Sei Shōnagon : "Flowering Trees"

from "The Pillow Book" (ca. 1002 CE)

Flowering Trees

Plum blossoms, whether light or dark, and in particular red plum blossoms, fill me with happiness. I also like a slender branch of cherry blossoms, with large petals and dark red leaves. How graceful is the wistaria as its branches bend down covered with whorls of delicately coloured petals!

The u no hana is a more modest plant and deserve…