This past weekend we, along with what seemed like the whole population of Toronto, visited High Park to see the blossoming cherry trees in High Park. I try to avoid crowds when I can, but the blossoms only last about a week so as long as you look up and not forward, all you will see are white fluffy clouds.
The trees were actually gifted to the High Park by Japan in 1959 (countries give each other flowers too :)). In Japanese tradition, cherry blossoms (or 'sakura') symbolize mortality, because of their exceptional beauty but quick death. No wonder the cherry blossoms symbols were used during WWII to motivate Japanese soldiers on the front - "live free or die hard". And indeed, beauty feeds the soul and the spirit. Without beauty in our daily lives, we are prisoners to our routines and have-to's.
Another interesting fact is that cherry blossoms are edible! in Japan they are added to traditional desserts (one dessert on earth I have not dug my teeth into yet tehe) and even served instead of green tea on special occasions! Now, I've drank all kinds of tea but have not tried sakura tea before. A trip to Japan is in order!