Japanese Ternstroemia (Ternstroemia Gymnanthera) 木斛（モッコク）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Japanese ternstroemia trees are said to be the king of garden trees in Japan and there's a reason for that. They produce tiny buds in early June, which look like cat's paws, and then beautiful male and hermaphroditic flowers from late June to July. And in autumn, they bear fruits, which turn from green to red, and some of them stick out bright red seeds like tongues after cracking. Japanese ternstroemia trees bring us happiness throughout the year. 

2025/6/8

2025/6/8

2022/7/3

St. John's Wort and a Bee with a Pollen Basket オトギリソウ（弟切草）と花粉荷運搬中のハチ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are St. John's wort (Hypericum). The bright yellow caught my eye but not only that. A bee hovering over the flowers did and as I'd expected, the bee had a pollen basket! 

But there's something more interesting about this plant. St. John's wort's Japanese name is "otogiriso," which translates to "plant killing younger brother" after a Japanese legend that a man got so angry at his younger brother, who'd leaked an important secret of a medicine made from St. John's wort, that he killed the brother. Because of this legend, in Japan, St. John's wort means "grudge" and "superstition." As the legend suggests, in Japan, the stems and leaves of Hypericum erectum were used as folk medicine to stop bleeding and for other medical purposes.   

Someone who can't keep their mouths shut ended up being killed in not only Japan but also in Italy. In an Italian short story "Mateo Falcone," a father kills his 10-year-old son because the son can't keep his mouth shut.

St. John's wort is popular among not only bees but also common straight swift (Parnara guttata) (last 2 photos).

2025/6/1

2025/6/1

2025/6/1

Blue Mophead Hydrangeas 青い紫陽花

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Hydrangeas attract not only people but bumblebees! These hydrangeas were cream at first but have turned bluish and are still changing. If you like hydrangeas, read the following posts:

- Pink and purple lacecap hydrangea

- Oakleaf hydrangea

- Red lacecap hydrangea

- Pink hydrangea

- White hydrangea 

2025/5/18

2025/5/18

2025/5/18

2025/5/16

Citrus Natsudaidai 夏みかん

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

There're citrus natsunatsudaidai trees in my neighborhood. Some still have fruits (although I've never found fallen ones on the ground) while others have no fruits but flowers in full bloom instead. Citrus natsudaidai is called in Japanese "natsu mikan," which translates into "summer orange," because the fruits ripe in autumn but stay on the tree and are usually eaten in summer the following year. This tree has no fruits but flowers and bees, one of which was hovering over the flowers for enough time to take these photos.  

2025/5/10

2025/5/10

2025/5/10

Bumblebee マルハナバチ（丸花蜂）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I often mistake horseflies for bees, but I believe this is a bee, maybe a bumblebee!!?? If so, it's my first time to see a bumblebee. The bee is so chubby and so adorable! 

I don't eat sugary things much but when I really want to have sweet stuff, I make French toast myself and put a LOT of honey on it. 

The bumblebee is called "maruhana bachi," meaning "round (or chubby) flower bee." This makes sense, doesn't it?  

Chaste Tree (Vitex Agnus-Castus) セイヨウニンジンボク（西洋人参木）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are flowers of a chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). Without a carpenter bee flying, I would have passed by the tree. 

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)　セイヨウニンジンボク（西洋人参木）

A Bee with Pollen Baskets🐝 花粉荷を運ぶハチ🐝

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

I often see bugs hovering over flowers and most of them are horseflies. But finally, I found a honey bee🐝 with pollen baskets on a sponge gourd flower!! The pollen basket is part of the tibia on the hind legs of some female bees. They put pollen in the baskets to carry the pollen to the nest or hive.

Can you see her (as only female bees have pollen baskets) orange pollen baskets? So cute, so adorable😊!

A bee with pollen baskets　花粉荷を運ぶハチ

Dear Bugs! Hello Stupid Me! 危険な虫とおバカな私

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

I'm not much interested in insects, but have seen many of them recently.....

Is it a hornet? スズメバチ？

Bee? ミツバチ？

What are they? 何の虫？

Moth? 蛾？

Curiosity killed the cat and ignorance could have killed me.... The orange and black insect in the first photo was so beautiful, that, when finding it, I naturally took pictures of it, being slightly concerned that it might be dangerous, but denying the possibility.... I was stupid....😱

I'd never thought that I could be that stupid. I've bought an insect repellent and decided not be near bugs I can't identify. Again, I didn't know that I could be so stupid until I started taking pictures for this blog...😞 

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最近よく虫を見かけます｡｡｡ 一枚目はスズメバチでしょうか。危ないかも｡｡｡と思いながら写真撮りました。家でググったらやっぱりスズメバチっぽい😱 自分がこんなにおバカだとは知りませんでした😞

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