Hi! I'm Kei Narujima. This is a blog about flowers🌼 and bugs🐛 (and sometimes netsuke, i.e., miniature sculpture) that make you smile😊 (or so I hope)!! こんにちは。花や虫(そして時々根付)などについて書いてます😊。税務英語については https://zeimueigo.blogspot.com/ に移行しました。
Ipomoea hederacea (Ivy-Leaved Morning Glory) and Ipomoea Indica (Blue Dawn Flower) 琉球朝顔とアメリカアサガオ
These are morning glories. The smaller pale blue ones are ipomoea hederacea or more commonly ivy-leaved morning glory and the larger purple ones are ipomoea indica or commonly blue dawn flower. Both morning glories are in the same place, making me realize that they're both pretty but in a different way.
In Japanese, ivy-leaved morning glory is called "American morning glory" and blue dawn flower "Ryukyu morning glory." Ryukyu is the name of the place currently called "Okinawa" prefecture, which accounts for only 0.6% of total land area in Japan but has 70% of US military bases and facilities in Japan. This is unfair, a terrible legacy of WW2 and the result of ongoing discrimination against Okinawans. Okinawa and the US both mean a lot to me. Naturally I love both morning glories.
Plumbago Auriculata (Blue Plumbago) 瑠璃茉莉(ルリマツリ)
This is plumbago auriculata, or more commonly cape leadwort or blue plumbago. The pale violet flowers are so beautiful!!
It's been very hot and humid in Japan (i.e., typical Japanese summer!), and I don't see almost no flowers naturally growing these days in my neighborhood. I thought that most flowers were dead because of the harsh weather and that I'd run out of photos to post on this blog when I found a garden nearby overflowing with these blue plumbago flowers (see the 2nd photo!). The pale blue flowers and green leaves were so beautiful and refreshing😊
Netsuke "Ghost With Flowing" 根付「髪の長い幽霊」
This 10 cm sculpture is netsuke "Ghost with flowing" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was made by Michael Birch from ivory and rhinoceros horn. A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono. (Source: Lexico)
In Japan, ghosts are believed to be dead people who can't go to either heaven or hell because of strong anger and grudges against someone, wandering around to curse the person to death. Japanese people strongly believed such ghost's power, and Michizane Sugawara (845 - 903) is one such example. Michizane was a Japanese scholar, poet, and politician in the Heian Period, accused of favoring some prince over the crown prince as the main successor to the emperor's throne, resulting in being demoted to a minor official post in a remote place, where he and his entire family were banished, dying in exile.
Netsuke "Favorite Food" 根付「好物」
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This 4 cm wooden sculpture is netsuke "Favorite Food" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Seiho Azuma from boxwood. A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono. (Source: Lexico)
So here is my question. What are these monkeys, especially baby monkeys, wanting? I don't see bananas or any other food around the monkeys...
I have no favorite food, but I've been wanting to eat out at sushi, soba, or yakitori restaurant with good sake or wine without worrying about who cooks or dishwashes, or COVID-19.... The number of positive cases in Tokyo has hit a record high of 2,848 on July 27, and that number is much smaller than other countries but the healthcare system has already collapsed in Japan, resulting in many lying on bed at home without receiving any treatment. Abandoning many COVID patients while Olympic Games are being held as if nothing were happening is surrealistically nightmarish.
If you love netsuke, read the posts listed under the photos!
"Favorite food," Seiho Azuma, boxwood 「好物」東声方 黄楊 |
Double Hibiscus Syriacus (Rose of Sharon) 八重の木槿(ムクゲ)
In Korea, rose of Sharon is called mugunghwa, which is similar to its Japanese name "mukuge," and it's the flower of South Korea. In Japan, it's also the flower of several municipalities and used in tea ceremonies.
Noh Mask "Ootobide" 能面「大飛出」
This is a noh mask "Ootobide" on show at Tokyo National Museum. The mask, made in the 17th or 18th century, has a terrifying expression and is used for the roles of deities, such as Gods of Thunder.
It's said that this is the facial expression of the vengeful ghost of Michizane Sugawara (845 - 903) when he was spitting out pomegranates in anger. Michizane was a scholar, poet, and politician in the Heian Period, but accused of favoring some prince over the crown prince as the main successor to the emperor's throne, resulting in being demoted to a minor official post at Dazaifu in the current Kyushu area, where he and his entire family were banished, dying in exile. His title was restored posthumously, however, because of plagues, droughts, and deaths of his political enemies after his death, so today, he's revered as the god of learning and enshrined as such in many temples, including Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka prefecture and Yushima Tenjin in Tokyo.
Netsuke "Hibernation" 根付「冬眠」
This 3 cm sculpture is netsuke "Hibernation" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Godo Abe from stag antler.
A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono. (Source: Lexico)
Red, White and Pink Lagerstroemia Indica (Crape Myrtle) 赤白ピンクの百日紅(サルスベリ)
The flowering season of lagerstroemia indica or crape myrtle has come in Japan. Crape myrtle is various in colors and sizes. The flowers in my neighborhood are red, white and pink. Some trees are just one meter tall while others five meter tall.
Callicarpa Dichotoma (Early Amethyst) 小紫(コムラサキ)
This is callicarpa dichotoma or more commonly purple beautyberry or early amethyst. Small masses of tiny pale pink flowers with long yellow stamens are so pretty!
Purple Paederia Foetida (Skunk Vine) 紫の屁糞葛(ヘクソカズラ)
I've written about paederia foetida at least twice because I love this tiny plant even though it's smelly. (Its another more common name is "skunk vine" and the Japanese name is "fart shxx vine"😝)
Clerodendrum Trichotomum (Harlequin Glorybower) 臭木(クサギ)
These are clerodendrum trichotomum or harlequin glorybower flowers. Two weeks ago, the buds were pale yellow green tinged with red (4th photo), so I didn't expect the buds to turn into such pretty white star shaped flowers.
Triadica Sebifera (Chinese Tallow) 南京櫨(ナンキンハゼ)
What a beautiful green color!!! These are the fruits and flowers (2nd photo) of triadica sebifera or commonly called Chinese tallow. The green is so bright that I stopped to look at them for a while...
Netsuke "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" 百鬼夜行木彫根付
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This 3 cm wooden sculpture is netsuke in the shape of the night parade of one hundred demons. It was carved by Jugyoku in the 19th century, and on show at Tokyo National Museum this March.
Paederia Foetida (Skunk Vine) 屁糞葛(ヘクソカズラ)
Vitex Rotundifolia (Beach Vitex) 浜栲(ハマゴウ)
This is vitex rotundifolia or beach vitex in my neighborhood. The flower looks like ajuga decumbens or catmint, i.e., these flowers are all purple and their shapes are similar. But the leaves are different, i.e., beach vitex leaves are round while those of ajuga decumbens or catmint rounded-toothed.
Elaeocarpus Sylvestris (Woodland Elaeocarpus) ホルトノキ
These are the flowers and buds (4th photo) of elaeocarpus sylvestris or more commonly woodland elaeocarpus tree. The flowers and buds are both tiny, downward facing, and cute!
Hibiscus Hamabo 浜朴(ハマボウ)
This is hibiscus hamabo. The yellow and red contrast is so vivid!!
Netsuke "Gourd Cutter" 瓢切木彫根付
Netsuke "Hagoromo" 根付「羽衣」
Solanum Nigrum (Black Nightshade) 犬酸漿(イヌホオズキ)
Black nightshade is called "Dog bladder cherry" in Japan, which means "USELESS bladder cherry." Dogs are one of the most popular pet animals as well as cats, but in Japanese, the term "dog" means "useless" and "an informant." I looked up why, but didn't find any information....🐶🐕
Netsuke "Animal Trail" 根付「けものみち」
This 3 cm sculpture is netsuke titled "Animal trail" on show at Tokyo National Museum. It was carved from boxwood by Zanmai Onosato. The boar with a monkey on its back is so cute!!
Netsuke "Sneezing Man" 嚏木彫根付
"Bless you!" I said so to this 3 cm sculpture in Tokyo National Museum. This is netsuke in the shape of a sneezing figure, carved by Miwa from wood in the 18th century. At first, the man with a funny face hadn't look sneezing but laughing to me. I'd learned he was sneezing by reading the label.
Netsuke in shape of sneezing figure by Miwa, wood (18th century) 嚏木彫根付(三輪作) |
Two Netsuke "Zhong Kui" 鐘馗の根付2つ
These 3 cm sculptures are both netsuke in the shape of the demon queller Zhong Kui on show at Tokyo National Museum. One was carved by Jugyoku from ivory in the 19th century and the other carved by Ryukei from wood also in the 19th century.
Ardisia Crenata (Christmas Berry) 万両(マンリョウ)
When people in Japan talk about ardisia crenata, they usually talk about the fruit. An ardisia crenata tree with glossy red fruits is often used in tea ceremonies and as decorations for New Year days. So, I didn't know that the tree has such beautiful tiny white buds and flowers or that it has another name "Christmas berry." Ardisia crenata is perfect for not only New Year but Christmas🎍🎄!
Mimela Splendens (Scarab Beetle) 黄金虫(コガネムシ)
I'm not into bugs, but the metallic green of these mimela splendens or scarabaeidae beetles (scarab beetles) caught my eye. I said "they" because I found many, which were sitting still on leaves separately about 10 cm apart. They might be eating breakfast, but I have no idea why so many scarab beetles were there...
Hibiscus Moscheutos (Swamp Rose-Mallow) アメリカ芙蓉(アメリカフヨウ)
Netsuke "The Poet Hitomaro" 人麻呂牙彫根付
This 3 cm ivory sculpture is netsuke in the shape of the poet Hitomaro on show at Tokyo National Museum. It was carved by Mitsuhiro in the 19th century.
東の 野に炎の 立つ見えて かへり見すれば 月傾きぬ
Verbena Officinalis (Common Verbena) 熊葛(クマツヅラ)
This is verbena officinalis or common verbena at Koishikawa Botanical Garden, Tokyo. I presumed that verbena was all groundcover, so this thin and tall one surprised me.
Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) 花薄荷(ハナハッカ・オレガノ)
This is the flower of origanum vulgare or oregano at Koishikawa Botanical Garden, Tokyo. I didn't know that oregano has flowers. This mass of tiny flowers is so pretty but at the same time reminded me of clerodendrum bungei, which is commonly known as rose glory bower (see the 4th and 5th photos), also a mass of tiny flowers.
Hydrangea Changing from White to Blue, Blue Green, and Then Pale Green 白から青、青緑、そして薄緑に変わる紫陽花
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I love flowers for, among others, their color. So, the hydrangea, which has changed its color from white to blue, blue green, and then pale green like the photos below, caught my eye again! Every flower changes their colors, but the color change of this hydrangea is so amazing that I've observed that for more than one month.
If you're interested in hydrangeas of various colors or shapes, read the following posts!
- Hydrangea Paniculata (Panicled Hydrangea) - cone-shaped
- Hydrangea Macrophylla F. Normalis (Lacecap Hydrangea) No.1 - pink and white
- Red Mophead Hydrangea
- Hydrangea Macrophylla F. Normalis (Lacecap Hydrangea) No.2 - blue and white
- Hydrangea Macrophylla 'White Diamond' - white and lime green
- Mophead Hydrangeas in Pink, Blue, and Purple
- Hydrangea Arborescens 'Annabelle' (Annabelle Hydrangea) - lime green/white
- Hydrangea Quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) - cone shaped, too
- Lacecap Hydrangea No.3 - Three Pink Colors
- Hydrangea Changing from White to Blue
- Two-Toned Mophead Hydrangeas - two-toned petals with a different colored edge
- Ayesha Bigleaf Hydrangea (Popcorn Hydrangea)
- Hydrangea Changing from White to Blue Then Green
July 3 7月3日 |
Phryma Leptostachya (Lopseed) 蠅毒草(ハエドクソウ)
This is phryma leptostachya or lopseed I saw in the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, Tokyo. The stem is so thin, the flower so tiny, and the color contrast between the white and the purple is so pretty!
Ipomoea Nil (Morning Glory) アサガオ
Trichosanthes Kirilowii Var. Japonica 黄烏瓜(キカラスウリ)
Wintersweet (Chimonanthus Praecox) ソシンロウバイ(蘇秦蝋梅)
英語の後に日本語が続きます。 It was a surprise to me to see wintersweet starting to bloom but it was because I didn't know it flowers from November to...
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Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。 This is prunus persica in Tokyo National Museum . The branches weep down to the ground and the flow...
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Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。 I was so lucky! I found these mushrooms during a morning walk. What am I going to make for dinner? ...