松の花 pine flower

　松の花は風媒花です。虫を引き付ける必要がないので、花びらもなく、いたって地味な花です。

　Pine flowers are flowers that are pollinated by wind. As there is no need to attract insects, the flower is simple and has no petals also.

菖蒲(アヤメ) iris

　神様を祀る小さな祠（ほこら）のそばに自生するアヤメです。背景に見える赤い柱は、朱色に塗られた鳥居です。この朱色には、魔除けの意味があるそうです。

　These iris grow wild by a small wayside shrine dedicated to a local god. The red pillars in the background are Torii gates painted in vermilion. It is said that this vermilion color has a meaning to ward off evil spirits.

青梅大祭 Ome festival

　1513年に山車が繰り出すお祭りが始まったそうです。かつては、山車の上に人形が飾られていましたが、明治時代の終わりには、電線が架設されたので降ろされました。

　青梅大祭は、毎年5月2日と3日に開催されます。

　It is said that the festival that utilizes floats began in 1513. In the past, Dolls were displayed on floats, but at the end of the Meiji period, they were taken down because electric wires were built.

　The festival is held on May 2nd and 3rd every year in Ome City, located in the northwestern part of Tokyo.

ready to go

(sorce) ometaisai home page

one of the float dolls on the ground

岩梨(イワナシ) Epigaea asiatica

希少植物種のイワナシです。実は1cm位の大きさの球体で、梨の味がするそうです。今回は幸運にも出会いましたが、実がなる頃に再開することはないと思います。

　Epigaea asiatica is a rare plant species. This time, I was fortunate enough to come across the plant, but I don't think I will meet it again when it bears fruit.

強い風 strong wind

　春は、風が強いが吹くので、花が揺れて写真撮影には苦労します。それは、春には発達した低気圧の通過が多いことと、日ざしの強まりによって、空気の対流が活発になるからです。

　Spring is a season when the wind is strong and blows, making it difficult to take pictures because the flowers shake. The reason for this is that in spring in Japan, there are many passages with well-developed low pressure systems, and stronger sunlight leads to more active air convection.

ツツジの生け花 azalea flower arrangement

　狭い玄関の角を使ったツツジの生け花です。空間を上手に使った展示だと思います。下部の奥で、花と葉が重なり合っているのが残念です。その部分の花を、もいでしまうのも良いかと思います。勝手なことを言ってすみません。

　This is an azalea flower arrangement, using the corner of a narrow entrance. I think this exhibition utilizes the space effectively. It's unfortunate that the flowers and leaves overlap at the bottom in the back. To me, removing the flowers from that part would be the better option. I'm sorry for saying unnecessary things.

赤い新芽 red sprout

　こんな固く結んだ赤色のモミジの芽の状態を見たことがありません。詳しい方に聞いたところ、イロハモミジの一種の出猩々(デショウジョウ)のようだということでした。

　デショウジョウは初めて聞く名前ですが、一般的に庭木として植えられるモミジだそうです。

　The red maple buds are so tightly bound that I haven't seen them before. The following information was given to me by someone who is knowledgeable about plants. The 'Deshojo', a Japanese maple type, is what it looks like. 

　This is the first time I've heard the name 'Deshojo', but it seems to be a maple tree that is generally planted as a garden tree.