Reading Notes: More Jataka Tales A

The Red Bud Tree

• Four princes heard about a Red Bud tree and wanted to see it
• The oldest visited when the tree was dormant, so he thought it was dead and didn't ask why
• The second young prince visited the tree when it was in full bloom, so he saw the Red Buds
• the third brother saw the tree when it had only green leaves, but didn't ask questions
• The youngest brother finally got to go see the tree and it was covered in little pods 
• he told his brothers what he saw when he got back, and all the brothers realized they saw very different trees
• The king, their father heard them have this discussion and explained that each brother saw the tree during a different season, and that's why it looked different

Red Bud Tree

Source: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt