Signs of Spring on a Cold Day

 We had a cold rain on Sunday. In the afternoon, I took these flower photos, feeling a chill in the air. Spring seems to have a short standstill. 

 Andromeda flowers look like a lily of the valley. The name of this tree is written 馬酔木 meaning a tree of horse getting sick. I don't know whether this plant contains any substance of nerve stimulation.

 The petal is thick and dry.  You may think the flowers are artificial when you put them on the palm.

 Crocuses know the time of opening their flowers well. 

 This one is a little bit late for opening.

 I always feel mysterious when seeing christmas rose open its gorgeous flowers at low temperature.

 I wonder what insect despite of a shivering day comes to the flower.

I have been looking forward to see sprouts of fuki or giant butterbur. They have opened up due to some successive warm days. In Japanese cuisine, younger ones just coming out of the ground are cooked "tempura". People love its bitter taste.

Finding Signs of Spring in a Leap Year 閏年探春

 Plum blossoms are in full bloom under the blue sky. The small blossoms do not hesitate coldness.

Plums were brought from China more than 1300 years ago. In those days, poets were affected by Chinese sense of beauty and made more poems of plum than cherry. 

 This is a young cabbage plant. The soil is still dry as it does not rain much in this season.

 Is this type of vinyl hothouse for spinach popular in your area?

 Cherry buds are still sleeping.

  

 Good fragrance.

 I was surprised to find this winter cherry for the first time in my city. Reddish blossoms have opened. 

 A house on the northside protects this cherry against cold north winds.

 Purple henbit tells me the approach of spring every year. 日復一日 年復一年 周而復始

 Shepherd's purse has lots of small flowers. This plant was treated edible in ancient times.

Lines of young wheat are talking together about coming of warm days.

Mikan (Japanese orange) 橘子

 I got some mikans yesterday. To my surprise, each of them are put in a paper bag printed a red trade mark. I like this Mt. Fuji plate.

 They were cut by scissors and still keep a part of the twig. This arrangement might have been done  to heighten the commodity value of this special mikan. 

They are only 4 to 5 cm big. 

Sweet? Yes! I feel as if this contained lots of sugar.

Hikawa Jinja Shrine 2 (calcareous breccia)

To the west just 50 meters from the main building of this shrine, there still remains a small pond called "Snake Pond", though it looks artificial now. Your are prohibited to go into the water. In ancient days, there were lots of swamps in this area. People might perform seasonal rituals praying for  good fishing here.

 Green leopard plants open vivid yellow flowers under the winter sunshine.

 You may have seen this straw mat bound on a pine tree. Insects dislike coldness and come under it during the winter. If not, they will make a hole and damage the tree.

Gardeners will take off this before the coming spring. 

 This is another stage for ritual dancing.

A lion sculpture on a pole looks humorous.

 STONES GATHER ROUND AND BECOME A BIG ROCK AFTER SPENDING LONG TIME ?
Rains become calcic water through small lime stones and the water can glue stones together. The long repetition of this process makes a big rock. Ancient people believed small stones came together and changed into a rock.

I wish you a Happy New Year !

Hikawa Jinja Shrine

 This shrine is located near Tokyo. The approach is quite long and tall big trees are planted on the both sides. 

 The main gate is painted red, a divine color.  

 This building is the hall of worship. People clap their hands twice and pray their happiness.

 This building is called "kagura den" where sacred music and dancing are dedicated. The day I visit was the gala day for boys of three and five and girls of three and seven. Parents pray their children's health and happiness.

 All sides are decorated with three patterns, three swirls, a circle and U shaped one. They might have important meanings.  

 Hikawa Jinja has many small shrines. I love this simplicity.

You will see many giant trees in the precincts of shrines in this country. I love this atmosphere.

Autumn the harvest: Persimmon and Buckwheat Noodle 柿子和蕎麥麵

Persimmons have grown bigger and its color has changed from green to orange. After a few weeks they will become more reddish.

This still keeps a square shape.

 Persimmon leaves have turned red brilliantly. 

 From the late October and the early November,  you can enjoy buckwheat noodles (soba) made with new flour just harvested this autumn. The above serving style is called mori-soba. Noodles are put on a bamboo mat. Two spices on a small dish are sliced long green onion and wasabi. A cup of dipping sauce is under the dish.

This noodle is made by hand. A skillful artisan cut each noodle with a large knife. The flour contains fine ground-up husk. Its nutty flavor will give you a good appetite.

Climbing With Sweats 爬山锻炼身体

 Last weekend I climbed Mt. Teruishi, a low mountain 419 meters high. At the beginning, I  went up the stone steps slowly, while my thighs were being complained to my little adventure. These are the steps I went up.

 And these are to be climbed.

You sometimes have to climb a steep slope.

 

I held this root to stabilize my body.

I had a beautiful landscape in exchange for  sweats. The humidity was not high that day, I was able to see far under the blue autumn sky.

 

Most rocks on the top are this kind. I think these are limestones with stratification.

 I found this white stone. The mountain is called "Shining Stone Mt.". I imagine white stones gave old people an impression of shining.

 I found out a mushroom. Do you think this is edible?

 This big one is called "Horse Hoof Rock". The hollow shape in the center looks like it.