英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is not a post about a white double-flowered camellia sasanqua, but rather the pieces of paper tied to the tree. They are called omikuji, which are Japanese fortune-telling paper slips. You can buy one (shown in the 2nd photo) at almost any shrine or temple to find out what kind of luck you will have for the year. The luck rankings generally look like this:
The Paperbush is Depreciable in Japan! ミツマタは減価償却します！
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
An Oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) tree has started to bud. The tree is called "mitsumata" because its stem is said to always split into three (mitsu) prongs (mata). Oops! I forgot to confirm that was true.
An Oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) tree has started to bud. The tree is called "mitsumata" because its stem is said to always split into three (mitsu) prongs (mata). Oops! I forgot to confirm that was true.
The Oriental paperbush, kozo (Broussonetia), and gampi (Diplomorpha sikokiana) are known as the material for making washi or Japanese paper and the Oriental paperbush as the raw material for bank notes. The Oriental paperbush and kozo are depreciated over a useful life of five and nine years in Japan respectively while gampi isn't and I couldn't find out why only gampi is not.
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| 2025/1/3 |
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| 2025/1/3 |
Uninvited but Welcome Guest まだ帰りませんってば！
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The guest has been staying at a friend's house since a week ago. The friend's been checking up on the guest every day for the week, but the guest seems to have no intention to leave, just clinging on to a leaf of a ponytail palm tree (Beaucarnea recurvata). We're worried about the guest because it should die soon. The guest is a grasshopper.
The guest has been staying at a friend's house since a week ago. The friend's been checking up on the guest every day for the week, but the guest seems to have no intention to leave, just clinging on to a leaf of a ponytail palm tree (Beaucarnea recurvata). We're worried about the guest because it should die soon. The guest is a grasshopper.
I wondered why some grasshoppers are green while others brown and learned today they change the color from green to brown and vice versa in response to environmental conditions (e.g., overcrowding). I just wish this uninvited but welcome guest to live as comfortably as possible.
Hong Kong Kumquat (Fortunella Hindsii Swingle) マメキンカン（豆金柑）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a bonsai tree made from Hong Kong kumquat (Fortunella hindsii Swingle) and a moss ball. I'm Japanese but have never grown a bonsai tree and never thought I would. Someone gave it to me and suddenly the responsibility to grow this bonsai has fallen on me. One of my New Year resolutions will be to keep it from drying out!
This is a bonsai tree made from Hong Kong kumquat (Fortunella hindsii Swingle) and a moss ball. I'm Japanese but have never grown a bonsai tree and never thought I would. Someone gave it to me and suddenly the responsibility to grow this bonsai has fallen on me. One of my New Year resolutions will be to keep it from drying out!
Hassaku Orange ハッサク（八朔）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I found Chinese quince fruits scattered on the ground, brought two back home and made jam from them ten days ago. My next target now is these hassaku oranges.
I found Chinese quince fruits scattered on the ground, brought two back home and made jam from them ten days ago. My next target now is these hassaku oranges.
The tree grows in a public space and it's not so busy there but I'm pretty sure that neighbors like me want to have some of these, too for the same reason as mine. From today on, I need to be vigilant, going there as often as possible to pick them up as soon as they fall to the ground😆!
Aloe アロエ
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I found the buds in November and have been observing them since then and now I know what aloe flowers are like. These are flowers of aloes more specifically candelabra aloe (Aloe arborescens). I didn't know the aloe produces flowers or has two types, i.e., the Aloe arborescens and the Aloe vera. I can tell those in these photos are the former because the flowers are red. The Aloe vera produces yellow flowers.
I found the buds in November and have been observing them since then and now I know what aloe flowers are like. These are flowers of aloes more specifically candelabra aloe (Aloe arborescens). I didn't know the aloe produces flowers or has two types, i.e., the Aloe arborescens and the Aloe vera. I can tell those in these photos are the former because the flowers are red. The Aloe vera produces yellow flowers.
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| 2024/12/24 |
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| 2024/12/24 |
False Holly (Osmanthus Heterophyllus) ヒイラギ（柊）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are false holly flowers (Osmanthus heterophyllus). They're so tiny and white, looking innocent. Something else attracted my attention, however. The leaves on the 1st photo are all round unlike the plant's usual leaf shape. Then I learned that false holly trees change their leaf shape from spiky to round as they age and/or from round to spiky in response to hungry animals according to a Japanese tree doctor. Whether either or both are correct, this shows the adaptability of plants.
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| 2024/12/22 |
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| 2024/12/22 |
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| 2024/12/22 |
East Asian Eurya (Eurya Japonica) 姫榊（ヒサカキ）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are flowers of East Asian eurya (Eurya japonica). In Japan, the East Asian eurya is used for Shinto rituals. It's understandable that their flower language in Japan is "Respect deities."
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| 2024/3/24 |
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| 2024/3/24 |
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| 2024/3/24 |
Maple Leaves in Autumn もみじの紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Some leaves are still green but that makes the perfect color gradients from green to yellow, orange and red. Autumn leaves are beautiful but more beautiful against the blue sky.
Some leaves are still green but that makes the perfect color gradients from green to yellow, orange and red. Autumn leaves are beautiful but more beautiful against the blue sky.
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| 2024/12/14 |
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| 2024/12/27 |
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| 2024/12/27 |
Autumn Leaves - Their Way of Turning Red 紅葉してますけどそれが何か？
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I was doing jump rope and squats in a small park nearby this morning as usual, turned around, saw this, and murmured, "What the hell?," and then burst out laughing! Autumn leaves usually make me say "Wow" with their magnificent color gradients, but this vine of leaves caught my eye with not the bright red color but their way of being! Every leaf has their own way of turning red.
I was doing jump rope and squats in a small park nearby this morning as usual, turned around, saw this, and murmured, "What the hell?," and then burst out laughing! Autumn leaves usually make me say "Wow" with their magnificent color gradients, but this vine of leaves caught my eye with not the bright red color but their way of being! Every leaf has their own way of turning red.
Heart-Shaped Yellow Leaves ハート形の黄葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
One or two may not have caught my eye but that many hearts did and made me smile.
One or two may not have caught my eye but that many hearts did and made me smile.
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Gourd-shaped Jingdezhen Wucai Vase 五彩金襴手瓢形大瓶
英語の後に日本語が続きます。 Standing over 60 cm tall, this gourd-shaped porcelain vase is a piece of Jingdezhen wucai (five-color) overglaze enamel and ...
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