Hassaku Marmalade 八朔マーマレード

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This is the marmalade I made from the hassaku oranges I wrote about yesterday. I like marmalade for not only its sour, bitter, and sweet taste but also the color!! 

Hassaku orange marmalade 八朔ジャム

Don't Throw Away the Hassaku Oranges! 八朔捨てないで！

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

These're hassaku oranges harvested this year. And there's a story about them. 

In my neighborhood, there are two places where the land owners grow the oranges. They grow the oranges not for sale, which means no pesticides on them. As it's almost impossible to get fruits with no pesticides applied these days, I called one of the places, a hospital, to ask if I could get several of them. Their answer was no. They said they would make jam for their patients. So, I contacted the other place, i.e., an office building. The staff of the property manager were surprised but said "Okay!" That was about a month ago. 

Then, today, knowing it was time to harvest, I went there and got nine hassaku oranges and have already started making jam from five of them. (That's why the pictures are of only four oranges.)  

Sadly, however, one of the staff said that this was only this year and that they won't be able to do the same next year. He said that the oranges weren't theirs but the property owner's and the owner or a real estate investment trust didn't like the idea of giving the oranges to anyone. I see that the company wants to take no risk and has chosen to let the fruits fall from the tree and rot on the ground. But it's just mottainai, isn't it? 

I've been thinking of calling next year the property owner to negotiate with them to make jam again😝!! For the definition and usage of "mottainai," read this post. 

Hassaku oranges 八朔

Baby Achenes of Clematis Terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) 仙人草（センニンソウ）の赤ちゃん痩果

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Do you know what they are? If not, see the third photo😀. 

These are achenes of Clematis terniflora or sweet autumn clematis. I saw the achenes surrounded by feather like white long tails in early November (after which its Japanese name is given), but these baby achenes are so cute! Its Japanese name is "sennin so (meaning hermit plant)," given after a hermit's beard-like long white tails. If you're interested in such beard-like long white tails, read this post. 

The third photo was taken on the same day. Clematis are supposed to flower from July to September, but these clematis have flowers and achenes both at the same time.   

Achenes of Clematis terniflora 仙人草の痩果

Fall Foliage with Still Green Leaves 緑と赤の秋

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This is a Japanese maple tree at Hibiya Park, Tokyo. Tree leaves have turned red and yellow everywhere but the combination of red and still green leaves is unusual. The temperature has dropped across Japan, however. The Japanese autumn leaves season will soon be over.   

A Japanese maple tree　紅葉

White Camellia Sasanqua (Japanese Camellia) 白い山茶花

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These are Camellia sasanqua or more commonly known as Japanese camellia at Atago Jinja shrine. Japanese camellias are in bloom in many places in Tokyo, including these white ones, and the bright pink and white and pink marble ones in my neighborhood.

Red Camellia sasanqua flowers mean "modesty" and "you're the most beautiful." The pink ones represent "eternal love" and the white ones are a symbol of "charming" and "you reject my love."

White Camellia sasanqua 白い山茶花

White Japanese camellia 白いサザンカ

Ardisia Crenata (Coral Berry) 万両（マンリョウ）

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These are fruits of Ardisia crenata or more commonly known as coral berry at Atago Jinja shrine, Tokyo. The berries can be seen in many places in Tokyo now but (I think) these ones are bigger than usual. 

The plant is called "10,000 ryo" in Japanese. The term "ryo" is a unit of weight or currency used by Japan and several other Asian countries, and based on the value of rice, one ryo is worth about 1,500 dollars.

Japan has not only manryo or 10,000 ryo, but also 1,000 ryo (senryo), 100 ryo (hyakuryo), and 10 ryo (juryo).

Ardisia crenata 万両

Clematis Terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) 仙人草（センニンソウ）

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

These are flowers of Clematis terniflora or sweet autumn clematis. The plant usually flowers from July to September and I saw its achenes surrounded by feather like white long tails in another place early this month. So, why are these flowers still in full bloom? This should be another proof of global warming.

Clematis terniflora 仙人草

Sweet autumn clematis センニンソウ

Solanum Nigrum (Black Nightshade) After the Rain 雨上がりの犬酸漿（イヌホオズキ）

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These are flowers and fruits of Solanum nigrum or black nightshade. All of them were facing downward because of the rain yesterday!

Flowers and fruits of Solanum nigrum facing downward 犬酸漿の花と実

Pale Pink Camellia Sasanqua (Sasanqua Camellia) 薄ピンクの山茶花（サザンカ）

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These are Camellia sasanqua or more commonly sasanqua camellia in my neighborhood. A week ago, I wrote about white and pink marble sasanqua. The camellia season has come.

Sasanqua camellia flowers resemble those of Japanese camellia, but their blooming season and fruits are completely different. Sasanqua camellia starts to flower earlier, i.e., from October, and the fruits are hairy while Japanese camellia starting to flower from December and the fruits being bigger with no hair. Read this post to see the different fruits! 

Camellia sasanqua 山茶花

We Love to Bask in the Sun! 日向ぼっこ大好き！

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Not only humans but also bugs love to bask in the sun, like this ladybug and the dragonfly (2nd photo)! I usually take a walk in the early morning before dawn, but went out at around 9 a.m. today to have a flu shot. I hate shots but was lucky to see them!  

It didn't move an inch 微動だにせず

Unusual to see dragonflies in November in Japan! 11月のトンボは珍しいです

Euscaphis Japonica (Korean Sweetheart Tree) 権萃（ゴンズイ）

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These are fruits of Euscaphis japonica, commonly called Korean sweetheart tree, at the Institute for Nature Study, i.e., a park or forest in the heart of Central Tokyo. The contrast between the bright red fruits and the black seeds against the green leaves and the blue sky was so beautiful. 

The Korean sweetheart tree is said to have been named after "gonzui" in Japanese after another "gonzui," Plotosus japonicus or Japanese eeltail catfish. 

Euscaphis japonica 権萃

Korean sweetheart tree ゴンズイ