purple flowers

Vivid purple flowers are blooming.

chrysanthemum

In May of Japan, it usually is buautiful weather.  This year is different.  So hot.  Today it was 39 degree even in Hokkaido, northest place.

In my tiny garden, very tiny place is expressed as  "cat's forehead size" in Japanese,  yellow chrysanthemums are blooming.

Boy's Festival with carp streamers

May 5th is a holiday called Boy's Festival.  We hang up Koinobori or carp streamers to pray for childeren's health.

Koinobori's origin is said fish race in ancient China.  The winner was a carp among fishes and it became dragon. 

Carp streamers are symbols of family, a father, a mother and children.  You can see.

Reiwa Era begins, praying for "harmonious" world

Today is the first day of "Reiwa" era.  People try to explain the meaning of "Reiwa".  I want to express it as "harmony".  Hoping the "harmonious" world come true.

The Last day of "Heisei" era

Japanese has another calender in addition to the Western one.  

The unique Japanese one is named in accordance with the emperors.

The current era is Heise with Emperor Akihito.

The meaning of Heisei is "peace" and  "realization".   

Sakurasou

"Sakura" generally means "Someiyoshino" in Japan.  We await their blossoms because we can feel "spring has come".

Here's another sakura.  "Sakurasou" means Sakura Grass.

You know it as "primrose", the prime role flower blooming.

April is the "spring awaited", "beginning", "starting time" in Japan.

Daphne in Japan

March brings the scent of spring.  Now we enjoy Daphne odora in Japan. 

Hinamatsuri or Girl's festival

Today is Girl's festival in Japan, called "Hinamatsuri".
To pray for her health and happiness.
Some people decorate dolls depicting the imperial court.

Hope all girls be happy.

Crocus vernus or Blooming in spring

I love seeing crocus growing up from the cold land.
They have such distinctive shapes and come in so vivid yellow.
I thought I’d share some of them near my home.
Their scientific name is "crocus vernus", "crocus" means "croke (yarn)" in Greek and "vernus" means "blooming in spring".         

         

End of February or so-called "Kisaragi" / Snow-on-the-Mountain or "first snow grass"

We are in the end of February.
February is 2nd month of the year and so called Kisaragi in Japanese.
Kisaragi means to wear more dresses to prevent body from cold air.

While it is cold, it will only last a day or two. Despite overnight lows under zero degree, a shrub in my garden shows absolutely no sign of being affected.

Snow-on-the-Mountain or "first snow grass" in Japan.

Waiting for Spring with plum blossoms "ume"

Red plum blossoms are beautiful now in Tokyo.  We call them "ume" in Japanese.  When we meet them we feel the spring is coming.