Blossoms of Virtue

Flowers bring to a liberall and gentlemanly minde the remembrance of honestie, comelinesse and all kindes of virtues.

John Gerard, English herbalist (1545-1611)

Looking up into the blossoms of the Japanese cherry tree I was struck by their beauty that I could only describe as 'sweet' or 'innocent'. Memories of images in my grandma's Ideals books came immediately to mind. I had soaked up those lovely pictures as a child. Even then, I understood that the goodness portrayed on their pages was idealistic, perhaps even imaginary, and not a reflection of the 'real' world. Yet, every once in a while, in this imperfect world, we chance on a glimpse of honesty, comeliness, and virtue.