What's it like in summer-like October?

October has felt like summer so far.

Barely less than 30 degrees C, the highest in the daytime, is too hot 

for the second half of October.

The prolonged hot weather has delayed the coloring of the foliage.

At this pond surrounded by Japanese Maples, all were still green a week ago.

While the sun glared down on me, water splashes through my camera lens

 reminded me of shaved ice.

As for the seasonal flowers, they have come into bloom as usual.

Japanese Bush Clover

Sweetgum, or Liquidambar formosana, is one of the trees changing colors early.

I feel like that October is new summer, too warm but comfortable with crisp air

 totally different from the past three months sultry summer.

Temperature has dropped significantly at last today due to the yesterday's rain.

 Pigweed pollen is in the air in my part of the world.

I've had allergy to it and my symptons are the hardest this year.

Do you have any hay fever at this time of year?

Linked to Saturday's Critters

         Mosaic Monday

The first signs of autumn at the Sagiike-pond

When people were exhausted and worried how long the unrelentless summer heat

would last, cool and crisp air arrived right on the Autumn Equinox suddenly.

We felt revived for a short while.

Now that it's October, however, we are still experiencing nearly 30 degrees C in the daytime.

These images are from the Sagi-ike Pond, Nara Park, on a cloudy weekend morning. 

At this time of year, I feel autumn in the air and in the colors of pond.

Algae have made the pond colors much greener. 

Are drones flying over in formation?

Water-striders were busy skating across the pond.
Their figures with their reflections looked like drones.  

Yellows in the pond reflection are suggestive of a little coloring leaves.

Sakura leaves have started changing colors.

Crape myrtles were still lingering.

Weathered fallen leaves and reflected trees play together to make a painting 

on the water canvas.

So peaceful and quiet in the cool morning air.

Extreme weather has become norm: the deadliest hurricanes in the US, 

the devastating floods in Europe and Asia, to name a few.

Small 23 rivers were overflooded in Noto-peninsula which has not recovered 

from the catastrophic earthquake of January.

Though helpless in the huge energy of nature, even tiny bit effort in any form 

can cause huge positive impacts on climate-change.

Each of us is a part of nature as well as a part of this historic urgent challenge.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Strolling around my town

 Apricot Rains is over!

Blistering sunny days have come after the sweltering rainy season.

 I've stayed home mostly except for the evening walk as I feel like that I'm being choked 

in sauna in the daytime.

While I spend idly and casually, I've created a post about my town from spring to summer.

My town is a nice and quiet residential area, a bedroom town of

Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, lying on the rolling hills overlooking four directions.

 I like walking around my town, neighboring towns, and the surrounding area.

Townspeople take care of their gardens earnestly, and the public planting space, too.

Flowers on fences or gates.

Sakura (Cherry blossoms) are beautiful in every park.

I like the stillness of the parks after children go back home.

Sakura bloomed late this year but Dogwood, Wisteria, Geraniums, Roses, Hydrangeas .... 

come to bloom earlier and earlier every year.

I'm always marveled at how many people love to grow plants with green thumbs.

In the nearest park, the Liriodendron tulipifera bloom in mid-May. 

 Few people notice the orange and green, tulip-shaped  flowers on the upper part of a quite tall tree.

Flowers under our feet, either.

In a couple of minutes from the park, I'm home!

Rainy season set in significantly late and ended almost the same as usual.

It was sweltering hot when the sun appeared.

Raindrops on the morning glory; short-lived respite.

By the way, the west side of the town is a countryside with history longer than 1300 years.

Chinese milk vetches dot the off-season paddies in April. 

Where have gone the nostalgic flower carpets? (2016)

When Emperor Shomu (the period of reign 724-749) passed by the area, Ono Fukumaro, 

who ruled the area, was using a "三 three-pitted 碓 stone mortar" to grind grains.

Emperor Shomu saw it and called the area 三碓 Mitsu-garasu.

It is thought to be the origin of the name of this area.

The stone mortar is kept at the Konsho-in Temple next to the Mitsugarasu Shrine 

which enshrines tutelary "kami" who protects the area .

I'll be on summer break in blogging as usual.

Wish you a pleasant season wherever you are.

Stay safe from any disasters.

See you in two months!

Linked to Mosaic Monday