Lesser Quaking-Grass (Briza Minor) ヒメコバンソウ（姫小判草）

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Lesser quaking-grass (Briza minor) is native to Europe and came to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). The plant produces spikelets form April to June, which are very tiny and cute but are so small that you wouldn't normally notice them. According to the internet, the spikelets produce a rattling sound when shaken or when wind passes through them. Next time I find them, I'll shake them, of course, gently. 

2026/4/17

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides Hispanica) ツリガネズイセン（釣鐘水仙）

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Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is native to Spain, Portugal, and North West Africa, coming to Japan in around 1910, and can now be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and blue flowers from spring to early summer in Japan. Spanish bluebell is "tsurigane suisen" in Japanese, which translates to "bell daffodil" because of the bell shaped flowers resembling daffodils although Spanish bluebells are not daffodils. They're in the Asparagaceae family while daffodils are in the Amaryllidaceae family. 

2026/4/17

Japanese Red Maple (Acer Pycnanthum) ハナノキ（花之木）

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Japanese red maple trees (Acer pycnanthum) are native to Japan. Their Japanese name is "hananoki," translating to "flower tree," which is too general, isn't it? The tree is named as such after its deep red flowers standing out because they're produced before green leaves are in early spring when no other flowers are seen. This makes sense. I first found the flowers because the red color stood out in early March.  

2026/4/17

2026/3/29

White Ajuga 白のアジュガ

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These are WHITE ajuga. I've seen purple and pink ajuga but it's my first time to see white ones.

2026/4/17

Ring-Cupped Oak (Quercus Glauca) アラカシ（粗樫）

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Ring-cupped oak or Japanese blue oak trees (Quercus glauca) are native to Asia and can be found across Japan. They produce acorns from October to November and the acorns are not only fed on by insects and birds but were eaten by people as a famine food in Japan. Oak trees are usually known for the acorns but ring-cupped oak trees produce beautiful cylindrical flowers and red shoots, which look like the heads of Pteranodon to me (scroll down), from April to May.

2026/4/15

Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) イチョウ（銀杏）

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Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is native to China but can now be found across Japan. The tree, a gymnosperm plant, has male and female trees. The male trees have catkin like male flowers from April to May, which produce pollen, while the female trees have female flowers also from April to May and fruits from September to November. 

2024/11/30

2025/11/1

Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum) サツキ

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Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and red flowers from April to June in Japan. As azalea usually flowers in dense masses, they attract not only attention but also tourists and fee in some parks! 

2026/4/15

Japan categorizes azalea broadly into three types as follows:

Japanese Snowball Bush (Viburnum Plicatum Var. Plicatum F. Plicatum) オオデマリ（大手毬）

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The Japanese snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum f. plicatum) is native to, and can be found across, Japan. The bush generally produces flowers from April to June, which are green and like broccoli when in bud and then turn snow white when open.

2023/4/21

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides) メタセコイア

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Some plants are aesthetically pleasing throughout the year and dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are one of them. In autumn, their leaves create a gorgeous view (scroll down) while from spring to summer, the leaves create a magnificent, fresh green view and the small deep green cones make me chuckle with their matcha chocolate like appearance. 

2026/4/15

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus Acutissima) クヌギ（櫟）

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Sawtooth oak trees (Quercus acutissima) are native to North East Asia and can be found across Japan. The trees are known for their acorns but the flowers, produced from April to May, are beautiful and remind me of a "noren" or bead curtain hung at the entrance of many izakaya restaurants in Japan😆.     

2026/4/1

Blueberry ブルーベリー

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Blueberry is native to North America but can now be found across Japan, producing flowers from April to May and fruits from early June to early September in Japan. Surprisingly, Tokyo is the largest producer of blueberries in Japan. 

2026/4/15