Five-Seeded Plume-Poppy (Macleaya Cordata) タケニグサ（竹似草）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The five-seeded plume-poppy (Macleaya cordata) is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan and can be found across Japan. Its Japanese name is "takeni gusa," which translates into "plant similar to bamboo," after it having hollow stems like bamboos. 

The plant shows its beauty in various ways. Spindle shaped white things (scroll down) are buds. Things that look like sparklers are flowers, which contain beautiful thread shaped white stamens and orange pistils (scroll down). Its brown capsules are also beautiful. 

2026/7/1

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. 

2026/6/14

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 are cream at first, turning blue ultimately. If you like hydrangeas, read the following posts:

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle')

2026/5/22

2026/5/19

2025/5/18

Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum) サツキ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and red flowers from April to June in Japan. As azalea usually flowers in dense masses, they attract not only attention but also tourists and fee in some parks! 

2026/4/15

Japan categorizes azalea broadly into three types as follows:

Japanese Camellia 'Beauty Blush' ツバキ 'Beauty Blush'

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are Japanese camellia 'Beauty Blush.' It was my first time to see this type of camellias. The blooms are so small (and many of them were still buds) that I didn't realize they're camellias when photographing them. I was lucky though. A couple of bees with bee pollen came, starting to collect pollen. The bee pollen of one of the bees was so big (1st photo) that I worried if it might fall but that was an unnecessary worry. The bee landed from one flower to another collecting pollen from each flower and flew away.    

2026/4/5

2026/4/5

2026/4/5

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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