These are amelanchier Canadensis or Juneberry although it's still May🍒!!
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| Amelanchier Canadensis 亜米利加采振木 |
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| End of May 5月末 |
Hydrangea Arborescens 'Annabelle' (Annabelle Hydrangea) 紫陽花 アナベル
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They are hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' or Annabelle hydrangeas. They change the color from lime green to white as shown in the photos below.
They are hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' or Annabelle hydrangeas. They change the color from lime green to white as shown in the photos below.
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| Lime green in the beginning 最初は緑 |
Mophead Hydrangeas in Pink, Blue, and Purple 丸い紫陽花 - ピンク、青、紫
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The rainy season has come earlier than usual in most parts of Japan, but not in Tokyo yet, which made me worried about whether we'd have sufficient water in summer. I did some research and was relieved! The rainy season generally starts early June in Tokyo, which means that it's too early to be worried about water supply in summer and we still have about a week to go to enjoy these pink, blue and purple mophead hydrangeas on sunny days before the notoriously humid season starts! I hope you enjoy the photos of these beautiful hydrangeas below!
The rainy season has come earlier than usual in most parts of Japan, but not in Tokyo yet, which made me worried about whether we'd have sufficient water in summer. I did some research and was relieved! The rainy season generally starts early June in Tokyo, which means that it's too early to be worried about water supply in summer and we still have about a week to go to enjoy these pink, blue and purple mophead hydrangeas on sunny days before the notoriously humid season starts! I hope you enjoy the photos of these beautiful hydrangeas below!
Hydrangea Macrophylla 'White Diamond' 紫陽花「ホワイト・ダイアモンド」
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This hydrangea is so white as indicated by the name "White Diamond"!
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| Hydrangea macrophylla 'White Diamond' 紫陽花 ホワイトダイヤモンド |
Eriobotrya Japonica (Loquat) 枇杷（ビワ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are Eriobotrya japonica or loquat fruits I watched carefully for two weeks wondering whether to eat or not until yesterday...
These are Eriobotrya japonica or loquat fruits I watched carefully for two weeks wondering whether to eat or not until yesterday...
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| Eriobotrya japonica 枇杷 |
Hydrangea Macrophylla F. Normalis (Lacecap Hydrangea) - No.2 額紫陽花（ガクアジサイ）No.2
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The rainy season has come earlier than usual in most parts of Japan (luckily not in Tokyo yet!), and that means the hydrangea season has also come. This is hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis or lacecap hydrangea in blue/purple and white. How beautiful the tiny colorful flowers surrounded by the sepals are! They look like dots of pointillism!
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| Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis 額紫陽花 |
Passiflora Caerulea (Blue Passionflower) 時計草（トケイソウ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is passiflora caerulea or blue passionflower. Last year I was about to believe that the flower was a gingko flower because of the reason you can see in the second to fourth photos....
This is passiflora caerulea or blue passionflower. Last year I was about to believe that the flower was a gingko flower because of the reason you can see in the second to fourth photos....
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| Passiflora caerulea 時計草 |
Red Mophead Hydrangea 真っ赤な紫陽花
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
How beautiful they are!! I found these red hydrangeas in my neighborhood. I love usual pink, blue and purple hydrangeas, but especially red ones for not only that color but also the color combination of the red sepals (yes, they're not petals!) and the pale blue/gray center of these sepals against the deep green leaves!
This is the third post of a series about hydrangeas this year. If you're interested in other hydrangeas, read the following:
Hydrangea Macrophylla F. Normalis (Lacecap Hydrangea) - No.1 額紫陽花（ガクアジサイ）No.1
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The rainy season has come earlier than usual in most parts of Japan (luckily not in Tokyo yet!), and that means the hydrangea season has also come. This is hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis or lacecap hydrangea. How beautiful the tiny colorful flowers surrounded by the sepals are!
The rainy season has come earlier than usual in most parts of Japan (luckily not in Tokyo yet!), and that means the hydrangea season has also come. This is hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis or lacecap hydrangea. How beautiful the tiny colorful flowers surrounded by the sepals are!
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| Hydrangea macrophylla from above 額紫陽花（上から） |
Carpinus Japonica (Japanese Hornbeam) 熊四手（クマシデ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a carpinus japonica or Japanese hornbeam flower. Didn't you think that it was a green(?) pine cone or common hop? I did😅..
This is a carpinus japonica or Japanese hornbeam flower. Didn't you think that it was a green(?) pine cone or common hop? I did😅..
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| Carpinus japonica 熊四手 |
Saxifraga Stolonifera (Creeping Saxifrage) 雪の下（ユキノシタ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is saxifraga stolonifera or more commonly creeping saxifrage. I first thought that parts of the three petals were gone, but I was mistaken. The flowers are just what they should be, i.e., three small petals and two big ones, which, when combined, looks like a samurai wearing a kamishimo or an old ceremonial dress.
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| Saxifraga stolonifera 雪の下 |
Hydrangea Paniculata (Panicled Hydrangea) 糊空木（ノリウツギ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The rainy season has come in Japan, meaning the hydrangea season, too. This is hydrangea paniculata or commonly panicled hydrangea. It looks like oakleaf hydrangea, but the color is slightly different, i.e., panicled hydrangea is creamy white while oakleaf hydrangea is greenish white.
The rainy season has come in Japan, meaning the hydrangea season, too. This is hydrangea paniculata or commonly panicled hydrangea. It looks like oakleaf hydrangea, but the color is slightly different, i.e., panicled hydrangea is creamy white while oakleaf hydrangea is greenish white.
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| Hydrangea paniculata 糊空木 |
White Cymbalaria Muralis (Ivy-Leaved Toadflax) 白花蔦葉海蘭（シロバナツタバウンラン）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is cymbalaria muralis, with a common name ivy-leaved toadflax. It was the second ivy-leaved toadflax after the purple one I saw in April in my neighborhood.
This is cymbalaria muralis, with a common name ivy-leaved toadflax. It was the second ivy-leaved toadflax after the purple one I saw in April in my neighborhood.
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| White cymbalaria muralis 白花蔦葉海蘭 |
Ilex Pedunculosa (Longstalk Holly) 戦（ソヨゴ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is ilex pedunculosa or more commonly longstalk holly. The flower is about 1 cm in diameter, so tiny and cawaii!!
This is ilex pedunculosa or more commonly longstalk holly. The flower is about 1 cm in diameter, so tiny and cawaii!!
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| Ilex pedunculosa 戦の花（読み方分かりますか） |
Sisyrinchium Rosulatum (Annual Blue-Eyed Grass) 庭石菖（ニワゼキショウ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is sisyrinchium rosulatum or annual blue-eyed grass in two colors. They're so small that I didn't notice them at first.
This is sisyrinchium rosulatum or annual blue-eyed grass in two colors. They're so small that I didn't notice them at first.
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| Sisyrinchium rosulatum 庭石菖 |
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| Annual blue-eyed grass ニワゼキショウ |
Nigella Damascena (Love-In-A-Mist) 黒種草（ニゲラ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I love nigella damascena, or more commonly devil-in-a-bush or love-in-a-mist for its hairiness😆
I love nigella damascena, or more commonly devil-in-a-bush or love-in-a-mist for its hairiness😆
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| Blue nigella from above ニゲラ（上から） |
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| From the side - The hair is too long 髭伸び過ぎ（横から） |
Houttuynia Cordata (Fish mint) 蕺草（ドクダミ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The season of one of my favorite plants has come. This is houttuynia cordata, also known as fish mint or chameleon plant. It's fish mint because the leaf has a fishy taste and chameleon plant because it provides colorful ground cover like a chameleon, though the plants in my neighborhood are all white, green and a little red, which is beautiful but not that colorful...
The season of one of my favorite plants has come. This is houttuynia cordata, also known as fish mint or chameleon plant. It's fish mint because the leaf has a fishy taste and chameleon plant because it provides colorful ground cover like a chameleon, though the plants in my neighborhood are all white, green and a little red, which is beautiful but not that colorful...
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| Fish mint after the rain 雨上がりのドクダミ |
Prunus Tomentosa (Nanking Cherry) 英桃（ユスラウメ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are very red and cute, and look fresh and delicious!! They are fruits of prunus tomentosa or Nanking cherry.
These are very red and cute, and look fresh and delicious!! They are fruits of prunus tomentosa or Nanking cherry.
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| Prunus tomentosa fruits after the rain 雨上がりの英桃の実 |
Netsuke - Demon Mask 根付「鬼面牙彫根付」
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a netsuke in the shape of a demon mask carved from ivory I saw late March in Tokyo National Museum. On April 25, Japan declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and nearby areas, so since then the museum has been closed. The 3 cm long sculpture is a gift from Seinosuke Go, and no mention was made of the sculptor.
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| A netsuke "Demon mask" 鬼面牙彫根付 |
Briza Maxima (Big Quaking Grass) 小判草（コバンソウ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They are spikelets of briza maxima or big quaking grass. The plant is called "Oval gold coin plant" in Japanese and can be seen anywhere not only in my neighborhood, but also around the Imperial Palace.
They are spikelets of briza maxima or big quaking grass. The plant is called "Oval gold coin plant" in Japanese and can be seen anywhere not only in my neighborhood, but also around the Imperial Palace.
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| Briza maxima in my neighborhood 近所の小判草 |
Kalmia Latifolia (Mountain Laurel) 亜米利加石楠花（アメリカシャクナゲ、カルミア）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is kalmia latifolia, commonly called mountain laurel. The flowers look like parasols while the buds like konpeito, i.e., tiny star-shaped Japanese sugar candies, which are Pokémon Nebby's favorite food😜!
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| Kalmia latifolia 亜米利加石楠花 |
Linum Usitatissimum (Common Flax) 亜麻（ペレニアルフラックス）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is linum usitatissimum, or common flax or perennial flax. The purple blue color against the green leaves is so beautiful.
This is linum usitatissimum, or common flax or perennial flax. The purple blue color against the green leaves is so beautiful.
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| Linum usitatissimum 亜麻 |
Yellow Freesia フリージア
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Two freesias stuck out from cymbalaria muralis or ivy-leaved toadflax flowers. The contrast between the yellow freesias and the purple toadflax against the toadflax's deep green leaves caught my eye.
Two freesias stuck out from cymbalaria muralis or ivy-leaved toadflax flowers. The contrast between the yellow freesias and the purple toadflax against the toadflax's deep green leaves caught my eye.
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| Freesia フリージア |
Silene Vulgaris (Bladder Campion) 白玉草（シラタマソウ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is silene vulgaris or bladder campion, one of my favorite plants!
This is silene vulgaris or bladder campion, one of my favorite plants!
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| Silene vulgaris 白玉草 |
Maple Samara 楓（かえで）の翼果
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This looks like Doraemon's Hopter, or a bamboo copter or bamboo dragonfly, doesn't it? This is a maple samara (i.e., maple tree fruit). So cute!!
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| A maple samara 楓の翼果 |
Callistemon (Red Bottlebrush) ブラシの木
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Find the odd one out!!
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| 1 |
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| 2 |
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| 3 |
Tradescantia Fluminensis (Small-Leaf Spiderwort) 常盤露草（トキワツユクサ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They're tradescantia fluminensis or commonly small-leaf spiderwort flowers. Had they not been sticking out of bushes, I wouldn't have noticed such pretty flowers. The three white petals and six stamens against the deep green leaves are so beautiful!!
They're tradescantia fluminensis or commonly small-leaf spiderwort flowers. Had they not been sticking out of bushes, I wouldn't have noticed such pretty flowers. The three white petals and six stamens against the deep green leaves are so beautiful!!
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| Tradescantia fluminensis 常盤露草 |
Red and White Freesia Laxa (Flowering Grass) 赤と白の姫檜扇 （ヒメヒオウギ）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These flowers may be classified as weeds given the place where I found them, but they're too pretty to call them as such. They're freesia laxa or flowering grass. Freesia laxa is originally an ornamental plant, but now grows everywhere in Japan like weeds.
These flowers may be classified as weeds given the place where I found them, but they're too pretty to call them as such. They're freesia laxa or flowering grass. Freesia laxa is originally an ornamental plant, but now grows everywhere in Japan like weeds.
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| Red freesia laxa 赤い姫檜扇 |
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| White freesia laxa 白い姫檜扇 |
Evil😈 Geranium Carolinianum (Carolina Cranesbill).... 「黒😈」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。
Everyone has evil in them, and that's why evil always intrigues me. But when writing about geranium carolinianum (Carolina cranesbill) a week ago, I didn't know that the flower also had evil. Please take a look at these photos and face up to your inner evil😁
Everyone has evil in them, and that's why evil always intrigues me. But when writing about geranium carolinianum (Carolina cranesbill) a week ago, I didn't know that the flower also had evil. Please take a look at these photos and face up to your inner evil😁
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| "Good" geranium carolinianum 「良い子」の亜米利加風露 |
Japanese Plums 梅の実
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I've seen many times Japanese plums in photos, on the internet, or in stores, but it was the first time for me to see such many plums on a tree in person. Their fresh green color and round shape are so pretty!!
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| Japanese apricot plums 梅の実 |
Hyacinthoides Hispanica (Spanish Bluebell) 釣鐘水仙（スパニッシュ・ブルーベル）
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
They are hyacinthoides hispanica or Spanish bluebells. The name indicates the flowers should be blue, but they can be in different colors. The pale pink and pale purple bluebells are so pretty😊
They are hyacinthoides hispanica or Spanish bluebells. The name indicates the flowers should be blue, but they can be in different colors. The pale pink and pale purple bluebells are so pretty😊
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| Pink hyacinthoides hispanica ピンクの釣鐘水仙 |
Three Types of Weigela 箱根空木、普通の大紅空木、斑入り大紅空木
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are three types of weigela in my neighborhood. I saw weigela coraeensis last year, but didn't know about the other two:
These are three types of weigela in my neighborhood. I saw weigela coraeensis last year, but didn't know about the other two:
1. Weigela coraeensis
I like this weigela the best because of the glossier color than the other two. Weigela coraeensis changes the color from white to pale pink, then to reddish purple, which is why the flower means "fickleness" in the Japanese floriography.
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| Weigela coraeensis 箱根空木 |
Bearded Iris in Four Colors ジャーマンアイリス
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I don't know why, but I don't like irises that much. But with such beautifully colorful bearded irises standing straight in front of me, I couldn't help but approach them to take photos of them.
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| Bearded iris ジャーマンアイリス |