Plants and Flowers in Tokyo by Kei Narujima　　東京の草花

Hassaku Marmalade　八朔マーマレード

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

This is the marmalade I made from the hassaku oranges I wrote about yesterday. I like marmalade for not only its sour, bitter, and sweet taste but also the color!!

Hassaku orange marmalade 八朔ジャム

Don't Throw Away the Hassaku Oranges!　八朔捨てないで！

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

These're hassaku oranges harvested this year. And there's a story about them.

In my neighborhood, there are two places where the land owners grow the oranges. They grow the oranges not for sale, which means no pesticides on them. As it's almost impossible to get fruits with no pesticides applied these days, I called one of the places, a hospital, to ask if I could get several of them. Their answer was no. They said they would make jam for their patients. So, I contacted the other place, i.e., an office building. The staff of the property manager were surprised but said "Okay!" That was about a month ago.

Then, today, knowing it was time to harvest, I went there and got nine hassaku oranges and have already started making jam from five of them. (That's why the pictures are of only four oranges.)

Sadly, however, one of the staff said that this was only this year and that they won't be able to do the same next year. He said that the oranges weren't theirs but the property owner's and the owner or a real estate investment trust didn't like the idea of giving the oranges to anyone. I see that the company wants to take no risk and has chosen to let the fruits fall from the tree and rot on the ground. But it's just mottainai, isn't it?

I've been thinking of calling next year the property owner to negotiate with them to make jam again😝!! For the definition and usage of "mottainai," read this post.

Hassaku oranges 八朔

Too Many Camellias?　山茶花多過ぎ？

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

Are these too many? They're Camellia sasanqua or more commonly known as Japanese camellias. The Camellia trees in my neighborhood are now in full bloom and this tree has too many flowers!

Camellia sasanqua 山茶花

From below 下から

Cerasus Subhirtella (Winter Cherry) is in Full Bloom🌸　冬桜が満開🌸

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

Almost all the flowers are gone but these October or winter cherry blossoms in my neighborhood. They're not as gorgeous as the other types of cherry blossoms below, but are so beautiful against the blue winter sky. If you're interested in more gorgeous cherry blossoms, read the following posts!

Cerasus subhirtella 冬桜

October cherry 十月桜

Baby Achenes of Clematis Terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis)　仙人草（センニンソウ）の赤ちゃん痩果

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

Do you know what they are? If not, see the third photo😀.

These are achenes of Clematis terniflora or sweet autumn clematis. I saw the achenes surrounded by feather like white long tails in early November (after which its Japanese name is given), but these baby achenes are so cute! Its Japanese name is "sennin so (meaning hermit plant)," given after a hermit's beard-like long white tails. If you're interested in such beard-like long white tails, read this post.

The third photo was taken on the same day. Clematis are supposed to flower from July to September, but these clematis have flowers and achenes both at the same time.

Achenes of Clematis terniflora 仙人草の痩果

Fall Foliage with Still Green Leaves　緑と赤の秋

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

This is a Japanese maple tree at Hibiya Park, Tokyo. Tree leaves have turned red and yellow everywhere but the combination of red and still green leaves is unusual. The temperature has dropped across Japan, however. The Japanese autumn leaves season will soon be over.

A Japanese maple tree　紅葉

White Camellia Sasanqua (Japanese Camellia)　白い山茶花

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

These are Camellia sasanqua or more commonly known as Japanese camellia at Atago Jinja shrine. Japanese camellias are in bloom in many places in Tokyo, including these white ones, and the bright pink and white and pink marble ones in my neighborhood.

Red Camellia sasanqua flowers mean "modesty" and "you're the most beautiful." The pink ones represent "eternal love" and the white ones are a symbol of "charming" and "you reject my love."

White Camellia sasanqua 白い山茶花

White Japanese camellia 白いサザンカ

Ardisia Crenata (Coral Berry)　万両（マンリョウ）

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

These are fruits of Ardisia crenata or more commonly known as coral berry at Atago Jinja shrine, Tokyo. The berries can be seen in many places in Tokyo now but (I think) these ones are bigger than usual.

The plant is called "10,000 ryo" in Japanese. The term "ryo" is a unit of weight or currency used by Japan and several other Asian countries, and based on the value of rice, one ryo is worth about 1,500 dollars.

Japan has not only manryo or 10,000 ryo, but also 1,000 ryo (senryo), 100 ryo (hyakuryo), and 10 ryo (juryo).

Ardisia crenata 万両

Pittosporum Tobira (Japanese cheesewood)　扉（トベラ）

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

Fruits of Pittosporum tobira or more commonly known as Japanese cheesewood have started to split! The red seeds in cream white fruits among deep green leaves create a very beautiful color contrast, which I look forward to seeing every winter.

The plant's name contains the term "tobira" or a Japanese word meaning "door" because a sprig of Japanese cheesewood (or holly) was (and still is by some people) hung on the door together with a baked sardine head on the day of setsubun, that is, February 3 or 4 or the date before the beginning of spring on the lunisolar calendar, to expel evil spirits.

Japanese cheesewood トベラ

Pittosporum tobira 扉

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Plants and Flowers in Tokyo by Kei Narujima　　東京の草花 - なるじまけい