Aesculus × Carnea (Red Horse-Chestnut) 紅花栃の木（ベニバナトチノキ）

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

A week ago, I had to go through Ginza, one of the most renowned commercial districts in Tokyo, and unexpectedly found such a beautiful flower high up on a tree. This is aesculus x carnea or red horse-chestnut.

Aesculus x carnea ベニバナトチノキ

Apple Flowers リンゴの花

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

I first thought that they were belated cherry or apricot blossoms, but they weren't. They're apple🍎 flowers!  

Apple flowers リンゴの花

Hassaku Orange Tree Flowers 八朔の花

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

It smelled good there, like Daphne, but the Daphne season was over more than a month ago. So, I walked around and found the source. Hassaku orange flowers were in bloom, emitting a citrus aroma so strongly that I smelled it through a mask. After checking nobody was around me, I took off the mask for the first time in more than a year outside and breathed deeply!😉

Hassaku orange flower and bud 八朔の花

Capsella Bursa-Pastoris (Shepherd's Purse) 薺（ナズナ）

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

This is capsella bursa-pastoris or shepherd's purse. It's so tiny and cawaii! 

Capsella bursa-pastoris 薺

Shepherd's purse ナズナ

Styrax Japonicus (Japanese Snowbell) エゴノキ

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

Many small buds were hanging from trees in my neighborhood. They were cream white and didn't much interest me, but one day the trees started to bloom, and the beautiful white color of the flowers caught my eye. They are styrax japonicus or Japanese snowbell.

  

The flowers hang from the tree 花は木からぶら下がる

Echium Decaisnei エキウム・デカイスネイ

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

Everyone has their preferences but I didn't know insects had, too. These flowers are echium decaisnei. You can see they're very popular among not only hoverflies but ants. 

Echium decaisnei エキウム・デカイスネイ

Glandora Diffusa (Purple Gromwell) 深山蛍葛（ミヤマホタルカズラ）

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

This is glandora diffusa or commonly purple gromwell. The blue and purple flowers against the dark green leaves are beautiful! 

I've taken photos of many plants recently, so sometimes I forget where I took them, like these pictures. There's a good thing, though. The color of the flowers has changed for the last two weeks, i.e., they were purple on April 9 while slightly bluish on April 26! Thanks to my forgetfulness, I was able to enjoy the beauty of gromwell twice😊 

Glandora diffusa on 4/26 is bluish ミヤマホタルカズラ - 4月26日は青い

Purple gromwell on 4/9 is purplish 深山蛍葛 - 4月9日はもっと紫

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

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

This is trifolium dubium or lesser trefoil. 

Lesser trefoil with cucumber herb 胡瓜草と一緒に

Geranium Carolinianum (Carolina Cranesbill) 亜米利加風露（アメリカフウロ）

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

This is another tiny and cawaii plant, i.e., geranium carolinianum or commonly Carolina cranesbill.

Geranium carolinianum 亜米利加風露

Double Flowered Clematis 八重咲きのクレマチス

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The pale purple color caught my eye. This is double-flowered clematis. 

Clematis クレマチス

Oxalis Debilis (Pink Woodsorrel) 紫酢漿草

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

This is oxalis debilis or commonly pink woodsorrel, the fourth woodsorrel I've found in my neighborhood following:

• oxalis stricta (yellow woodsorrel);
• oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel); and
• oxalis corniculata forma rubrifolia (creeping red woodsorrel).

Oxalis debilis 紫酢漿草

Viburnum Plicatum (Japanese Snowball) 大手毬（オオデマリ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I first thought that they were "silly" hydrangeas flowering too early. I took many pictures of them, went home and started writing about them, then I found it. It wasn't them but me who was silly. They aren't hydrangeas but viburnum plicatum or Japanese snowball!

Viburnum plicatum 大手毬

Japanese snowball オオデマリ

Bletilla Striata (Hyacinth Orchid) 紫蘭（シラン）

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

This is bletilla striata, or commonly hyacinth orchid or Chinese ground orchid in the garden of the Parliamentary Museum in Tokyo and in my neighborhood. The pinkish purple against the green leaves is so beautiful. 

Bletilla striata in the Parliamentary Museum 憲政記念館の紫蘭

Is Wild Strawberry Green Because the "Little Lady" Works From Home? 野イチゴが熟してないのは「おばあさん」のせい？

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

This is the only red wild strawberry I could find in my neighborhood...

Wild strawberry 野イチゴ

Trigonotis Peduncularis 胡瓜草（キュウリグサ）

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

Finally, I was able to see this tiny flower, trigonotis peduncularis or cucumber herb. 

Trigonotis peduncularis 胡瓜草

Cucumber herb isn't forget-me-not 勿忘草ではありません

Cornus Florida (Flowering Dogwood) 花水木（ハナミズキ）

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

They are cornus florida or dogwood flowers in red, white, cream white and yellowish green.

 Cornus florida 花水木

Flowering dogwood ハナミズキ

Oxalis Corniculata (Creeping Woodsorrel) and Oxalis Corniculata Forma Rubrifolia (Creeping Red Woodsorrel) 酢漿草（カタバミ）と赤酢漿草

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

I wrote about oxalis or wood sorrels a few days ago. Then after that, I found this oxalis corniculata or creeping woodsorrel, which are also conspicuous for the bright yellow color, but much smaller than usual wood sorrels. And then I found another oxalis, i.e., oxalis corniculata forma rubrifolia or creeping red woodsorrel (see the third photo), whose petals are also bright yellow but leaves are dark red. 

Oxalis corniculata 酢漿草

Parliamentary Museum Has Azalea and Cherry 憲政記念館のツツジと桜

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

I saw people coming out of a building across the street near the National Diet Building. I also saw trees with white flowers and green leaves inside the premises. Naturally I got closer to it, finding that that is the Parliamentary Museum.    

Miniature Japanese national diet building 国会議事堂ミニチュア

Dandelion and Hoverfly タンポポとアブ

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

I took a walk around the Japanese National Diet a couple of days ago, finding a dandelion and a hoverfly on it.

A dandelion and a hoverfly タンポポとアブ

Hie Jinja Shrine 赤坂日枝神社

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

Japan lifted the state of emergency on March 21 but has implemented measures for preventing the spread of Covid-19 effective as of April 12. This means that nothing has changed since this January for people in Tokyo. They're no longer under the state of emergency but are still strongly urged to stay at home unless for essential reasons. So, last Saturday (April 10), i.e., after the lifting of the state of emergency and immediately before the measures coming into force, I went to Hie Jinja shrine in Akasaka, Tokyo. 

Sanno torii gate 山王鳥居

Silene Gallica (Common Catchfly) 白花マンテマ

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

This is silene gallica or common catchfly. The flower is so tiny, about 1 cm in diameter!!

Silene gallica 白花マンテマ

Netsuke "Cut Piece: Apple" 根付「端材リンゴ」

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

Do you know how to be fit and healthy? That's easy! Eat an apple (or apple slices) every day with peel and core like this netsuke "Cut Piece: Apple" made by Akira Kuroiwa from ivory, lacquer, and gold!!  

"Cut Piece: Apple" Akira Kuroiwa, ivory, lacquer and gold
「端材リンゴ」黒岩明 象牙、漆、金

Oxalis Stricta (Yellow Woodsorrel) オキザリス

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

I go out for a walk everyday at around 6 a.m., so some flowers are still asleep. That day, I went out at around noon, finding another face of oxalis stricta or yellow woodsorrels.

Oxalis stricta オキザリス

Nuttallanthus Canadensis (Blue Toadflax) 松葉雲蘭（マツバウンラン）

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

This is nuttallanthus canadensis or blue toadflax. Although much taller, the flower looks like cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax) I wrote several days ago! Both are so tiny, but each creating a complete world😊

Nuttallanthus canadensis 松葉海蘭

Green/Red Cherry (Ukon) Blossoms ウコンは赤い！

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I usually write one post about one flower, but the color change of Ukon blossoms from yellow to the green/pink as shown in the photos below is too beautiful to be disregarded! 

Homemade Candied Pomelo Peel パール柑のピール作りました

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

The strips of candied pomelo peel I've just made are now sunbathing to be sprinkled with sugar and eaten by a hungry ogre in my house....👾

Candied pomelo peel パール柑のピール

Unidentified Flower and An Ant 名前の分からない花とアリ

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

I couldn't find what the flower was, but wasn't able to throw away pictures of the flowers because of the ant!! Can you see it busy having lunch? The bug season has come😉!

Ant drinking nectar 蜜を吸うアリ

Kerria Japonica Ordinary, 'Pleniflora' and 'Variegata' 山吹（ヤマブキ）- 一重、八重、斑入り

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

A few days ago, I was excited to find kerria japonica or Japanese kerria, but today I was more excited because I found beside the ordinary Japanese kerria, kerria japonica ‘Variegata’ and kerria japonica 'Pleniflora.'

Ordinary kerria japonica 山吹

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' is double-flowered 八重咲きの黄色

Prunus Spachiana (Weeping Cherry) 枝垂桜（シダレザクラ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These trees are prunus spachiana or weeping cherry in my neighborhood. I waited for them to fully bloom for nearly a month, but that seems unlikely.

Cerasus Jamasakura (Mountain Cherry) 山桜（ヤマザクラ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is cerasus jamasakura var. jamasakura or mountain cherry. To tell you the truth, I can't tell this cherry from Prunus lannesiana 'Sekiyama' (Kanzan cherry) or other similar cherry flowers. I googled to learn about their differences but only found that mountain cherry is wild cherry while sato cherry being cultivars of mountain cherry for cherry blossom viewing. Without a tree tag, I would have assumed this was Kanzan cherry.  

Cerasus jamasakura var. jamasakura 山桜

Narcissus Cheerfulness 八重咲き水仙 チアフルネス

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

I was walking as usual on the street and felt something different. Several daffodils are double-flowered. They are narcissus cheerfulness.  

Narcissus cheerfulness 水仙 チアフルネス

Cymbalaria Muralis (Ivy-Leaved Toadflax) 蔦葉海蘭（ツタバウンラン）

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

These 1 cm long flowers are cymbalaria muralis or more commonly ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy, coliseum ivy, Oxford ivy, mother of thousands, pennywort, or wandering sailor. Wow, too many names for such tiny flowers!

Cymbalaria Muralis 蔦葉海蘭

Prunus Lannesiana 'Sekiyama' (Kanzan Cherry) 関山（カンザン）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I thought the cherry blossom season was over, but look at these beautiful pink blossoms! They are prunus lannesiana cv. Sekiyama or Kanzan cherry.

Prunus lannesiana cv. Sekiyama 関山

Netsuke "Catnap" 根付「うたたね」

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

Are you sleepy? Maybe that's because it's spring. If you're sleepy only when working, "Giddy Up!"

"Catnap" by Gyokusen Suzuki, ivory

Orychophragmus Violaceus (Chinese Violet Cress) 大紫羅欄花（オオアラセイトウ）

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

Everyone in Tokyo National Museum looked up, appreciating the beauty of cherry blossoms, while only I looked down because all my attention was on these violet blue flowers. They are orychophragmus violaceus or Chinese violet cress. So pretty!!

Orychophragmus violaceus 大紫羅欄花

Yellow Cherry😲 (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Grandiflora’ A. Wagner) 黄緑の桜😲「ウコン」

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I couldn't believe my eyes😲! Do you know that there are yellowish green cherry blossoms? I saw them! In my neighborhood! They are Ukon cherry blossoms (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Grandiflora’ A. Wagner).

Weeping Yoshino Cherry - Prunus Lannesiana Wilson 'Sendai Shidare' 吉野枝垂れ桜

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

This is prunus lannesiana Wilson 'Sendai shidare' or Yoshino weeping cherry at Tokyo National Museum entrance.  

Prunus lannesiana Wilson 'Sendai shidare' 吉野枝垂れ

Whitish pink blossoms are so beautiful! 薄桜色がきれい！ 

Ipheion Uniflorum (Springstar) 花韮（ハナニラ）

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

I wrote about ipheion uniflorum or springstar about a month ago. The plant is everywhere around this time of the year and isn't so special. But who can ignore such many beautiful bluish purple springstar flowers under azaleas and cherry blossoms? 

Blue ipheion uniflorum flowers 青い花韮