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| 2025/2/27 |
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| 2025/2/27 |
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| 2025/2/27 |
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| 2025/2/27 |
Cucumber Herb (Trigonotis Peduncularis) 胡瓜草（キュウリグサ）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Small plants have waken up from winter sleep. These are cucumber herbs (Trigonotis peduncularis). The flowers are so tiny, 0.2 - 0.3 cm in diameter. Sadly, however, they'll be removed soon because of growing in a wrong place, i.e., a place for more fancy flowers to "entertain" pedestrians. No worries, though. Cucumber herbs are small but so hardy that I'm sure I can see them soon somewhere else.
Mimosa ミモザ
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
How silly of me! I pass under this tree every day and didn't notice such bright yellow blooms at all. They're mimosa. I've heard of the plant many times but (I believe) I saw them in person for the first time. The season in Japan has changed suddenly from winter to spring for the last week. Mimosa seems to welcome the advent of spring.
How silly of me! I pass under this tree every day and didn't notice such bright yellow blooms at all. They're mimosa. I've heard of the plant many times but (I believe) I saw them in person for the first time. The season in Japan has changed suddenly from winter to spring for the last week. Mimosa seems to welcome the advent of spring.
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| 2025/2/25 |
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| 2025/2/25 |
Red Japanese Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Japonica F. Incarnata) アカバナマンサク（赤花万作）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
When writing about Japanese witch-hazel (which was yellow) yesterday, I learned that the plant produces red flowers and surprisingly, today, I found them! This made me do further research, leading to finding that there is another genus in the witch-hazel family which produces white flowers from April to May. I've got to find them!
When writing about Japanese witch-hazel (which was yellow) yesterday, I learned that the plant produces red flowers and surprisingly, today, I found them! This made me do further research, leading to finding that there is another genus in the witch-hazel family which produces white flowers from April to May. I've got to find them!
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| 2025/2/24 |
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| 2025/2/24 |
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| 2025/2/24 |
Japanese Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Japonica) マンサク（満作）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are Japanese witch-hazel flowers (Hamamelis japonica). Their (unique) string shape and color contrast between the bright yellow (i.e., petals) and the red (i.e., sepals) caught my eye. Japanese witch-hazel signifies the return of happiness in Japan.
These are Japanese witch-hazel flowers (Hamamelis japonica). Their (unique) string shape and color contrast between the bright yellow (i.e., petals) and the red (i.e., sepals) caught my eye. Japanese witch-hazel signifies the return of happiness in Japan.
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| 2026/2/23 |
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| 2026/2/23 |
Weeping Plum Blossoms しだれ梅
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The weeping Japanese apricot tree in my neighborhood which started to bloom about a month ago (4th photo) is now in full bloom! Needless to say, plum blossoms are beautiful but weeping ones are spectacular.
Plants make people more talkative. A Hamilton's spindletre tree did so and a plum tree did so, too. And thanks to that, I learned about the tree and was able to take these pictures.
The weeping Japanese apricot tree in my neighborhood which started to bloom about a month ago (4th photo) is now in full bloom! Needless to say, plum blossoms are beautiful but weeping ones are spectacular.
Plants make people more talkative. A Hamilton's spindletre tree did so and a plum tree did so, too. And thanks to that, I learned about the tree and was able to take these pictures.
The seventh and subsequent photos were taken two years ago in Ueno, Tokyo. They were taken on a late afternoon when the Moon started rising in the sky.
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| 2025/2/22 |
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| 2025/2/22 |
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| 2025/2/22 |
Rose-Gold Pussy Willow (Salix Gracilistyla) ネコヤナギ（猫柳）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I've heard of the plant many times but actually saw one for the first time. This is a rose-gold pussy willow (Salix gracilistyla) with blossoms, which are so cute! The buds are covered and protected before opening by reddish bud scales like in the 2nd photo. But it's worth protecting. The fluffy blossoms are so adorable.
The rose-gold pussy willow is called "neko yanagi" in Japanese, meaning "cat🐈 willow," showing unusually the same perception between English and Japanese speakers.
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| 2025/2/19 |
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| 2025/2/19 |
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| 2025/2/21 |
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| 2025/2/21 |
Lady's Smock (Cardamine Pratensis) ハナタネツケバナ（花種漬花）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I've been looking down recently while on a morning walk to find speedwells and shaggy soldiers but in vain. Instead, I've found these tiny flowers surrounded by the deep green leaves. I guess they're lady's smocks (Cardamine pratensis) because of their cupped shape like smocks. So cute, so adorable, but so difficult to take photos of when windy.
I've been looking down recently while on a morning walk to find speedwells and shaggy soldiers but in vain. Instead, I've found these tiny flowers surrounded by the deep green leaves. I guess they're lady's smocks (Cardamine pratensis) because of their cupped shape like smocks. So cute, so adorable, but so difficult to take photos of when windy.
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| 2025/2/20 |
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| 2025/2/20 |
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| 2025/2/20 |
"Thousand-Flowered" Pink, Red, and White Japanese Camellias 千重咲きのピンク、赤、白の椿
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Following the white and red ones, I'm writing today about maybe the last ones, "thousand flowered" PINK Japanese camellias. As the other colors, the pink ones do not show their prominent stamens, either, as their stamens (and pistils) have disappeared or degenerated, or changed into petals. So, here is a question for you. Which color do you like the most? Me? Can't decide.
Following the white and red ones, I'm writing today about maybe the last ones, "thousand flowered" PINK Japanese camellias. As the other colors, the pink ones do not show their prominent stamens, either, as their stamens (and pistils) have disappeared or degenerated, or changed into petals. So, here is a question for you. Which color do you like the most? Me? Can't decide.
By the way, the fact that these camellias have no stamens gave rise to one question for me, i.e. how a thousand flowered camellia dies. Will it fall off in its entirety like other usual Japanese camellias even though it has no stamens, which (more specifically, the filament part) connects with petals, allowing its unique way of dying as opposed to sasanqua camellias, which die with petals falling off one by one without such connection. The answer is in the 6th photo. Even without stamens, a thousand flowered Japanese camellia falls off in its entirety. A Japanese camellia IS a Japanese camellia whether it has stamens or not.
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| 2025/2/19 |
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| 2025/2/19 |
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| 2025/2/19 |
Lenten Rose (Helleborus Orientalis) クリスマスローズ（寒芍薬）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I went to see Japanese plum blossoms, finding these Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) under the tree. The plant tag nearby says "クリスマスローズ (Christmas rose)," which made me wonder if that is true because it's February now! I did some research, finding they're not Christmas but Lenten roses. The Lenten rose was named as such after it blooming from February to April or in the Lent period, i.e., the 40-day period before Easter. Still, however, the plant's Japanese name is "クリスマスローズ (Christmas rose)." That may be because few Japanese people know about the Lent period.  |
| 2025/2/18 |
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| 2025/2/18 |
Pink, White, and Pink/White Plum Blossoms (Prunus Mume) 紅白＆源平咲きの梅
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
A Japanese apricot tree, which had almost no flowers last week, has come into bloom with deep pink blossoms, creating the beautiful contrast against the white blooms and the blue sky.
In Japan, plum blossoms are less popular, attracting less attention than cherry blossoms, but during the Nara period (from 710 to 794), the other way round. People enjoyed viewing not cherry but plum blossoms while eating, drinking, and composing waka or Japanese poems under the trees in spring.
Some plum trees produce white and pink blossoms on the same tree. If you're interested in the mechanism, read this post!
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| 2025/2/15 |
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| 2025/2/15 |
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| 2025/2/15 |
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| 2025/2/15 |
Winter Aconite (Eranthis Pinnatifida)? セツブンソウ（節分草）？
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I've done research for the last week to identify these flowers but in vain and now have come to think they may be winter aconites (Eranthis pinnatifida) (although I'm still not certain). The winter aconite is called "setsubun sou" in Japanese, meaning "setsubun plant" after its flowering around the setsubun day or February 3, i.e., the date before the beginning of spring on the lunisolar calendar.
I've done research for the last week to identify these flowers but in vain and now have come to think they may be winter aconites (Eranthis pinnatifida) (although I'm still not certain). The winter aconite is called "setsubun sou" in Japanese, meaning "setsubun plant" after its flowering around the setsubun day or February 3, i.e., the date before the beginning of spring on the lunisolar calendar.
Winter aconite means "grace," "brilliance," "smile" and "I dislike people." I don't understand what the last one means.
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| 2025/2/1 |
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| 2025/2/1 |
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| 2025/2/1 |
Cherry Seeds 桜の種
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The popularity of a plant doesn't necessarily mean its popularity after blooming and this is a typical example for that, isn't it? These are cherry seeds (according to the buds in the 2nd photo). The black seeds covered by torn fruit skin caught my eye. They will fall off soon to be replaced by beautiful blossoms, but it's too unfair. That's why I'm writing this post, wishing you to (sometimes) look at such adorable but often overlooked fruits and seeds.
The popularity of a plant doesn't necessarily mean its popularity after blooming and this is a typical example for that, isn't it? These are cherry seeds (according to the buds in the 2nd photo). The black seeds covered by torn fruit skin caught my eye. They will fall off soon to be replaced by beautiful blossoms, but it's too unfair. That's why I'm writing this post, wishing you to (sometimes) look at such adorable but often overlooked fruits and seeds.
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| 2025/2/6 |
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| 2025/2/6 |
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| 2025/2/6 |
Mascarene Island Leaf Flower (Phyllanthus Tenellus) ナガエコミカンソウ（長柄小蜜柑草）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Can you see tiny green things hanging from stems? They're flowers of Mascarene Island leaf (Phyllanthus tenellus) or "nagae komikan sou" in Japanese, which means "long stem small mandarin orange plant." You can see how tiny the fruits are by looking at the second photo. The third and subsequent photos are of the buds, which are so tiny and adorable. I've now realized that I missed seeing the flowers.
Can you see tiny green things hanging from stems? They're flowers of Mascarene Island leaf (Phyllanthus tenellus) or "nagae komikan sou" in Japanese, which means "long stem small mandarin orange plant." You can see how tiny the fruits are by looking at the second photo. The third and subsequent photos are of the buds, which are so tiny and adorable. I've now realized that I missed seeing the flowers.
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| 2025/2/3 |
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| 2025/2/1 |
Japanese Jasmine (Jasminum Mesnyi) オウバイモドキ/ウンナンオウバイ（黄梅擬/雲南黄梅）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
It wasn't until last Sunday that I noticed these blooms. They're Japanese jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi). It was raining in Tokyo that day and that's why the two flowers in the first photo were wet and partially frozen, looking like artificial flowers. Although one of its common English names is Japanese jasmine, it's native to Vietnam and southern China and so the plant's called "Yunnan yellow apricot" in Japanese.
It wasn't until last Sunday that I noticed these blooms. They're Japanese jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi). It was raining in Tokyo that day and that's why the two flowers in the first photo were wet and partially frozen, looking like artificial flowers. Although one of its common English names is Japanese jasmine, it's native to Vietnam and southern China and so the plant's called "Yunnan yellow apricot" in Japanese.
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| 2025/2/2 |
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| 2025/2/4 |
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| 2025/2/2 |
Tall Stewartia (Stewartia Monadelpha) ヒメシャラ（姫沙羅）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
"You're lying!" "No, I'm not." They looked like arguing like that to me. These are fruits of tall stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha). Plants attract you in various ways, e.g., their color or shape, and sometimes talking style (?). Crepe myrtle, Carolina cranesbill, and anise-scented sage also speak like this😆.
"You're lying!" "No, I'm not." They looked like arguing like that to me. These are fruits of tall stewartia (Stewartia monadelpha). Plants attract you in various ways, e.g., their color or shape, and sometimes talking style (?). Crepe myrtle, Carolina cranesbill, and anise-scented sage also speak like this😆.
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| 2025/2/2 |
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| 2025/2/2 |
Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga Quadriradiata) ハキダメギク（掃溜菊）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I thought at first they were something remaining after flowers fell off but something bothered me. They're not just the remaining but some small flowers, are they? I did research and learned that they're shaggy soldiers (Galinsoga quadriradiata). They'are so cute and adorable. So, its Japanese name surprised me.
I thought at first they were something remaining after flowers fell off but something bothered me. They're not just the remaining but some small flowers, are they? I did research and learned that they're shaggy soldiers (Galinsoga quadriradiata). They'are so cute and adorable. So, its Japanese name surprised me.
Its Japanese name is "hakidame giku," which means "rubbish heap chrysanthemum"!! The plant was named so by Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a late Japanese botanist, because he found it in a rubbish heap. I respect and admire him but can't approve of his taste in naming plants. The shaggy soldier is definitely one such example and another is speedwell.
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| 2025/2/1 |
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| 2025/2/1 |
A "Rogue Eggplant" is a Radical Weed! 悪いナスビ？
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I thought they were some oranges, wondering if I should take them home to eat but didn't and that was a good decision because they're toxic. These are fruits of Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). I've seen the pretty flowers (3rd and subsequent photos) many times but never saw the fruits. They look like kumquats (or cherry tomatoes), don't they?
The plant is called "rogue eggplant" in Japanese after the resemblance of the flower to the eggplant's. Given its other English names "radical weed," "apple of Sodom," "devil's tomato," (sadly) no one would disagree they're considered ROGUES globally. It's understandable. According to Wikipedia, "all parts of the plant, including its tomato-like fruit, are poisonous to varying degrees due to the presence of solanine glycoalkaloids which is a toxic alkaloid."
The plant is called "rogue eggplant" in Japanese after the resemblance of the flower to the eggplant's. Given its other English names "radical weed," "apple of Sodom," "devil's tomato," (sadly) no one would disagree they're considered ROGUES globally. It's understandable. According to Wikipedia, "all parts of the plant, including its tomato-like fruit, are poisonous to varying degrees due to the presence of solanine glycoalkaloids which is a toxic alkaloid."
We shouldn't be fooled by appearances.
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| 2025/1/30 |
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| 2025/1/30 |