Hamilton's Spindletree (Euonymus Hamiltonianus) マユミ（檀）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Some plants bring you happiness through the year and Hamilton's spindletree (Euonymus hamiltonianus) is one of them. A Hamilton spindletree in my neighborhood has started to fruit. The four-lobed fruit capsules are still green and so tiny but will start to turn pale pink and crack to show seeds with red arils in autumn.

A good thing about photographing plants is to make people more talkative. When I was photographing the fruits in September, two women approached me asking what they were. I said they were the fruits of Hamilton's spindletree but the women insisted they couldn't be fruits but buds to flower soon. It was fun talking with strangers about little things.

2025/6/5

2025/6/5

Oshima Cherry Blossoms (Prunus Speciosa) 大島桜（オオシマザクラ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

There are a variety of cherry blossoms and the king of them is Somei Yoshino, but Oshima cherry blossoms (Prunus speciosa) are not bad, i.e., as beautiful as, and more gorgeous than, Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms, aren't they? 

Unlike Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms, which are pinkish white, Oshima cherry blossoms are whitish pink at first, then turn to baby pink. Another difference between Oshima and Somei Yoshino is that Oshima cherry trees produce blossoms and leaves at the same time (as you can see in these photos) while Somei Yoshino produces blossoms first and then leaves after blossoms fall. 

2025/3/27

2025/3/30  Oshima cherry blossoms are like these at first 最初はこんな感じ

2025/3/29

2025/3/29

2025/3/27

2025/3/29

Japanese Cornel (Cornus Officinalis) サンシュユ（山茱萸）

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The Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis) trees I've been observing since January are now in full bloom! You can't tell "full bloom (1st photo)" from "almost full bloom two weeks ago (2nd photo)" from a distance but you can when looking closely at the umbels.  

Bright yellow like Japanese cornel flowers is called a "vitamin color" in Japan because it energizes people, which I believe is true. Many stopped to look at the pretty flowers talking about the joy of spring but surprisingly and sadly most I talked with said they'd never heard of the tree. Japanese cornel is one of the most underestimated trees because of their blossoming at almost the same time as cherry (and Japanese apricot) blossoms.    

2025/3/20

2025/3/9

2025/3/20

2025/3/20

2025/3/20

2025/3/20

2025/3/20

Kawazu Cherry (Cerasus x Kanzakura 'Kawazu-Zakura') カワヅサクラ（河津桜）

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Kawazu cherry trees (Cerasus x kanzakura 'Kawazu-zakura'), which were in almost full bloom a week ago, are now in full bloom. It was a sunny day yesterday, so I took these photos from below the trees (which is my favorite way of photographing cherry blossoms) to capture the magnificent beauty of the blossoms against the blue sky.  

Kawazu cherry, a crossbreed of Oshima cherry (Prunus speciosa) and Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata), is named as such because it was first found in 1972 in Kawazu town, Shizuoka prefecture (Source: Kawazu town tourist association). Kawazu cherry trees bloom from early February to March, a little earlier than other cherry trees. A Kawazu cherry blossoms festival is held in the town every February.

Below is a list I've enjoyed viewing for the last couple of years. Hope you'll enjoy them, too!

• Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)
• Taiwan cherry, Formosan cherry or bellflower cherry (Prunus campanulata)
• Oshima cherry (prunus speciosa) - white Oshima; pink Oshima
• Ichiyo cherry (Prunus lannesiana 'Hisakura') - Oshima cherry's kid
• Yoko cherry (Prunus campanulata 'Yoko')
• Winter (October) cherry (Cerasus subhirtella (miq.))
• Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa)
• Weeping Yoshino cherry (Prunus lannesiana Wilson 'Sendai Shidare')
• Fugenzo cherry (Cerasus sato-zakura group ‘albo-rosea’ Makino)
• Yellow cherry or ukon cherry (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Grandiflora’ A. Wagner)
• Kanzan cherry (Prunus lannesiana 'Sekiyama')
• Mountain cherry (Cerasus jamasakura)

2025/3/9

2025/3/9

2025/3/9

2025/3/9

Autumn or Winter Leaves 冬の紅葉

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Autumn is over in Japan and so autumn leaves are over but there are still red leaves here and there. Autumn (or winter) leaves are beautiful but more beautiful against the blue sky.  

Maple Leaves in Autumn もみじの紅葉

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Some leaves are still green but that makes the perfect color contrast between gradients from green to yellow, orange and red, and the clear blue sky. 

Autumn Golden Ginkgo Leaves 銀杏の黄葉

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Many trees currently show red or yellow leaves in Tokyo but the ginkgo tree is special for its golden leaves, especially today for their magnificent beauty against the blue sky. 

Tokyo Skytree against Sky at Night 夜の東京スカイツリー

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I took this photo to keep a memory of such a beautiful view. The night view included various colors. 

Tokyo Skytree against sky at night　夜の東京スカイツリー

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles Speciosa) ボケ（木瓜）

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It snowed heavily in Tokyo last weekend, so I didn't go out. Then yesterday, while taking an early morning walk, I found flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) starting to produce buds. The temperature was 2°C, still low for Tokyo, but the bright red buds made me feel a little warm. 

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)　ボケ（木瓜）

Blue Sky After Snowfall 雪の後の青空

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

It snowed heavily in Tokyo yesterday and the day before (I mean heavily for Tokyo!), so I didn't go out for the two days. This morning, the temperature was 2°C (which is very low for Tokyo) and the air was cold but the winter cherry blossoms, which have survived the snow, were so beautiful against the clear blue sky.  

Winter cherry against blue sky　青空と冬桜

The Moon in the Blue Sky 月と青空

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It was around 7 a.m. I looked up in the sky and saw the Moon. The air is cold and dry. It's a typical Japanese winter day.  

The Moon in the sky　月と青空

Sunset 夕焼け

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I'm an early bird, so I see the sunrise almost everyday but rarely see such a beautiful sunset. I was just standing there smiling. 

Sunset　夕焼け

Venus and Crescent Moon 月と金星

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Can you see them? If not, look at the second photo. They are the crescent moon and bright Venus.

Venus and the crescent moon

Autumn Leaves and Blue Sky 紅葉と青空

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I went somewhere and found them. It was a very sunny day. These autumn leaves were so red against the background of the blue sky.   

A Reflection of The Tokyo Tower 東京タワー

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This is a reflection of The Tokyo Tower on a nearby building. The tower itself is beautiful at night (unlike the tower during the day), but I found its reflection more beautiful. Which do you like better? 

The Tokyo Tower　東京タワー

A Rainbow View from Nigatsudo, Todaiji Temple 東大寺二月堂から見た虹

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This is a view from the balcony of Nigatsudo or the February Hall of Todaiji temple in Nara. You can also see the Nara city over there. That day, I woke up at around 4 a.m. (as usual) and decided to walk to the temple to see the sunrise. Unfortunately, the sunrise wasn't visible from there, but instead I saw this rainbow🌈!

If you have a chance to come to Nara, I recommend visiting the temple in the early morning. You may have this view (and the Great South Gate) all to yourself.  

A rainbow from the February Hall of Todaiji temple　二月堂から見た虹

Kofukuji Temple and Sarusawa Pond 興福寺と猿沢池

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These are photos of Sarusawa pond and Kofukuji temple in the Nara prefecture, Japan at sunrise (1st photo) and sunset (2nd photo). The five storied pagoda (last photo) of the temple is currently undergoing large-scale repairs, so I gave up on seeing it but I was able to see the pagoda in a nearly perfect form (although the first story was covered by a fence).

Kofukuji temple is one of Japan’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temples with a history of more than 1,300 years and I definitely recommend visiting the temple, especially to see the pagoda, which the temple once auctioned for 25 yen then or 100,000 yen (930 US dollars) currently😲. If you're interested in why the temple did such a stupid thing, read this post!  

Sarusawa pond at sunrise 日の出の猿沢池

Sarusawa pond and 5-story pagoda of Kofukuji temple at sunset
日の入りの猿沢池と興福寺五重塔

Sweet Autumn Clematis and the Winter Moon 仙人草と冬の月

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Clematis terniflora or sweet autumn clematis are still in bloom. Clematis generally flowers from July to September and I saw the achenes surrounded by feather like white long tails in early November (after which its Japanese name is given). So, maybe I was lucky to be able to see the flowers and the winter Moon at the same time!

Clematis terniflora (sweet autumn clematis) 仙人草

Yuki Tsuri - Japanese Way to Protect Trees from Snow 雪吊り（ゆきつり）

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These cone shaped things are "yuki tsuri" at the Hama Rikyu Garden. Yuki tsuri is a Japanese technique to protect trees from heavy snow with straw ropes that are attached to the ends of the tree's longer branches. The technique is commonly seen in the Hokuriku region where it heavily snows, such as Kanazawa city, while in Tokyo where it rarely snows, yuki tsuri functions more as a seasonal decoration. The yuki tsuri, the blue sky and the skyscrapers created a surreal contrast. 

The Hama Rikyu Garden, about 62 acres, was built by Tsunashige Tokugawa in 1654 on reclaimed land from Tokyo Bay. The garden was transferred to the Imperial Household Agency in 1870, then to Tokyo in 1945 and opened as a public garden in the following year. You can always enjoy some flowers/plants from cherry blossoms to autumn foliage in the garden.

Yuki tsuri to protect trees from snow 雪吊り

Waning Gibbous Moon and Winter Cherry 冬桜と下弦の月

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These are the blossoms of winter cherry trees at 6 a.m. today with the Moon in the background. As they're "winter" cherry trees, you can enjoy their blossoms throughout the year except summer, and I see the baby pink blossoms every early morning these days while walking in the area without paying much attention to them. So, if I hadn't seen this chubby waning gibbous Moon in the blue gray sky through the tree twigs (i.e., the blurred white thing in the photos), I would have passed by them as usual.

The academic name of the cherry tree is cerasus subhirtella (miq.). If you live in Japan or have a chance to come to Japan, you can enjoy such pretty cherry blossoms in Ginza Tokyo, too.

Cerasus subhirtella (miq.) blossoms and the waning gibbous Moon 冬桜と下弦の月