These are flowers of Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum). The cream white flowers caught my eye. The Japanese name is "Teika kazura," meaning Teika vine. Teika is the first name of Teika Fujiwara (1162 - 1241), a Japanese anthologist, calligrapher, literary critic, novelist, poet, and scribe. The vine was named after the legend that Teika loved Princess Shikishi so much that he couldn't forget about her after death and was reborn as this vine to coil around her grave. The story is currently performed as a Noh play and made me want to see the Noh play.
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| Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) テイカカズラ（定家葛） |
