陽光(ヨウコウ) yoko

　濃いピンク色が、ひときわ人目を引く桜です。桜では初めて、種苗登録された品種でもあります。

　種苗登録とは、種苗法に基づく制度であり、花や農作物などの新品種の開発者に独占的な権利を与え、品種と開発者を守る制度です。乱暴に言ってしまえば、特許のような制度です。従って有効期間があります。

　The deep pink color of the cherry blossoms is very eye-catching. This variety of cherry blossom has been registered as seed and seedling for the first time in Japan.

　Seed and seedling registration is a system based on the Seeds and Seedlings Act, which gives exclusive rights to those who develop new varieties of flowers, agricultural crops, etc., and protects the varieties and their developers. To be straightforward, it's a system similar to patent rights. Therefore, it has a validity period.

registration certificate

早咲きの桜 early blooming cherry tree

　カワヅザクラは、早咲きの桜です。もう、実がなり始めています。

　Kawazu-zakura is an early-blooming cherry tree. It has already begun to bear fruits.

越の彼岸桜 (コシノヒガンザクラ) koshino-higan-zakura

　コシノヒガンザクラは、エドヒガンザクラの交配種といわれていますが、両者にはそれぞれに個体差があるので、私には違いを見分けるのは難しいです。分類は忘れて、ただ花を愛でるのが吉です。

　Koshino-Higanzakura and Edo-Higanzakura are both types of cherry trees.

　Koshino-Higanzakura is said to be a hybrid of Edo-Higanzakura

It's not easy for me to tell the difference between the two, since there are individual differences both of the two. I'm happy to forget about classification and just admire flowers.

木瓜 (ボケ) flowering quince

　花びらの色が、赤、白、ピンクと単色のものがあり、さらに赤白の２色が入り混じったのも加わり、華やかに咲いています。

　In addition to single-colored petals of red, white, and pink, there are also petals with a mixture of red and white. They are creating a gorgeous bloom.

山桜(ヤマザクラ) yamazakura (Cerasus jamasakura, or wild cherry tree)

　花が葉より先に咲くソメイヨシノとは異なり、ヤマザクラは、花と葉が同時に成長する特徴があります。遠くから見た目の美しさは、ヤマザクラに比べ花だけ咲くソメイヨシノに軍配があがります。ソメイヨシノが広まる江戸中期以前は、花見と言えば、ヤマザクラを愛でることでした。

　Unlike Yoshino cherry, whose flowers bloom before the leaves,Yamazakura , grows flowers and leaves at the same time. The beauty of appearance from a distance, Yoshino cherry with only flowers in bloom is superior to Yamazakura. Before the mid-Edo period, when Yoshino cherry became pervasive, cherry blossom viewing meant admiring wild cherry blossoms.

ソメイヨシノの交配種 hybrid Someiyoshino

　ソメイヨシノは、オオシマザクラとエドヒガンの交配種です。この桜は、ソメイヨシノにさらに、オオシマザクラを交配した種と言われています。ソメイヨシノに比べ、枝が横に広がった樹形をしています。

　余計なお世話でしょうが、花見をするには、頭をこちら側にするのが良いと思いますよ。

　足を桜に向けるのを、ためらったのかも知れませんね。

　Somei Yoshino is a hybrid of Oshimazakura and Edohigan. This cherry tree is also said to be a hybrid of Someiyoshino and Oshimazakura. Compared to Someiyoshino, it has a tree shape with branches that spread laterally.

　This may be none of my business, but to view the cherry blossoms, I think it's better to turn your head this way.

　They might have been hesitant to point their feet towards the cherry blossoms because they thought it would be rude.

絵馬掛け所 Ema hanging place

　絵馬が、絵馬掛け所にたわわに掛かっていました。

　何回たおされても立ち上がる不屈の精神が宿る”だるま”が、描かれた絵馬も見えます。願いが一回で叶わないことを前提としているのでしょうか。

　Ema tablets (votive picture horse) were hanging in abundance at the Ema hanging place.

　You can also see votive tablets depicting a "Daruma doll" that has the fortitude to stand up no matter how many times it is knocked down. Is it based on the assumption that wishes will not come true all at once?

　In the past, there was a custom to dedicate a live horse to a shrine when praying to God for a wish. Now, wishes are written on a tablet with a picture of a horse on it and hung on the screen.