Apple Mint (Mentha Suaveolens) アップルミント

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

A weevil was resting on, and a bee was gathering pollen from, flowers of apple mints in my neighborhood. They're growing on the sidewalk. I have no idea about how they got there. 

2026/6/13

2026/6/13

Monk's Cress (Tropaeolum Majus) ナスタチウム/キンレンカ（金蓮花）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I've been growing herbs recently but this is mainly to use them for cooking but I realize I can enjoy them aesthetically, so I put monk's cress and oregano flowers, and mint in a glass. 

2026/7/12

Aromaticus (Plectranthus Amboinicus) アロマティカス

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The aromaticus (Plectranthus amboinicus) is primarily native to Southern and Eastern Africa and has been seen in Japan since the 2000s. I've taken an early morning walk for more than five years and this is my second time to find herbs growing wild on the sidewalk.   

The one I found for the first time was apple mints. I took several stems home and have planted them in a pot. The incredible resilience of herbs always makes me feel motivated and energized. 

2026/7/10

Lantana ランタナ（Before Revision: Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) 修正前：セイヨウイラクサ（西洋刺草））

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The common nettle (Urtica dioica) is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and western North Africa and now found worldwide but I didn't know it can grow in a sidewalk gutter like those in these photos in Central Tokyo. I have rhinitis, so I was considering buying a nettle seedling to grow it at home but not anymore!

P.S.

A few days later, I found flowers among the leaves, which made me realize they're not nettles but lantanas. Sorry for the confusion. 

2026/7/5

My First Herbal Tea Blends 自分でハーブブレンドしてみました

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is a herbal tea blend I made for the first time using fresh lemon balm and chocolate mint leaves, and lavender flowers (that can't be seen though). 

I've joined a local herbal group and harvest several fresh herbs once or twice a week but there was one problem. Too many fresh herbs! I'm happy with the harvest but also feel guilty because of a concern about them being rotten. So, I did research, finding a very easy solution, i.e., dry herbs in the microwave! 

Then, voila! The flavor and taste are great. Now the thing is whether I can tell group members about this cutting corners...  

2026/5/27

Herbal Tea using Lemon Balm and Chocolate Mint Leaves レモンバームとチョコレートミントのハーブティー

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I have taken baby steps to grow herbs. I've made herbal tea using fresh leaves of lemon balm and chocolate mint, which the herbalist I've learned about herbs from, gave me. So far, I just brought back two pots home and put them on the balcony. I don't know if they can grow (survive) there but I learned that the leaves should be removed, so I picked leaves from the two herbs, put the fresh leaves in a teapot, poured hot water on them, and waited while looking at such a beautiful green color. The tea was just refreshing!

2026/5/11