Is there any flower as universally treasured as the cherry blossom? For a mere few weeks per year, the buds come into flower and render us speechless. Blossom lovers often plan pilgrimages to renowned sites across Japan or even Washington, D.C., where the mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 cherry trees at the dawn of the 20th century, to take in spring in its purest and most radiant form. Sakura, the Japanese word for a flowering cherry tree, stands for optimism as well as the transience of life. This year’s cherry blossom season takes on a new poignancy, with most of us are unable to see the splendor from our windows. Yet nature’s majesty presses on, and the you can see the annual spectacle spring to life in real time, thanks to the miracle of Google Earth.