed a corner, Julie, surrounded by the sounds of cars, grocery carts and lots of chatter. I wanted to capture the cherry trees in full bloom because I knew the next time I saw them, the blossoms would be making their way to the ground. And yet, that may be the most profound beauty – when the trees allow the wind to scatter their petals to the welcoming earth, gracefully surrendering to a new season…

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Life is indeed fleeting, Paul, which confirms that we must live our stories now. I was looking into the origins of hanami, which I understand means the practice or custom of viewing cherry blossoms when they are in full bloom. Every year Vancouver has a Cherry Festival. This year they will be presenting free online programs that include poetry reading and virtual tree walks. Should be very interesting. https://www.vcbf.ca/

      Liked by 1 person

  18. It was such a surprise to see your cherry blossoms post this morning, but ever so appreciated, particularly the accompanying music and quotations. Virgil’s words brought tears to my eyes.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It was a dark and rain day in Vancouver (isn’t that a good start to a novel!!) The Virgil quote always sends a lightening bolt through me. Today is the best day to live, not yesterday or tomorrow. But there are many times when I forget that thought. So glad that you joined me under the cherry blossoms. I was looking at Basho Matsuo’s poetry about cherry blossoms. Here’s one that I think you will like:

      “How many, many things
      They call to mind
      These cherry-blossoms!”

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Yes, that’s a great start to a novel! I wonder who shall write it? Yes, I do appreciate the Basho Matsuo poem! It brings to mind one of my all-time favorite poems: Ezra Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro.”

        The apparition of these faces in the crowd:
        Petals on a wet, black bough.

        Liked by 3 people

  19. Dear Rebecca, me too, I have enjoyed your cherry blossoms, the touching words accompanied by the beautiful music and was in this way transported from a cloudy to warm spring afternoon:) Many thanks and “Let us find inner freedom in each lucky moment that we encounter, like a sun-basking butterfly that finds peace on a cherry blossom petal”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Martina – that is a most wonderful definition of freedom: sun-basking butterfly. What a wonderful benediction to this post. I have found over the years that there are moments of surprise that come unexpectedly to remind us to simply breathe in the joy of being alive. Sending many hugs!

      Liked by 2 people

  20. Thank you, Rebecca! I needed this: to be under cherry blossoms, to read strong positive words, to flow with a mellow piano and to steal a pic of you from Vimeo.
    Yes, it’s true. I finally got a solid start of RB Art Director in palazzo pants. Just needed a head on face shot.
    I jest in truth, in truth I jest!
    Sending hugs as bright and beautiful as the cherry blossoms!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. What wonderful news. How did you know that I love palazzos pants. I have since I was a teen. I am enjoying my role as an Art Director, Resa. I always wanted to an Art Director too! Sometimes roles come to us at the most opportune time. I am beyond excited. Hugs and more hugs!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda – we have been under a rain cloud for some time, just come up for a breath of sunshine every few days. I save these photos to remind me that spring will come once again. Happy Winter!!!! Thank you for joining me under that cherry blossoms.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Hello, Rebecca, new blogs of yours keep popping up like lovely treats. I love your thoughts about the cherry blossoms. I get a lot of peace from nature. I found a new spider’s nest this morning. My mom accidently disturbed it so we put it back carefully out of the rain. I hope the little ‘Charlotte’s’ will be fine.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, my dear friend. When I first came to blogging, I realized that if I wanted to blog on different subjects, then the best way would be to have separate blogs that focused on a specific area of exploration. So this is my photo blog, the name of which came from a friend who always called me LadyBudd. I agree, Robbie – nature has a vitalizing force for healing. It dispels the angst and reminds me to breathe deeply. Ahhhh….. I am so pleased that little “Charlotte’s” will be fine.

      Liked by 2 people

  24. So beautiful. They’re the first blossoms of spring around here too (not at my house, but in the valley). Your photos are just gorgeous, Rebecca. I loved the video with the breezy flowers, the music, and the inspiring quotes. I was moved. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for your lovely comments, Diana. I’m crossing my fingers for a snow fall that is forecast to hit Vancouver next week. We will all be out with our cameras to capture the moments because they don’t usually last that long. When the snow comes, we feel like we are like the rest of Canada! Sending hugs!!!

      Liked by 2 people

  25. Oh, Rebecca, that stirring piece of music (please tell me what it is) and your wonderful quotes and uplifting images has me almost crying – well, at least quite choked up! Thank You – it was a feast for the senses.
    xoxoxo

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I am delighted that you enjoyed the music. The music is by Eneide and its called “Soft Reminder.” https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/FDH59gHbVVkt3AT37. I hope that you will be able to access this link. I have a Creator License with Epidemic Sound which gives me the right to use this music on my video. There are so many wonderful musicians in this world and this is my way of supporting their efforts. Thank you for your lovely comments – you visits are always very much appreciated! 🤗🤗🤗

      Liked by 2 people

      1. A simply beautiful track, Rebecca. I recall you speaking of the link before. I have placed it in my favourites. Yes, what a wonderful way to support our talented creatives.

        As is my habit I read the many comments and your replies after posting my comment. Please tell me about your role as Art Director. What have I missed?

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      2. You must visit Resa McConaghy at Art Gowns, who shares her creative project that is filled with art, stories, and many adventures. She has graciously included me as an “Art Director” which is something that I always wanted to be. And she has given me palazzo pants which I love. https://artgowns.com/ Resa is a remarkable artist and a costume designer for film and television. I know you will enjoy meeting up with her! Sending hugs!

        Liked by 2 people

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