Winter Hazel (Corylopsis) ヒュウガミズキ（日向水木）、トサミズキ（土佐水木）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Winter hazel (Corylopsis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The plant produces a cluster of 1 to 8 yellow flowers from March to April. So pretty! 

In Japan, you would see mainly two types of Corylopsis, Corylopsis pauciflora and Corylopsis spicata, and there are several differences according to the internet. A Corylopsis pauciflora tree produces a cluster of 1 to 3 flowers with yellow anthers while a Corylopsis spicata tree is larger, producing a cluster of 7 to 8 flowers with red anthers. So, it should be easy to tell one from the other but it's not for me. The post therefore contains photos of both types. When I become able to tell which is which, I'll create a post for Corylopsis pauciflora and Corylopsis spicata each. 

2026/3/8

2026/3/8

White Daphne (Daphne Odora Alba) シロバナジンショウゲ（白花沈丁花）

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This is Daphne odora Alba. Winter daphne is native to southern China, coming to Japan before the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573) and now can be found across Japan. As one of the most fragrant plants in Japan with cape jasmine and orange sweet osmanthus, winter daphne produces fragrant flowers from February to April. Winter daphne usually produces white and pink flowers, but it also produces white and "cream white" flowers.  

2026/3/8

2026/3/8

Yaoyorozu No Kami (Eight Million Deities) - Everything Flows

I've been looking for some guidance in life for the last couple of years. I thought I would be able to find it in the teachings of True Pure Land Buddhism because I come from a family that follows the school, but I wasn't able to. The True Pure Land school teaches that enlightenment can be realized through tariki, or 'other power,' but I don't believe in relying on an external power to attain enlightenment.

Variegated Camellias 斑入り椿

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You would find Japanese camellias here and there in Tokyo (and across Japan) but not so often when it comes to variegated blooms. 

Interestingly, some camellia trees have blooms of different colors, e.g., deep pink, pale pink, and variegated, depending on the amount of anthocyanins. The tree in the 1st and 2nd photos has only one variegated bloom while the tree in the 5th photo has both pink and variegated blooms. Nature always fascinates me!   

Japanese camellias have been appreciated since at least the 8th century in Japan and cultivated for a long time across Japan (and in other countries, too). As a result, there currently exist about 250 types of Japanese camellias worldwide.  

2026/3/6

2026/3/6

Cucumber Herb (Trigonotis Peduncularis) 胡瓜草（キュウリグサ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Small plants have woken up from winter sleep. These are cucumber herbs (Trigonotis peduncularis). Cucumber herbs are native to Asia, producing tiny flowers (0.2-0.3 cm in diameter) from March to May. Because of such tininess, they're invisible, often removed or trampled without being noticed. But no worries. Cucumber herbs are so hardy that they always survive, bringing you happiness.   

2026/2/28

2026/2/28

2026/2/28

Taiwan Cherry Blossoms (Prunus Campanulata) カンヒザクラ（寒緋桜）

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Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata) is native to Japan, Taiwan, southern and eastern China, and Vietnam, blooming from January (in Okinawa; the southernmost and westernmost prefecture) to March (the mainland) in Japan. The blossoms are pink but much deeper than other cherry blossoms and are bell shaped, which is also different from others. 

Cherry blossoms usually mean Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms (Prunus x yedoensis) in mainland Japan but Taiwan cherry in Okinawa. Somei Yoshino and Taiwan cherry blossoms are quite different but both are beautiful respectively. 

2024/3/3

2024/3/3

Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) ムスカリ（葡萄風信子）

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Grape hyacinth (Muscari) is native to Eurasia but can be found across Japan, producing flowers from March to April in the country. Grape hyacinth is known to have blue purple flowers but some produce white or pink flowers. 

According to "A to Z Flowers," Muscari or grape hyacinth is a symbol of "power," "confidence," "mystery" and "creativity." In the Japanese language of flowers, however, the plant means "disappointment." 

2026/3/1

Japanese Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Japonica) マンサク（満作）

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Japanese witch-hazel (Hamamelis japonica) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces string shaped flowers with yellow petals and red sepals from February to March. The Japanese witch-hazel signifies the return of happiness in Japan. 

2026/3/1

2026/3/1

2026/2/23

Lenten Rose (Helleborus Orientalis) クリスマスローズ（寒芍薬）

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Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) is native to Greece and Turkey but can be found across Japan now, known as "Christmas rose."

The plant tag nearby also says "クリスマスローズ (Christmas rose)" and this is understandable because in Japan, the Lent period is almost unknown. You would find it strange to see "Christmas roses" for the Lent period but there is a saying that "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." So, when in Japan, please do call the Lenten rose "Christmas rose"!

2026/2/27

2026/2/27

2026/2/27

Weeping Plum Blossoms しだれ梅

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You can find many Chinese plum trees in Tokyo but not so many when it comes to weeping ones. Usual plum blossoms are beautiful but weeping plum blossoms are more gorgeous and spectacular when in full bloom!

 
Plants make people more talkative. A Hamilton's spindletre tree did so and plum trees did so, too. And thanks to that, I learned about the only weeping Japanese plum tree in my neighborhood (as far as I know) and was able to take these pictures. 

The last three photos were taken three years ago in Ueno, Tokyo on a late afternoon when the Moon started rising in the sky.

2025/2/22

2026/2/8

2026/2/8

2026/2/12

Golden Mimosa (Acacia Baileyana) ギンヨウアカシア（銀葉金合歓）

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Golden mimosa (Acacia baileyana) is native to Australia but can be found across Japan. The trees produce beautiful golden flowers from January to March and show beautiful red leaves in autumn. 

2026/2/24

2026/2/24