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。

They were fluffy buds in mid-February (6th photo) and today they're fully open, partly frozen in an unexpectedly cold weather (3rd photo). They're rose-gold pussy willow flowers (Salix gracilistyla). The rose-gold pussy willow is dioecious, which means this willow is male or female, but it was too difficult for me to determine the sex, so I gave up.    

The rose-gold pussy willow is called "neko yanagi" in Japanese, which translates to "cat🐈 willow,"  unusually the same meaning between English and Japanese. The willow symbolizes freedom.  

2025/4/1

2025/4/2

2025/4/2

2025/4/2

Viola Grypoceras タチツボスミレ（立坪菫）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

They're Viola grypoceras or tachi tsubo violets growing under cherry trees. It's quite easy to identify them based on their heart shaped leaves (3rd photo). There exist many types of violets but this type is most prevalent in Japan and can be seen usually in sunny spots.  

2025/3/30

Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense) トキワマンサク（常盤万作）とベニバナトキワマンサク（紅花常盤万作）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It looks like a ribbon on a gift box, doesn't it? These are Chinese fringe flowers (Loropetalum chinense). The ribbon shaped buds made me wonder if anyone would give me a present in a gift box with such a ribbon😆! The plant produces pink and white (3rd and 7th) flowers with four ribbon shaped petals, but to me, the flower seems to have more than four.

2025/3/30

2025/3/30

2024/4/10