plum blossoms

It was fairly cold this morning, but I found plum blossoms when I went for a stroll.
Barely two or three flowers were only bloomed in a twig. I felt that it was far in spring.

buds

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buds, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It was an impressive scene that the fluff of buds were shining with sunlight.
I felt from such scene like spring is just around the corner.

in a sunny room

in a sunny room, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I was a reluctant to take a walk on such cold day.
So I have decided to take photos of potted flower in the sunny room.

Association to La Dame aux camélias (The Lady of Camellias)

La Dame aux camélias (The Lady of Camellias), originally uploaded by photoholic image.

In Japanese, the flower in photo above is called "Otome Tsubaki" that means "Maiden of Camellia".
When I see a "Maiden of Camellia", I immediately think about a novel titled La Dame aux camelias or The Lady of Camellias written by Alexandre Dumas fils.

The further association is one of my favorite operas La traviata composed by Giuseppe Verdi based on the novel La dame aux Camélias.
Because, this opera is performed remain in the original title of the novel in Japan.

Let's enjoy "brindisi", and let's toast for your happy Sunday, for Maiden of Camellia too!


Best and attractive viewing of this image is in lightbox, and then click the key of "F11" for full-screen.
Thank you for your viewing. Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday and a week ahead!

burst to bloom

burst to bloom, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Japanese cornel, called "Sansyu-yu" in Japanese, bloomed like split opened or burst from a husk.
The plant is a species of dogwood family and native to China, and came to Japan via Korea peninsula at early 18the century as a medicinal plant.
It is said that the seeds harvested from the plant are to be effective in treating infertility and poor circulation.
The bud of this plant is wrapped in a hard husk shown in the image below.

waiting for spring, buds of the oriental paperbush

Cold and strong wind started to blow from late last night, and it was a sharp drop in the temperature this morning. It was very warm yesterday, but today was so cold and more than 10 degree Celsius lower than yesterday. I have come to know again it is still winter now, so buds are still hard and waiting for spring.
This plant is called Mitsumata in Japanese and the scientific name is Edgeworthia chrysantha. As for the English name, it is called Oriental Paperbush. The bark of this plant is used for raw material of Washi (means Japanese paper).


taken by Canon EOS40D with EF 100mm F2.8 macro USM, aperture priority mode, f8, 1/100, ISO400

冷たい強風が昨夜半から吹きはじめ、今朝は急激に気温が下がった。昨日はとても温かかったが、今日は昨日より１０度以上も気温が低かった。まだまだ冬であることを思い知らされた。蕾もまだ固く春を待ってる。
この植物はミツマタと言い、英語ではOriental Paperbushと呼ばれてる。樹皮は和紙の原料として利用される。