花桃(ハナモモ) hana peach

　小川の土手にハナモモが咲き始めました。咲き始めの花は、カップ咲きのバラのような姿をしています。

　Hana peach blossoms have begun to bloom on the bank of a stream. When the flower is just starting to bloom, it looks like a cup-shaped rose.

擁壁の水抜き穴 drainage hole in retaining wall

　擁壁の水抜き穴からシダが生えています。壁についた痕跡を見ると、風が吹くと葉がワイパーのように動くようです。

　Ferns are growing through the drainage holes in the retaining wall. Observing the traces on the wall, I wonder if leaves move like windshield wipers when the wind blows.

てるてる坊主 teru teru bozu

 　石楠花（シャクナゲ）の蕾は、てるてる坊主に似ていると思いませんか。カッパを着た人のようにも見えます。時代をさかのぼると、江戸時代の浮世絵に描かれた、てるてる坊主を見ることができます。それは、現在の簡単な作りと異なり、折り紙で作られているようです。面白いのは、明日の晴天を願う女性が、お猪口でてるてる坊主に、お酒を飲ませようとしていることです。事前のご褒美でしょうか。

　Do you think that rhododendron buds are like Teru Teru Bozu? It also appears to be a person wearing a raincoat. Going back in time, we can see Teru Teru Bozu depicted in Ukiyo-e prints from the Edo period. It appears to have been made in origami, unlike the simple structures we have today. What's interesting is that a woman, praying for clear skies tomorrow, is trying to give the Teru Teru Bozu some sake from a sake cup. Maybe it's a reward in advance?
　
Note; It is a traditional Japanese custom for children to hang handmade dolls called Teru Teru Bozu on the eaves of their houses in hopes of good weather.

シャクナゲ rhododendron

てるてる坊主 teru teru bozu
(c) weathernews.jp

天気にしたい wishing good weather
歌川国芳　Utagawa Kuniyoshi

とうがらし地蔵 Jizo decorated with chili peppers

　むかしむかしある所に、唐辛子の大好きなお婆さんがいました。医者が喉に悪いから唐辛子を控えるように、お婆さんにアドバイスをしました。それでも、お婆さんは好物の唐辛子を食べ続けたので、それが元で亡くなってしまいました。
　人々は、このおばあさんの死を悼み、お地蔵さんを作って、唐辛子をお供えしたということです。その後、このお地蔵様に祈願すると、喉の病気が治ると言われるようになったそうです。

　私の学生時代に、唐辛子の辛味を感じない友達がいました。周りの友達は面白がって、彼の食べ物に唐辛子をいっぱい入れるのですが、彼は平気な顔で水も飲まずに食べていました。いくら唐辛子を食べても、体の不調を招くことはないそうです。決して鈍感な人ではありませんでした。たまたま、道端でこのとうがらし地蔵に出会い、彼のことを思い出しました。今はどうしているのだろう。とうがらし地蔵にはなっていないと思います。

 

 　Once upon a time, there was an old woman who had a deep love for chili peppers. A doctor advised her to avoid chili peppers because they are bad for her throat. However, she continued to eat favorite chili peppers, which eventually led to her death.
　People mourned her death, built a Jizo and offered chili peppers to her. After a long time, a legend was born that praying to this Jizo will cure throat issues.

　During my time at school, I had a friend who couldn't sense the spiciness of chili peppers. Amused, his friends added much chili pepper to his food, but he ate it without any emotion and without drinking water. No matter how much chili pepper he eats, he says it doesn't make him feel physically uncomfortable. He was never a person who was insensitive. I happened to come across this Jizo on the roadside and was reminded of him. I wonder what he is doing now. I don't think he has become a Chili Pepper Jizo.

Note; A Jizo is a guardian deity who shields the souls of kids from going to hell. It has the shape of a Buddhist monk and is commonly found by the roadside.

不動 immobility

　植物は動物のように移動することができません。たまたま根づいた環境が厳しくても、泣き言も言わず、そこで耐えていくしかありません。
　もしかすると、ストレスを感じていないのかも。つくづく植物はたくましいと思います。

　ふと、宮沢賢治の手帳に書いた「雨ニモマケズ」を思い出しました。

　　雨ニモマケズ
　　風ニモマケズ
　　雪ニモ夏ノ暑サニモマケヌ
　　丈夫ナカラダヲモチ
　　欲ハナク
　　決シテ怒ラズ
　　イツモシヅカニワラッテイル
　（以下省略）

　Plants are unable to move like animals. Even if the environment where it happens to put down root is harsh, it has no choice but to endure there without complaint.
　It may not even be feeling stressed. I really think plants are tough.

　Unintentionally, I remembered the poem “AME Ni Mo Makezu” written by Miyazawa Kenji. 

　　The rain won't dampen my spirits

　　The wind won't sweep me off my feet.
　　I won't give in to snow or summer heat.
　　I will keep up with maintaining a healthy body.
　　I won't have any desire.
　　I won't get angry over anything.
　　I will always smile quietly.
    ( The rest is not included. )

Note: Miyazawa Kenji was a famous Japanese poet and writer who explored themes of nature, animals, and humanity in his works.
　“AME Ni Mo Makezu” means “Be not Defeated by the Rain.”

背高泡立草(セイタカアワダチソウ) tall goldenrod

　セイタカアワダチソウは、花もそうですが、特に白い綿毛を持つ実が泡立っているかのように見えます。
　余談ですがこの草には、水と混ぜると石鹸のように泡が立つサポニンが、根や茎、葉に含まれています。

　The Japanese name for "tall Goldenrod" means tall and foaming grass. The flowers and especially the fruits with white fluff, appear to be foaming.
　As an aside, the roots, stems, and leaves of this plant contain saponin, which creates soap-like foams when mixed with water.

西洋蒲公英(セイヨウタンポポ) common dandelion

　タンポポの葉は、地面を放射状に這うように伸びることがよく知られています。このような形態の葉をロゼット葉と呼びます。

　この時期のタンポポの花は、地面に密着して咲くのをよく見かけます。花を持ち上げてみると、意外にも地面に沿って短い茎がついていることに気が付きます。茎には上に伸びようとする気配を感じられません。茎は枝分かれしたり、葉をつけたりすることはなく、先端に花を一つ付けます。
　周りに背の高い草が生えていなければ、太陽の光も浴びることができるし、種を飛ばすこともできるので、敢えて折れやすい茎を高く伸ばす必要はないと言われています。状況に応じた無駄のない成長をしているようです。

　日本古来のニホンタンポポと、ヨーロッパ原産のセイヨウタンポポとの区別は難しいですが、この花の基部の総苞片（そうほうへん）は、反り返っているので、これはセイヨウタンポポです。

　It is well-known that dandelion leaves grow in a radial manner along the ground. Leaves with this particular shape are known as rosette leaves.

　At this time of year, I often see dandelion flowers blooming close contact with the ground. If you lift the flower, you will notice a short stem, contrary to expectation, that creeps along the ground. There is no indication that the stem is attempting to grow higher.　
　The stem is not branched, has no leaves, and has one flower at the end.
　It is said that if there is no tall grass around, it can receive sunlight and also scatter its seeds, so there is no need to force it fragile stems grow high.  It appears that they are growing efficiently due to being in line with the situation.

　It is hard to distinguish between the Japanese dandelion, which is native to Japan, and the common dandelion, which is native to Europe, but this flower has involucral scales at the base that curl back, so it is a common dandelion.

 

総苞片　involucral scale