Incidentally, I found cherry blossoms near Ara-ike Pond one day before the official announcement about its bloom in Nara Park. At Sagi-ike Pond, none was blooming with most buds on the verge of flowering.
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| at Umami Hills Park |
みな指になり風つかむ花辛夷 林翔
Kobushi flowers become all fists catching the wind
(Japanese word “kobushi” means both “辛夷, magnoliga” and “拳, fist”.)
辛夷, Kobus magnolia, or Kobushi magnolia, is a species of magnolia native to the mountainous regions of Japan. They bear pleasantly fragrant white flowers with a hint of pale pink.
In late March, the buds of Kobushi magnolia shed their furry coats and burst into bloom on the bare branches before the foliage emerges.
In northern Japan, Kobushi magnolia is also called “田打ち桜, tauchi-zakura”, or “cherry blossoms for starting planting”. Farmers in northern Japan used to start farming at the sight of its exuberant florescence. Such index is practical even now because weather changes every year.
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| Kobushi with the backdrop of Cornus officinalis at Umami Hills Park |
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| at Sagi-ike Pond, Nara Park |
Each white flower has petals faintly tinted pink peering deep inside.
At Sagi-ike Pond in Nara Park, there is a glorious Kobushi magnolia which usually is in full bloom before cherry blossoms at the beginning of April.
This year, their bloom is delayed like other spring tree flowers.They will be at their best in a week at the same time with cherry blossoms.
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| I like to walk under the arch of Kobushi magnolia to see what is beyond the hill of the ancient tumulus at Umami Hills Park. |
The tree below is 木蓮 (mokuren), Magnolia liliiflora, or lily magnolia. which is originally from China. They are more common than Kobushi magnolia in Japanese gardens. The
blooming of lily magnolia is always a little ahead of Kobushi magnolia.
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| 荒池園地, near the Ara-ik Pond, Nara Park |
Sagi-ike Pond, Nara Park
I took some of these pictures at Umami Hills Park last April and some of them at Nara Park the other day. The other day was such a serene, warm day, however, yesterday was a spring storm more intense than a typhoon. I hope buds and flowers held strong clinging to the branches through the violent wind.
I'll be leaving with today's protagonist, Kobushi magnolia.
- This post is linked to Our World Tuesday. -
so pretty. the scent must be delightful.
ReplyDeleteOh, the sheer beauty of these blooms! I can imagine how heady the fragrance must be...!
ReplyDeleteThe Lily magnolia looks like the small magnolia tree in my yard, Yoko... it's blooms just faded a few days ago. We had fierce thunderstorms last night, but further south in Texas tornadoes touched down. Springtime is beautiful, but such a dangerous period for storms.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful flowers! :) I can hardly wait that here the flowers start to bloom....but for the climate of the Finland the spring gets that far as late as in May...we still have snow in here...
ReplyDeleteHello Yoko:
ReplyDeleteAs it is, very sadly, most unlikely that we shall ever have the opportunity to visit Japan, and almost certainly not at this time of year, your images of the wonderful Magnolia trees at the peak of perfection serve more than enough as compensation. They look, and we are sure are, absolutely beautiful and to see them with the cherry blossom will, indeed, be heaven itself.
As usual, these are beautiful photographs, and inspiring to look at. I love to see magnolia trees in the Spring and I have seen these particular magnolias (or something like them) in peoples' gardens here. No magnolias grow wild in England, sadly. I am a little anxious about the magnolias blooming here at present. Usually they come about a month later but they have been encouraged by the warm weather we have had. Now, there is very cold weather on the way and I am afraid these delicate flowers will perish before they have fully bloomed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have Magnolia in our garden, but we can enjoy their beauty in a nearby park.
It's a little early for them here.
Thanks for sharing these beauties.
Wish you a wonderful day.
Mette
When I was a student in our capital, Bucharest, I used to go to the Botanical Garden every early spring. The few Japanese cherry trees they have and the beautiful magnolias performed an incredible scene, with fallen petals all around... I've always been amazed by the discrepancy between magnolia's ethereal appearance and fragrance and its sturdy, almost skin-like blossom texture.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could walk under your arch of Kobushi magnolia too, Yoko! It's beauty is like an open door to spring. A season I'm still waiting to come in my city.
But I'm especially fascinated by your last picture: a blink of frozen time, carrying the unknown promises of any possible outcome. A poem that needs no words...
Thank you for that!
I love magnolias, ours start to fade it's a pity as they turn slighlty rusty-colour!
ReplyDeleteYoko, I am fascinated and mesmerized by your masterly taken photos of such heavenly beauty! Thank you for the informative, poetic and loving description accompanying them, and for the pretty kanji characters, which look to me like artful drawings.
ReplyDeleteThis is another of your most enjoyable posts - I am so looking forward to future ones!
Magnolie są piękne . Nie ma liści na drzewie,ale wspaniałe w kształcie i delikatnym zapachu kwiaty. Lubię białe, ale różowe też pięknie wyglądają. Kwiaty wiśni nawet w pączkach ślicznie wyglądają. Niedługo będzie u Was cudownie jak rozkwitną. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteMagnolias are beautiful. There are no leaves on the tree, but wonderful in the shape of flowers and delicate fragrance. I like white, but also look beautiful pink. Cherry blossoms even in the buds look pretty. Soon you will be in bloom as beautifully. Yours.
it's a sheer beauty, Yoko! Lovely flowers and great photos!
ReplyDeleteHugs
J.
I like the imagery of flowers as “fists catching the wind”. We have magnolias here in BC, too. I think many are similar to the “lily” variety. The buds with boaters in the background make gorgeous pictures, stardust! I hope all these new blooms were not whipped about too much. The storm sounds frightening but sometimes the frailest flowers turn out to be the best survivors.
ReplyDeleteYoko, Thank you for your message, I was also amazed by his wonderful photographs is the nature of your beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Portugal
Linda
Flowers from Nara! Thank you! ^^ The magnolias almost as beautiful ... no, just as beautiful ... as cherry blossoms. I have to run to work now, but I'm going to read this post again, with more attention, tonight. Enjoy this gorgeous spring day! :)
ReplyDeleteI think the first shot really expresses the heart of the haiku-poem. Personally I prefer Kobushi to Mokuren.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a bit early and chilly for full bloom but the warm and fuzzy shot with a lady and a dog on the boat leisurely behind Sakura reminds me of the song; merrily merrily...life is but a dream♪♪
Both of the magnolias are beautiful but I think I prefer the lighter almost white one bettter; your pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magic visual presentation of the beginning of REAL spring! I love all your photos as magnolias are among flowers I dearly love and admire!They bring such a romantic touch to the air!
ReplyDeleteWell, the "spring typhoon" on April 3rd was quite frightening and my heart was bleeding for those flowers I've just seen on branches and among grasses just a day before. Had a look at them yesterday. Ume blossoms were all gone! Kobushi too, just mokuren kept their place! A little dishevelled, but still alive.
I look forward to...at least...a spring without catastrophes!
Greetings, Yoko!
ReplyDeleteMagnolia trees are lovely. Ours here in Stone Creek are a bit different but still very similar. We have many of them, but none have the blush of pink interior.
So many beautiful flowers/blossoms you show in this post. Thank you and I wish you no more storms, just sunny, warm weather!
May I write a second comment? ^^
ReplyDeleteI read your post again, this time slowly, lingering over all the beautiful photos. The kuboshi flowers look like little puffs of cotton wool. So beautiful.
I like the idea that the farmers used this flower as a weather clock. Much more reliable than NHK's weather predictions? :)
PS: The blossoms in Tokyo survived the storm just fine. Probably in Nara, too?
Hi,Stardust.
ReplyDeleteそうですね、昨日の強風で馬見公園のマグノリアが散ってない事を願います。広々とした丘の公園咲く花の下を歩くのは、晴れ晴れとした気分にしてくれます。桜もかなり咲き始めています。楽しみですね！
Tomoko
Rurosha - I think the buds and young flowers in Nara just fine, too. Though cherry blossoms look delicate and are ready to surrender to the Will of Nature when the time comes, they are quite tough when they are young. In my garden, however, many flowers of mountain camellia fell off and looked like decapitated heads. They had been blooming long, so maybe it must have been the time to go.
ReplyDeleteThe magnolia are magnificent! Each shot is a work of art.
ReplyDeleteI think the work of 林翔 is great.I wonder who named こぶし。 Nice naming!
ReplyDeleteYou often visit Umami Hills Park lately and introduce many kind of plants to us. I've never been to there so I will try to go there as I heard a new botanical garden is build. Thank you for lovely photos.
Glorious spring blossom views - thank you.
ReplyDeletesimply amazing your pictures...I really like the ones with the boats in the background! sunny greetings...
ReplyDeleteThis is heavenly beauty. Love the blossoms and the delicate colors of the flowers, a walk amid nature is alway so tranquil and peaceful.. i can imagine it all through your wonderful photographs and write up. A refreshing post as always, thank you for my virtual tour.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I'm sorry my dear Yoko ...
ReplyDeleteThe magnolias are beautiful!
Very nice park and wonderful photos!
Many greetings and kisses
Hello Yoko,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see magnolias growing wild in the mountains! Your photos are lovely,lucky you found the flowers before the storm.This changeable weather makes life difficult for bees and all wildlife I think.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ruby
Me ha encantado la entrada ¡Cuánta belleza!
ReplyDeleteEn especial la foto de la abeja.. ¿Podría usarla en un post que publicaré? Por supuesto pondré un enlace a tu blog si te parece bien.
Bss
Hello Yoko,
ReplyDeleteI just came across your beautiful blog and now I am your newest follower. I am looking forward to seeing more postings from you...Greetings...Heidi
Thank you for the wonderful photos, a great mood, and the absolutely ideal places you show in your post. It was a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty! We have magnolias here, too, but they are not yet in bloom. Your photos are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty Spring blooms. I love all the flowering trees. I had a gorgeous flowering crabapple, but it didn't last long because of the wind and rain. It was beautiful for a little while though. Have a lovely weekend. Mickie :)
ReplyDeleteNo sé lo que opinarás pero tienes premio...
ReplyDeletehttp://caridad65.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/donde-las-dan-las-toman.html
beautiful ! I have magnolias in my garden too.Greetings, Essi
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing!!! Fantastic photos of gorgeous magnolias!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day!
Pia xx
Beautiful photos, as ever!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about this flower before. Sakura, ume and camellia are much more famous. But whose blooms are you most eager for, Yoko?
Das sind Raphael und YvonneApril 13, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Simply beautiful shots!
ReplyDeleteMust be a great place!
Many greetings
Yvonne & Raphael
Lovely. Enjoyed your pics a lot.
ReplyDeleteEkaterina – I’m so sorry for not having responded sooner. I like kobushi magnolia best.
ReplyDelete