Nakanoshima Rose Garden

We headed to Nakanoshima Rose Garden in central Osaka, surrounded by urban high rises. it was gorgeous, except it was enormously hot and humid last Sunday.

Lake Biwa Canal 2014

Last spring, we visited this canal in Kyoto side. The other side of this canal is located just next to Onjo-ji temple in Shiga. This way, residents in Kyoto receive a stable water supply from Lake Biwa . It draws a lot of cherry blossom viewers in the season.

overlook view from Onjo-ji

From the observatory, you can overlook Otsu city and Lake Biwa .

Onjo-ji temple

Onjo-ji temple is beautiful in the beginning of April with its cherry blossoms.

new year's eve and ume flowers

Tonight is new year’s eve on Japanese traditional calendar, which is similar to Chinese calendar but slightly different. That means, officially tomorrow will be the first day of spring.
Japanese apricot flowers, a sign of early spring are blooming.

hibiscus

hibiscus is not seen in mainland Japan, based on my observation.

Chinese Trumpet vine

Chinese Trumpet vine is a common flower in summer.
Do they play chinese pops?

iris in Heian Shrine

West garden is almost like sanctuary for small animals like killifish, dragonflies and so on in central Kyoto with out of the world air.

cherry blossoms 2013

I missed the best season again. the petals had started falling while the trees start to sprout new leaves. 


  

the blossoms are getting replaced by green leaves.

plum blossoms 2013

We hit Osaka Castle again.
full of bloom, full of people.
the branches are rugged compared to those of cherry trees.
Red and White Plum Blossoms by Ogata Korin is at MOA, just for reference.

myoga

homegrown myoga
you slice them and put then in miso soup, or eat with soba noodle or tempura.

rice field to crop

It is still super hot and muggy, but harvest season is coming near.

a rainy season

hydrangea is said to change its color as the days go on.

a kousa dogwood

it is a tall tree, and the flowers are like handkerchieves or yachts.

before blowing a dandelion puff

stay full, stay spherical.

directly from the trunk

in full bloom

half a week behind Tokyo area, cherry blossoms have come into bloom.

Daphne odora

can spot it right away, for its fragrance.
blooms only in this season.
how soon will we get able to coney smell online?

a snowy day(2)

have put the plum tree from the pot into the ground.
are they snowflakes or petals....

today's ume, the plum

surely growing out of the pot