Clerodendrum Bungei (Rose Glory Bower) 牡丹臭木（ボタンクサギ）

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

This is Clerodendrum bungei or more commonly known as rose glory bower. Its bright pink buds are so pretty (1st photo) but the pale pink flowers (2nd and 3rd photos) are also beautiful! So, what do the in-betweens look like? The answer is the 4th photo, i.e., only one flower is open with the remaining being still buds.

The plant usually produces flowers in late summer although it's still June but it's understandable. The rainy season, which started in Tokyo in early June as usual, is expected to end this week, three weeks earlier than usual. This means a terrible Japanese summer, which is hot and humid, has started😂!! It was 35°C (i.e., 95°F) yesterday!!  

Buds of Clerodendrum bungei 牡丹臭木のツボミ

Flowers of rose glory bower ボタンクサギの花

Hydrangea Changing from Pale Green to White then to Pale Blue 薄緑から白そして薄青になる紫陽花

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It's rainy season in Japan and various hydrangeas are in full bloom across the country. These are mophead hydrangeas and one of my favorite because of the color change from pale green to white then to pale blue. If you're interested in the color change from late May to late June or the blooms in various colors and shapes, read the following posts, too!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

Late June 2022

Late June 2022

Pretty & Gross - Galls on Japanese Snowbell😱 キモカワ - エゴノネコアシ😱

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

Something is pretty and GROSS, and Japanese snowbell is one such example. In May, it produces beautiful snow white flowers but a month later, it produces not only beautiful pale green fruits but also something looking like flower buds. Don't be deceived, however. They're galls of Ceratovacuna nekoashi.

A gall is an abnormal, localized outgrowth or swelling of plant tissue caused by infection from bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes or irritation by insects and mites (Britannica). And galls on Japanese snowbell trees are caused by APHIDS, meaning these green things which look like some flower buds contain many many aphids😱! If I hadn't known this, I must've touched them!

Galls on Japanese snowbell trees are called "Cat paws on Japanese snowbell" in Japanese and you can see why. The galls look like cat paws, but the name, which doesn't mention the important fact that they aren't cat paws or flowers but contain bugs😂, bothers me...

Ceratovacuna nekoashi エゴノネコアシ

A gall on Styrax japonicus  エゴノネコアシ

Ilex Crenata (Japanese Holly) 犬黄楊（イヌツゲ）

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

These are the female flowers of ilex crenata or more commonly known as the Japanese holly or box-leaved holly. I saw its beautiful black berries last winter near the Imperial Palace, but I didn't know at that time that it produces such beautiful tiny flowers. 

Japanese hollies are dioecious, i.e., having separate male and female plants, so they have male and female flowers. I was able to find the female flowers, but couldn't find male ones...

Ilex crenata female flowers 犬黄楊の雌花

Drone Beetle - Be Quiet. I'm Sleeping! カナブン - 就寝中につき静かにしてください

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

A few weeks ago, I saw a picture of a bee with half of its body inside a red snapdragon flower on Instagram (@zaungruen). That was so beautiful and cute! And today, I ran into a drone beetle in the same posture inside a dandelion flower! The thing is that I couldn't tell at first if it was dead or alive. I watched it for a while and saw it moved! Yes, it was alive and sleeping😆. I took several shots and quietly walked away, saying in my mind, "Have a good sleep😴"

A drone beetle sleeping on a dandelion flower タンポポの花で就寝中のカナブン

Erythrina Crista-Galli (Cockspur Coral Tree) 亜米利加梯梧（アメリカデイゴ）

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

They're the flowers of Erythrina crista-galli or more commonly known as the cockspur coral tree. To me, they look like the beak and wattle of a rooster, so I was surprised to know that its English name is after cockerels spurs. What do you think? Do the flowers look like roosters spurs or their beaks and wattles? 

Erythrina crista-galli 亜米利加梯梧

Cockspur coral tree アメリカデイゴ

Hungry Caterpillar😊 腹ペコ芋虫

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

This is a REAL hungry caterpillar😊 Although slow, it was actually eating a leaf! And I realized something. I haven't read The Very Hungry Caterpillar!! I rushed home, logged into my library account, reserved the book, and was surprised to find that I was the 27th on the waiting list😂!!

A Caterpillar Hanging from a Plant 芋虫がぶらーん

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

I take a morning walk every day unless it rains and while walking I look down to find tiny but beautiful plants. Then I found this. Can you see it? If not, look at the second and third photos. I couldn't find what it was, but it's beautiful and funny, isn't it?! I want to be floating in the air like this!

Can you see it? 分かります？

Triodanis Biflora (Small Venus' Looking-Glass) 雛桔梗草（ヒナキキョウソウ）

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

In early May, I wrote about Triodanis perfoliata or clasping Venus' looking-glass. And this is Triodanis biflora or small Venus' looking-glass. Unlike the bigger one's (i.e., clasping Venus' looking-glass) flowers, which are usually "clasping" as its name suggests, small Venus' looking-glass' flowers are usually open. 

Triodanis biflora 雛桔梗草

Small Venus' looking-glass ヒナキキョウソウ

Small Venus' looking-glass ヒナキキョウソウ