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 various types of cherry blossoms, and while the Somei Yoshino is considered the king, Oshima cherry blossoms (Prunus speciosa) are just as beautiful—if not even more gorgeous.

Unlike Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms, which are pinkish white, Oshima cherry blossoms start out whitish pink and then turn baby pink. Another difference is that Oshima cherry trees produce blossoms and leaves at the same time, whereas Somei Yoshino trees bloom first and put out leaves only after the blossoms fall.

If you're interested in learning about other types of cherry blossoms, check out my other post, 'List of Cherry Blossoms'!

2025/3/27

Japanese vs. European Dandelions 日本タンポポと西洋タンポポ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Since I learned Japanese and European dandelions (Taraxacum) and their cross-breeds co-exist in Japan a week ago, I've been looking for the Japanese ones and found them just this morning. The 1st photo is Japanese and the 2nd photo European. They look almost the same but one thing. The Japanese one's bracts are closed while the European one's are open. 

I wanted to find Japanese dandelions because I saw none a week ago. They're a minority, which I believe is true. The ratio between Japanese and European dandelions where those in these photos grow is nearly 1:100.   

Japanese dandelion's bracts are closed　日本タンポポの総苞片は閉じている

Western dandelion's bracts are open　西洋タンポポの総苞片は開いている

Flatweed / False Dandelion (Hypochaeris Radicata) ブタナ（豚菜）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It looks like a dandelion but it's not. This is a flatweed or false dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata). While identifying the plant, I learned that flatweeds are (surprisingly) edible, which made me want to try them. As far as I know, however, no grocery stores sell them in Japan. (It's like shaggy soldiers.) You may think now I can just pick some and have a bite but I don't want to because they grow on roadsides, which means dogs drop by there to pee and/or poo. I cannot find where I can get HYGIENICALLY safe flatweeds.    

2025/3/21

2025/3/21

2025/3/21

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles Speciosa) ボケ（木瓜）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Deep bright red flowers surrounded by green leaves caught my eye. They're flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). Their cup shaped (or chubby!) flowers are so adorable. When open, however, they'll turn out different, changing their perception to gorgeous like those in the 3th and 4th photos (taken last year). 

Flowering quince produces not only red but also pink, orange and white flowers.  

2025/3/20

2024/3/22

Dandelion (Taraxacum) - A Symbol of Diversity? タンポポ - 多様性の象徴？

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Dandelions (Taraxacum) are here and there in Central Tokyo, heralding the arrival of spring (although it's sometimes still cold). 

When I was a kid, dandelions were everywhere also but they were shorter (as far as I remember), so I did some research, finding that the height of dandelions depends on timing. In early spring, they grow low, like covering the ground, to keep warm and become taller as the temperature goes up. 

Now, dandelions native to Japan, those native to Europe, and their crossbreeds co-exist. Japan is getting more diverse in terms of not only people but dandelions! 

2025/3/18

2025/3/18

2025/3/18

2021/3/6

Pinwheel Daisy フウウシャギク（風車菊）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Not the bright pink color but the spoon shaped petals caught my eye. This is a pinwheel daisy growing at a bus stop (2nd photo). It's called "fusha giku" in Japanese, meaning "windmill mum." I want to see it spinning like a windmill/pinwheel although it would die if it really spun😵.

2025/3/10

2025/3/10

Okame Cherry (Prunus Incamp Cv. Okame) オカメザクラ（お亀桜）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is an Okame cherry tree in full bloom! I thought at first it was a Kawazu cherry tree. While Kawazu and Okame cherry trees resemble each other—both blooming early with deep pink flowers—Okame petals are a bit smaller. The Okame cherry was actually bred by Collingwood Ingram, a British authority on Japanese cherry trees.

If you're interested in learning about other types of cherry blossoms, check out my other post, 'List of Cherry Blossoms'!

2025/3/2

2025/3/2

2025/3/2

Oriental False Hawksbeard (Youngia Japonica) オニタビラコ（鬼田平子）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Not flowers but fluff caught my eye. They're Oriental false hawksbeard (Youngia japonica). The Oriental false hawksbeard flowers look like dandelions and they both are in the Asteraceae family but in different genera, i.e., the former in the Youngia genus while the latter in the Taraxacum genus.

2025/3/1

2025/3/1

2025/3/1

Red Japanese Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Japonica F. Incarnata) アカバナマンサク（赤花万作）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

When writing about Japanese witch-hazel (which was yellow) yesterday, I learned that the plant produces red flowers and surprisingly, today, I found them! This made me do further research, leading to finding that there is another genus in the witch-hazel family which produces white flowers from April to May. I've got to find them!

2025/2/24

2025/2/24

2025/2/24

Hidden Bittercress (Cardamine Occulta) タネツケバナ（種漬花）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Native to East Asia, the hidden bittercress (Cardamine occulta) grows across Japan, producing small white flowers from March to May. 

2025/2/20

Pink, White, and Pink/White Plum Blossoms (Prunus Mume) 紅白＆源平咲きの梅

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

A Japanese apricot tree, which had almost no flowers last week, has come into bloom with deep pink blossoms, creating the beautiful contrast against the white blooms and the blue sky.    

In Japan, plum blossoms are less popular, attracting less attention than cherry blossoms, but during the Nara period (from 710 to 794), the other way round. People enjoyed viewing not cherry but plum blossoms while eating, drinking, and composing waka or Japanese poems under the trees in spring.

Some plum trees produce white and pink blossoms on the same tree. If you're interested in the mechanism, read this post! 

2025/2/15

2025/2/15

2025/2/15

2025/2/15