Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina Communis) 露草（ツユクサ）

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The Asiatic dayflower (Commelina Communis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces blue flowers from June to September in Japan, which look to me like a mantis head. The flower has been appreciated in Japan, mentioned in the Man'yōshū (i.e., the oldest extant collection of Japanese poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after 759 during the Nara period. 

The plant's Japanese name is "tsuyukusa," which translates into "dew plant," because of its brief lifespan, like morning dew.

2026/5/29

Canary Grass (Phalaris Canariensis) カナリークサヨシ（加那利草葦）

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The Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis) is native to southern Europe and the Canary Islands. It was introduced to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) as food for canaries but can now be found across the country. It produces oval-to-cylindrical flower spikes (panicles) from May to August in Japan.  

It was my first time to see the grass and I looked forward to observing the plant, so it was so sad to find everything in the area where the grass was growing entirely removed on the following day.

2026/5/27

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' マジカルレボリューション

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Hydrangea macrophylla 'Magical Revolution' is really magical from two perspectives. Firstly, its spectacular, color-shifting transformation. The hydrangea changes from pale pink, blue, and green in early summer to red toward autumn. (Scroll down!) Secondly, its long life! The hydrangea's sepals (not petals!) are so sturdy that they can bloom for two to three months while changing color.  

It changes color to red in autumn due to increasing anthocyanin resulting from a change in the temperature and/or the amount of ultraviolet radiation. For whatever the reason, the hydrangea is just magically amazing. 

2026/5/29

Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium Dubium) コメツブツメクサ（米粒詰草）

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The lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) is native to Europe and western Asia. The plant was discovered in Japan in the 1930s. The plant produces spherical clusters (less than 1 cm in diameter) of yellow flowers, which are as small as rice grains, from April to July in Japan, and that's why it's called in Japanese "kometsubu tsumekusa," which translates into "rice grain clover." 

The plant means "Let's eat rice" and "little love flower" in Japanese floriography. Let's eat rice... Can it be a flower meaning?  

2026/5/27

Double Flowered Fish Mint 八重咲きのドクダミ

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Fish mints (Houttuynia cordata) are native to Asia and can be found across Japan. Those in the post are specifically double-flowered fish mints (Houttuynia cordata var. Plenus), one of my favorite plants! Fish mints produce beautiful white flowers from May to August in Japan although what look like petals are actually bracts as those of Cornus kousa are. 

Fish mints are used in Chinese medicine and in Japan, fish mint tea is said to be effective for skin problems. I suffered from severe acne in my teenage years so my late maternal granny sometimes sent me fish mint tea bags. I don't know if they were effective but I believe that thanks to the tea, I have no acne or any serious skin problems now. 

2026/5/29 Triplets

A Crane Fly on Bushkiller ヤブガラシ（薮枯）の上のガガンボ？

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Bushkiller (Causonis japonica) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces flowers from June to August in Japan, which are pale green at first, turning orange and then pink. (Scroll down to see such various colors of the flowers!) Bushkiller's Japanese name is "yabu garashi," which translates into "bush covering and killing other plants" due to its invasiveness.   

2026/5/27

A crane fly on bushkiller　ヤブガラシの上のガガンボ

White Colicroot (Aletris Spicata) ソクシンラン（束心蘭）

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The white colicroot (Aletris spicata) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces tiny white pale pink/beige flowers from April to June in Japan. When I took these photos, they were still buds, so I decided to observe their growth until they bloom, but when going there again the following day, I found everything there had been removed, which may be a preparation for summer.    

2026/5/27

Lithocarpus Edulis (Japanese Stone Oak) 馬刀葉椎（マテバシイ）

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The Japanese stone oak (Lithocarpus edulis) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The nuts are edible, tasting like chestnuts when baked (according to a website).  

In Japan, the nuts of Fagaceae trees, one of which is the Japanese stone oak, are collectively called "donguri" and there's a famous song for children about an acorn falling into a pond "Donguri korokoro (i.e., Rolling acorn)."    

The tree's Japanese name is "mateba shii," which translates into "a tree becoming a chinquapin tree soon," because people prefer(ed) chinquapin nuts to the Japanese stone oak nuts.

2026/5/28

Double "Sepaled" Lacecap Hydrangeas 八重額紫陽花（ヤエガクアジサイ）

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Double-sepaled lacecap hydrangeas are different from usual (single-petaled) ones. They're more gorgeous. If you love hydrangeas, read the posts below! 

Red mophead hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Annabelle hydrangea)

Hydrangea macrophylla Ayesha (Popcorn Hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Colorful tea of heaven (Hydrangea serrata)

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

2026/5/26

White Hydrangea 白い紫陽花

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These are white hydrangeas in my neighborhood. They're pale/lime green before turning white. 

2026/5/28

Spotted Bellflower (Campanula Punctata) ホタルブクロ（蛍袋）

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The spotted bellflower (Campanula punctata) is native to Japan, Korea, China, and Siberia and can be found across Japan. The plant produces white and pale purple flowers from June to July. Its Japanese name is "hotaru bukuro," which translates into "firefly pouch bag," because children in Japan used to play with the flowers by putting fireflies into them. A firefly in a spotted bellflower must have been so beautiful although it must have been a horrifying experience for claustrophobic fireflies😱.   

2025/5/21