27 Types of Winter Peonies in Tokyo 冬の上野ぼたん苑

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

At the peony garden within the Ueno Park in Ueno Tokyo, I found the 27 types of peonies listed in the table below.

Seidai 聖代	Kao 花王	Gyoku tenshu 玉天集
Renkaku 連鶴	Shimadaijin 島大臣	Shimanishiki 島錦
Jitsugetsu nishiki 日月錦	Renown	Shima no fuji 島の藤
Yachiyo tsubaki 八千代椿	Kamata fuji 鎌田藤	Fuji no kaori 藤の香
Okan (黄冠) or High noon	Higurashi 日暮	Daikikou 大喜紅
Yukigasane 雪重	Taiyo 太陽	Muramatsu no yuki 村松の雪
Muramatsu zakura 村松桜	Kinkaku 金閣	Mikuni no akebono 御国の曙
Mikuni no hata 御国の旗	Shikoden 柴紅殿	Hoki 芳紀
Kokuryu nishiki 黒龍錦	Kinkaden 金華殿	Gekkeikan 月桂冠

Seidai 聖代

Kao 花王

Gyoku tenshu 玉天集

Renkaku 連鶴

Shimadaijin 島大臣

Shimanishiki 島錦

Jitsugetsu nishiki 日月錦

Renown

Shima no fuji 島の藤

Yachiyo tsubaki 八千代椿

Kamata fuji 鎌田藤

Fuji no kaori 藤の香

Okan (黄冠) or High noon
So fragrant!

Higurashi 日暮

Daikikou 大喜紅

Yukigasane 雪重

Taiyo 太陽

Muramatsu no yuki 村松の雪

Muramatsu zakura 村松桜

Kinkaku 金閣

Mikuni no akebono 御国の曙 

Mikuni no hata 御国の旗

Shikoden 柴紅殿

Hoki 芳紀

Kokuryu nishiki 黒龍錦

Kinkaden 金華殿

Gekkeikan 月桂冠

I had seen peonies many times, but I had not recognized them as peonies. For the first time in my life, I looked at these flowers, being clearly aware that these gorgeous flowers were peonies... I also learned the following things about peonies:

- Their colors range from white, yellow, pink, orange, red and purple to their mixture.
- High noon, a type of yellow peonies, is so fragrant, sweet and lemon scented. 
- Some peonies bloom twice a year, i.e., one in spring and again in winter.

Almost all peonies were in full bloom when I went to the park this week. If you are now in Tokyo, you should definitely visit there!

The Peony Garden is within the Ueno Park, which is 2-minute walk from Ueno station on JR line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and 1-minute walk from Keiseiueno station on Keisei Line.

If you like flowers, read my another blog about colorful and beautiful fuchsias I enjoyed at Kyoto Botanical Garden last April!!

上野のぼたん苑に行きました。芝木好子氏のエッセイに書いてあったので何気なく行ったのですがほぼ満開。本当にきれいでした。黄冠（黄色の牡丹）の香しさにもびっくり！こんなにも花を堪能したのは、去年の京都府立植物園のフクシア以来のこと。お時間あれば是非行ってみてください！