The Cherry Blossom tree

My nine year old grandson likes to draw Manga. One cold winter’s day I looked after him when he was home from school with a cold. After hours of drawing his favourite Manga characters he said he’d run out of ideas. I gave him some of my books on Japanese woodblock prints to look at. While he could see how the Manga characters he likes are derived from the figures in these prints, it was the cherry blossom trees in some of images that captured his imagination. From that day on cherry blossom trees have featured in his art.

Earlier this year his parents were able to buy a home after many years of renting. A great deal of their household talk now revolves around decor and gardening ideas. A small section of the backyard is covered with white gravel. As soon as he saw it my grandson decided it would be the perfect site for a cherry blossom tree. The idea appealed to everyone and now work is underway. His dad spends his free time digging out a pond while his mum researches varieties of cherry blossom trees and garden layouts. My grandson follows all these activities with great enthusiasm and helps out as much as he can.

Cherry blossom trees
inspiring creativity
across time and place

prompt: https://frankjtassone.com/2024/04/24/haikai-challenge-ii-14-4-24-24-latecherry-blossom-osozakura-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-kyoka-haiga-renga-haikaichallenge/