Of Flute and Blossoms

Blossoms are scattered by the wind and the wind cares nothing, but the blossoms of the heart no wind can touch.

Yoshida Kenko, Japanese author and Buddhist monk (1284–1350)

Seiichi Ariga's flute carried the lovely folk melody of Rentaro Taki's Hana (Cherry Blossoms) through to the heavens this afternoon at a small recital. He sent the audience away with the message that the Japanese cherry trees in Centennial Park had just begun to bloom so I took the opportunity to walk among the trees and celebrate spring. As yet, the young buds are holding firm in the face of the cool breezes.

The Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin School in Tokyo gifted the 37 trees two years ago in honour of Hamiltonian Martha Cartmell, the first female missionary to venture to Japan where she founded the school for girls (a first) in 1884.