Cherry and Plum Blossoms in Seattle

(Updated with a new poem!)

Here are some pictures of the first cherry blossoms at University of Washington last week.
華盛頓大學的櫻花初開。






Also, some plum trees we'll be getting for Buddha Jewel.
佛寶寺將來要種的梅花樹。

Straw sandals treading cloud covered peaks
I sought spring everywhere.
Returning in vain, I stopped
To smell the plum blossom
On the treetops is spring in full glory.
--An enlightenment poem by a bhiksuni

終日尋春不見春 芒鞋踏破隴頭雲
歸來偶把梅花嗅 春在枝頭已十分


And a response from Bessie from East Bay with a beautiful translation of a Zen poem by Master poet-monk Cold Mountain:

Behold the flower amid the leaves
How long can her glory last?
Fearing to be picked today,
Who’ll sweep her away tomorrow?
Pity, loveliness so fragile,
Aging quickly with time.
This life is like the flower’s
Can beauty long endure?
--by Cold Mountain

君看葉裡花 能得幾時好
今日畏人攀 明朝待誰掃
可憐嬌豔情 年多轉成老
將世比於花 紅顏豈長保

--寒山詩