Iris Japonica (Butterfly Flower) 射干（シャガ）

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

This is Iris japonica, commonly known as fringed iris, shaga and butterfly flower. Its color and shape is beautiful, especially with a green inchworm🐛 on it!

Iris japonica (butterfly flower)　射干（シャガ）

Fringed Iris シャガ（胡蝶花）

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

This is fringed iris or in Japanese "shaga" or "butterfly flower" in my neighborhood. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, I have been more observant and more aware of things around me. 

Fringed iris シャガ（胡蝶花）

It's also called Japanese iris. アヤメ科です。

I saw this flower first at Byakugouji temple in Nara prefecture last year where a woman told me its name was "shaga." But seeing it again one year later in my neighborhood, I googled and learned it has another more lovely and much better Japanese name, "butterfly flower."

In the Japanese language of flowers, fringed iris symbolizes "rebellious" and "many friends." Can you imagine someone who is rebellious but has many friends...? I can't....

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近所に咲いていた胡蝶花。でも初めて見たのは去年の５月。奈良の白毫寺でした。お寺の女性は「シャガ」と言ってましたが、今回、近所で再会したのでググってみて「胡蝶花」という呼び名を知りました。

奈良まで行かなくても、こんなに近くにいたんですね。ちょっぴり嬉しかったです☺

花言葉は「反抗」と「友人が多い」｡｡｡ 反抗的だけど友人が多い人｡｡ ちょっと想像できません。

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Nara - Byakugouji Temple 白毫寺

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

Byakugoji temple
Nara prefecture

This is Byakugoji Temple (白毫寺) in Nara. I had first planned to go to Shin Yakushiji Temple (新薬師寺), but found this temple on a map and changed the plan and that was a success!

It's located on a small mountain or hill, so you have to walk first to arrive at the entrance and then climb to the top of the hill to enjoy a view of the entire Nara city, but it's worth it.

The temple is famous for five-color Japanese camellias (goshiki tsubaki), but their season was over and instead I enjoyed fringed irises or butterfly flowers. 

Iris japonica, fringed irises, butterfly flowers or shaga

Nara city from Byakugoji temple

新薬師寺に行くつもりが、地図で白毫寺を見つけたので予定変更。でも行った甲斐はありました。

高い所にあるので眺めが最高。かつ、このシャガというお花もきれい。冬は「五色椿」 で有名ですが、シャガもとっても可憐でした。

奈良に行ったら東大寺とか春日大社だけでなく、白毫寺にもぜひ立ち寄ってみてください！