Mt.Rokko with fresh verdure

(Click on the photo to enlarge.)

Japanese maple "Iroha momiji", or Acer palmatum

"山滴る/yama shitataru" is a seasonal phrase of early summer to describe fresh green mountains.  From the Chinese characters 山滴 as a pictograph, can you see "mountain's fresh green dripping"?   Mountains at this time of year is so fresh and "juicy": don't you feel?

I like walking in the endless verdure.  It's not too cold or too hot, just right weather, and the air is special with the fragrance of fresh green and flowers.  

ヒトツバタゴ, or Chionanthus retusus Chionanthus, native to China, Korea, and Japan

This tree has different common names like "white fringe tree", "old man's beard", or "なんじゃもんじゃの木".

Pure white flowers with fringe-like petals bloom has just started.  

Look high up in the tree, or you'll miss the flowers.

谷空木/Tani utsugi, or Weigela hortensis

There are some soft colors mingling with surrounding green.

杜若/Kakitsubata, or Iris laevigata

コバノミツバツツジ, or Rhododendron reticulatum, grows wild in Rokko Mountains.
Some of them are still lingering.

コウホネ(河骨), Nuphar japonicum, are coming into bloom.

コガクウツギ, hydrange aluteo-venosa Koids. grows wild in Rokko Mountains.

They bloom ahead of common hydrangeas which start blooming in the middle of June at Mt. Rokko.

Looking up, I see a ceiling of green lace. 　While being bathed in the flickering light and green essence,  I forget where I am.

Reflections add deeper shades of green.

How lovely the hands of Iroha momiji!!   I remembered an Australian friend whose granddaughter is named "Iroha".   I suppose Iroha-chan's hands are getting larger.

The view through the Mt. Rokko Cable Car windowpane

Mt. Rokko stands right behind Kobe city.
Fatigue being  washed away by the green shower,
people face the hustle and bustle of a city again refreshed.


These photos were taken about ten days ago when I went to see
"Kurinso/Japanese primroses".