We’re excited to join @loynosca and #IGLibraries for this month’s social media challenge: #BookBouquets! Watch for a floral book cover each Wednesday in April.

Our copy of The Bouquet (Boston, 1844) features a gorgeous gilt-stamped floral bouquet against a faded-purple cloth. We think this binding is stunning as is, and bet it was even more striking when the purple cloth was new.

Browse our database of 19th-century cloth bindings to see more!  

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Late Spring/ April

Japanese Name: Wagashi - Hana Shidare

English Name: Traditional Japanese Confectionery - Weeping Sakura

    The significance of the cherry blossom tree, also called sakura (桜), in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. The cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. When the cherry blossom trees bloom for a short time each year in brilliant force, they serve as a visual reminder of how precious and how precarious life is. So, when Japanese people come together to view the cherry blossom trees and marvel at their beauty, they aren’t just thinking about the flowers themselves, but also about the larger meaning and deep cultural tradition the cherry blossom tree.

(Text Source 1)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Late Spring/ April

Japanese Name: Wagashi - Sakura

English Name: Traditional Japanese Confectionery - Cherry Blossoms

     The significance of the cherry blossom tree, also called sakura (桜), in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. The cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. When the cherry blossom trees bloom for a short time each year in brilliant force, they serve as a visual reminder of how precious and how precarious life is. So, when Japanese people come together to view the cherry blossom trees and marvel at their beauty, they aren’t just thinking about the flowers themselves, but also about the larger meaning and deep cultural tradition the cherry blossom tree.

(Text Source 1)