An ode to China's enchanting sweet osmanthus flower 又是一年桂花香

When I think of a golden autumn, my mind often turns to one of the great jewels of the season—sweet osmanthus, a tiny flower that has charmed generations of people every fall with its unforgettable fragrance.

我一想到金秋，就经常会想起秋天最宝贵的馈赠之一桂花。人们一代一代享受着它的幽香。

This blossom, which measures only 1 centimeter across and grows in clusters scattered about evergreen branches of the osmanthus tree, truly exemplifies the idea that size and appearance aren't everything. After all, even when painted in the most eye-catching bright orange or buttery yellow hues, it could never rival the more showy peony or rose on looks.

桂花花瓣只有一厘米，充分说明大小和外表不代表一切。毕竟虽然桂花拥有显眼的橘黄色花瓣，也永远无法与牡丹或玫瑰相提并论。

But the osmanthus bloom doesn't have to, because its real strength lies in its honeyed scent, which much like being in love, will leave you feeling a little giddy and lost in the moment, even when standing meters away from the flowers. If dreams had a fragrance, they might just smell like the osmanthus, imbuing a touch of paradise to even the most ordinary of places.

不过桂花无意争奇斗艳，因为它真正的魅力在于香气。即使在数米外，这种好像恋爱的味道会让人有些眩晕。如果梦有味道，那就可能是桂花香味。它能赋予最平凡的地方天堂般的感觉。

The osmanthus tree in the front yard of my in-laws' home in rural Zhejiang left me wonderstruck one early October morning when its flowers unfurled their magic. The alluring aroma, which had wafted indoors through an open window, enveloped me as I was descending the stairwell.

我公婆在浙江乡村的家里种了桂花树。十月初的一天，桂花香飘进窗户，惊艳了我。

It brought me to a standstill for a few seconds as I breathed it in, along with this sensation of pure, unfettered happiness. Dreary clouds blanketed the entire sky above me and yet, even to this day, whenever I recall this memory, my mind bathes it in sunshine because of that intoxicating natural perfume that surrounded me. It's that uplifting.

我正在下楼梯，当时就停了几秒使劲闻桂花香，还有这种纯粹的幸福感。虽然外面乌云密布，但每当我回忆起桂花香，就感到沐浴在阳光中。

I'm certain this kind of wondrous effect factored into why my father-in-law refused to sell that osmanthus tree to horticultural dealers who would continually come by to inquire about its cost. "It's not for sale," he would simply tell them. Surely he already understood that nobody could put a price on the experience of having such a delicious fragrance right outside your doorstep every year.

我肯定正是这种效应让我公公一直拒绝卖掉桂花树。买家多次上门谈价钱，但他的回应是“不卖”。他显然知道，每年在家门口闻到桂花香的经历千金不换。

And besides, even after the scent of the osmanthus bloom has faded as its petals wither and fall to the ground, it continues to enchant us.

而且即便花期过去，桂花依然能让我们陶醉。

My mother-in-law collects those flowers from under the tree in the front yard, dries them in the sun, and then adds their sweet aroma to a variety of foods, from roasted chestnuts to green tea. Each taste brings with it the gorgeous memory of a golden fall.

我婆婆会收集掉落在地的花瓣，晒干后撒到栗子和绿茶等上。这样一来每吃一口金秋的回忆就会涌上心头。

Despite its diminutive size, the osmanthus bloom has enraptured me and many others, including celebrated Chinese poets, and I believe it represents a special kind of flower power. I've walked through forests redolent with the luxurious smell of sweet osmanthus and emerged with a renewed sense of joy and possibility.

小巧的桂花也出现在很多诗句中。我相信这代表了花的特殊力量。我走过桂花香气覆盖的树林，又感到了愉悦。

In the midst of our imperfect lives and the shadows that haunt us, the osmanthus, which affords a feeling of ecstasy to anyone passing by, shines as a symbol of the goodness in the world.

我们的人生并不完美，但桂花带来了世界好的一面。

But like all great things, it won't last forever. So, if you have the chance this fall, take the opportunity to get out and experience the osmanthus bloom. It might just give you that extra boost you need to thrive in the throes of life's challenges and, perhaps, allow a little hope to flower.

和很多伟大的事物一样，桂花并不会永久存在，所以如果你今年秋天有机会，一定要去闻闻桂花香。也许你能由此获得力量应对挑战。