A sign of spring

Plum blossoms began to bloom. Spring seems to be one step closer.

Japanese plum blossoms in Oyama-city

Japanese plum blossoms were at their best time to see in the plum garden of city park in Oyama.

Fallen leaves

I've stopped walking for a while and I've seen so beautiful fallen leaves.

One Sunday afternoon at the park

A happy family in the autumn sunlight.

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.

The place where all women look beautiful

It is the place called Bijin-Bayashi (美人林) where is located in the Tohka-machi city in Niigata Prefecture.
It is said that all women look beautiful in the grove by the soft sunlight which comes through green leaves of Japanese beech.
That's why the place named Bijin-Bayashi literally means the grove of beauties.

Click the image below for more large size.

peony, likened to a beautiful woman

The photo has been originally uploaded by Yuichi Mmma's photostream in flickr.

In Japan, the word of peony is to be used as a description of gorgeous and beautiful woman like that ”she sits and stands a peony and walks a lily”.

On the other hand, the floral design of the peony is told to have been popular among yakuzas, which means Japanese gangsters, as a motif of their tattoos.
Because, peony is likened to the king of flower.

peony, the King of Flowers

The photo has been originally uploaded by Yuichi Momma's photostream in flickr.

The peony originates from China. 

It is thought that the plant was introduced to Japan in the early 8the century.

This flower is likened to "the king of flowers", because of its gorgeous form and beauty.　

A beauty of Spring

The photo has been originally uploaded by Photoholic's photostream in flickr

I love the bokeh that made by an old lens, Nikkor-S Auto 50mm F1.4 which was released in 1962.

It is one of keepsakes from my father.

Thank you for your viewing and kind comments. Happy weekend to you all!!

The photo was taken by FujifilmX-E1 with Nikkor-S Auto 50mm F1.4.

Cherry tree over 100 years old

The image has been originally uploaded by flickr photostream

This weeping cherry tree is estimated to be over 100 years old. Many aged people visit there for flower viewing, and they wish to share a long life with this long-lived tree.
Thank you for seeing this picture. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

the tree of resurrection

The image above have been originally uploaded and shared by flickr photostream

There is an old tree of Kobushi Magnolia in my neighbourhood. It is said that the  tree was struck by lightning long time ago and damaged in half of a trunk of the tree.  People thought the tree died at that time. However,  the tree began to grow new branches in spring of the following year. The tree was thought to be dead but it was revived. Since people came to believe that the God dwells in this tree, therefore, the tree has been worshipped as a sacred tree, and it Is referred to as the tree of resurrection.　The tree blooms a lot of beautiful flowers every year as shown in this photo.

sparkling bloom, Cornelian Cherries

sparkling bloom, Cornelian Cherries, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This flower is called Sansyu-yu (山茱萸) in Japanese, and it is one of species of dogwood . The plant is a flowering tree, usually 5 feet to 20 feet tall as shown in below. Sansyu-yu is also one of flowers that blooms in early spring as same as Japanese plum blossoms.

in the shine of bright sunlight in early spring

in the shine of bright sunlight in early spring, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

It will soon be the Vernal Equinox Day.
Light of the sun has also increased warmth.
Mood to the spring increases in my mind.

Flower arrangement with hanging scroll in Tokonoma

Flower arrangement with hanging scroll in Tokonoma, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

This is an image of typical Japanese taste.
A flower arrangement and Kakejiku (hanging scroll) are displayed in the alcove, which is called Tokonoma in Japanese, in a room of my home.
The scene like this is widely common in Japanese homes.
A picture of horses is drawn on the hanging scroll that is called ink wash painting or brush painting. Technique of ink wash painting was developed in China in the 7th century. I bought that hanging scroll at a souvenir shop in Gui-Lin (桂林） or Xia Men 厦門 more than a decade ago.

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.

plum brossoms

plum brossoms, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

The air is still cold, but the sunlight has already become bright and spring-like.
At last the plum trees just started to bloom in the town where I live in.

A camellia in flower arrangement

 
A camellia in flower arrangement, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Some of camellia trees in my neighbourhood were broken down because of heavy weight of snow which has fallen last weekend. Based on the ready consent of a tree owner, I broke off some of the branches, which had some buds, from broken tree and brought them back to my home to make flower arrangement. The one of them has just bloomed so beautifully this morning.

　

Trees of White Birch and Snow-huts

Trees of White Birch and Snow-huts, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

I enjoyed hot spring bathing in one Ryokan at Yumoto Onsen after two miles of snowshoe trekking in Senjyo-ga-hara.
The Yumoto onsen is located at the far end of Oku-Nikko area, and the place is famous in hot spring resort. People visit there to enjoy both ski or snowboard and hot spring bathing. The photos here show Kamakura Matsuri, that means Snow-hut Festival, held at Yumoto onsen in order to promote tourism. Many foreign visitors from Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and other countries also visit there to enjoy wonderful nature of Oku-Nikko.
As for the access information for Nikko, try to check here.

snowstorm

snowstorm, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

Heavy snowstorm struck Japan on Saturday. All domestic flights departing from Tokyo were cancelled due to heavy snow. Other all public transportations were also delayed or cancelled.
According to the TV news, more than 400 people were injured by accidents which related by snow. Fortunately, I was safe even I took a walk in snow to take photos of snowy scene.
The image above was taken at a Shinto shrine in my neighbourhood.

a moth on leaves of Japanese pepper

a moth on leaves of Japanese pepper, originally uploaded by photoholic image.

There is a spiny shrub called Japanese Pepper in my garden. This is an aromatic plant which gives very refreshing smell when we rub or crumple up leaves. In addition, we use berries of this plant widely in Japanese cooking. Mixed with berries of Japanese pepper and dried whitebaits is my favorite side dish that is to be topping on a bowl of rice.