江戸彼岸(エドヒガン) edohiganzakura(Prunus itosakura)

　エドヒガンの変種で枝が下垂した木を、シダレザクラと呼びます。
　エドヒガンとソメイヨシノの葉緑体DNAは同一であることが確認されているので、エドヒガンはソメイヨシノの母です。ちなみに、父はオオシマザクラです。つまり、ソメイヨシノは、エドヒガンとオオシマザクラを交配して生まれた雑種です。
　込み入った話をしてすみません。

　A variety of Edohiganzakura which has drooping branches is called weeping cherry.
　The chloroplast DNA of Edohiganzakura and Yoshino cherry is identical, resulting in the identification of Edohiganzakura as the mother of Yoshino cherry. As a side note, the father is Oshima cherry. In other words, Yoshino cherry is a hybrid created by crossbreeding Edohiganzakura and Oshima cherry.
　I regret for going into such a complicated topic.

枝垂れ桜(シダレザクラ) weeping cherry tree

　シダレザクラは、ソメイヨシノより開花が早いと言われていますが、このシダレザクラは、例年近くのソメイヨシノに比べて開花が遅いのです。ところが、今年はソメイヨシノより、少し早く満開になりました。いろいろな条件の重なりによるのでしょう。
　順番が変わると、満開を見逃すことに繋がかねません。

　Weeping cherry trees are believed to bloom earlier than Somei Yoshino cherry trees, but this weeping cherry tree usually bloom later than nearby Somei Yoshino cherry trees in normal years. However, this year this tree bloomed a little earlier than Somei Yoshino cherry trees. It's likely because of a combination of different circumstances.
　If the order is altered, I may fail to see the full bloom.

染井吉野(ソメイヨシノ) yoshino cherry

　当地のソメイヨシノは、あと数日で満開になりそうです。

　It is expected that the Yoshino cherry in this area will fully bloom within a few days. Japanese people find beauty in the transience of life. For Japanese people, it is crucial to know when the Yoshino cherry blossoms will be in full bloom because they are short-lived.

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.