Styrax japonicus, also known as the Japanese snowbell, is a tree native to Japan known for its beautiful flowers. The plant itself is what inspired this composition, as it is called a “snowbell” despite its titular flowers never seeing the snow. To me, the snowbell tree itself is more of a memory of the winters past, and beckons the thought of the circle of life. Without the brittle winters, there isn’t much to enjoy of the warmth of spring. It’s these memories we have of seasons and years past that keep us looking forward to the next bloom in our lives, the next opportunity to see beauty around us, and to enjoy the present.