Umami Hills Park in early spring

There is a saying in Japan: "Neither heat nor cold lasts beyond the equinox."  
It is getting warmer little by little with three cold days
followed by four warm days, repeatedly.

Japanese Camellia is one of the most popular shrubs because of its long flowering period from January to March or April and appearance like winter roses.  These mountain camellias shed their heads as they fade while the commonly known variety clings to the shrub till the last moment.

Asiatic dogwoods, or Cronus officinalis　(サンシュユ), look like yellow veil

when they are in full bloom.

"Asebi,　馬酔木", or Japanese Andromeda, have just started blooming. 

They  droop in clusters among glossy leaves.

Titmouse, 山雀

Pussy willow, 猫柳

Thunbery spirea,　雪柳

Pussy willow has the same name in Japanese Neko-yanagi which means cat-willow.
Thunbery spirea is Yuki-yanagi in Japanese meaning snow-willow. 

At this time of year, Ume (Japanese apricot) blossoms are the most vibrant in the park

and are the center of people's attention.

Japanese white-eyes come for the nectar of ume blossoms.  

They are often mistaken for “uguisu,　鶯”, or Japanese bush warbler.

Ume blossoms are blooming, radiating their scent to the cold air and to the blue sky,
which is encouraging and inspiring.

I used to collect white, pink, and red petals as meals

when playing house as a child.

Grasses are still grey at the pond

where most of the migratory ducks have already left.

Another pond is fringed by yellow Asiatic dogwoods and red Japanese quinces.

Japanese quice is called "boke, 木瓜" in Japanese. 

There is another word "boke, 呆け" meaning "senility". 

When I make a blunder, I say "Oh, the flower of boke has bloomed."

Boke is such a lovely flower.

While I walked, the feeling of joy overflowed within me.

- Our World Tuesday -