July 11, 2019
June 20, 2019
Iwatabako (Conandron ramondioides) flowers: Tokei-ji
The summer rainy season has just arrived here to bring abundant merciful rainwater for further fertilizing all living things which continue growing vigorously now. Plants are flourishing steadily and increasing their bright greenness as if to show an ambition to fully cover this world with their shades of green.
On the moist rock face, where moss and fern grow densely, countless lively leaves of Iwatabako spread thickly. Its star-shaped violet flowers protrude quietly one after another from beneath these shiny leaves to greet the rainy season of growth graciously.
Kaiu (arum lily) and Kakitsubata (Iris laevigata) flowers: Kaizo-ji
Rain clouds are starting to gather thick above this garden.
At the water's edge of the quiet pond, the white silky flowers of calla and iris are blooming secretly without being noticed.
The gentle sunlight is descending from the cloudy sky and is caressing these dainty flowers tenderly before it starts raining.
Iwatabako (Conandron ramondioides) flowers: Tokei-ji
The flowering period of each Iwatabako flower is only three or four days.
This little pentagram flower falls without scattering and lies on the wet ground in its flowering figure like a violet shooting star which has just fallen to the earth.
In the woods where summer birds are singing merrily, the flowers of Iwatabako are timidly gazing at me from the high rock face and I feel as if that I heard their secret whispering about the beauty and mystery of our universe.
Iwagarami (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) flowers: Tokei-ji
The interlacing stems and branches of Iwagarami are clinging on the rough rock face behind the Buddha hall of this temple. Its numberless small flowers are blooming modestly in the green‐hued shade to fulfill their own duties for life and growth devotedly.
The pure-white ornamental flower, which resembles a single teardrop petal, is decorating the cluster of cream-colored flowers and is reflecting the pale sunlight from the overcast sky like a clear mirror to notify insects of the inconspicuous flowers.
May 28, 2019
Waterlily Pond: Ofuna Botanical Garden (Kamakura)
Bathed in the bright liquid sun, the pure white flowers and blue-green leaves of Suiren (waterlily) are quietly floating on the surface of the tranquil pond as if to be filled with joy in the inconspicuous beginning of summer.
The ever-changing reflection of the deep blue sky, the violet flowers, and the fresh green leaves is softly glinting on the rippled water.
The subtle and endless transition of sunlight, colors, and shades composes a piece of silent water music for this waterlily pond, which continues flowing harmoniously at an eternal moment here.
(As an homage to Claude Monet)
Rose garden: Ofuna Botanical garden (Kamakura)
Summer has begun advancing steadily, bringing the dazzling sunlight from the blue sky and the bracing wind through fresh green treetops. All living things are vigorously growing to fleetly release all their life-force stored before now.
In this peaceful rose garden, numberless flowers of various colors are blooming with all their might and are jubilantly competing with each other for splendor and aroma.
Like these colorful roses which are in all their glory before my eyes, every flower of each season blooms finely to show the hidden signs and wonders of our evermoving universe.
(Additional photographs of the rose garden are uploaded to my another photoblog, "Like floating clouds and flowing streams.")
Shakuyaku (Paeonia lactiflora) flowers: Ofuna Botanical Garden (Kamakura)
These Chinese peony flowers in full bloom made me recall the picture entitled "Peony Garden" painted by Monet (owned by National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo).
Utsugi (Deutzia crenata) flowers and Komisuji (Neptis sappho) butterfly: Engaku-ji
In the secret grassy garden, where birds are warbling delightedly in the grove, I saw a small butterfly with three-striped black wings gently fluttering around the tiny white flowers to seek the floral nectar they give.
Hakuunboku (Styrax obassia) flowers: Engaku-ji
The elongated flower cluster formed from the separate white flowers open in succession appears like a snow-white cloud floating in the sky, which is the origin of the Japanese given-name "Haku-un-boku" (white cloud tree) of this kind of tree.
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