Shimmering colors in the icy air

I welcome the clean, crisp and austere air of January.

It doesn't mean no richness.

The bracing air and the big difference from the sparkles of December

make me into the mood for starting afresh in the New Year.

It was an icy cold and mostly overcast morning at the Umami Hills Park.

Seen from the distance, the surface of a pond apparently looked murky.

When the lens of my camera was zoomed up, I saw shimmering leaves

on the drab water with dark reflections of the trees.

(The photos both above and below.)

In the wider view, scenery was quiet in colors.

I focused on brighter colors.

Here is the subtle beauty of muted colors, the weathered flowers and leaves of "shimotsuke-so", 

or Filipendula multijuga, which is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae that is native to Japan.

Roses seem to last to mid-January at this park.

I think the image below shows well the air of January.

The colored leaves survived from the last autumn were shimmering in the icy, 

translucent air.

I'm sad to see the worsening COVID crisis in most countries including mine.

I wonder if my country's lenient State of Emergency without legal authority will be effective

when there are many people behaving as they like despite the situation.

But the shimmering leaves in the darker scene look like a Hope whispering I'm here.

Today is Coming of Age Day, one of the most important rites of passage.

Congratulations for coming of age!

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Sparkling blue and champagne gold

At last winter is come! It came suddenly last week with intense cold spell. (News,here)

This time of year is usually mildly cold with colors getting muted gradually in natural world.

Some city streets, parks, gardens, and stations start sparkling with light-ups.

While I love faint flickering flame of candles, gorgeous illuminations have encouraged me 

to go out in the darker, colder time.

The photos are from Grand Front Osaka last year.

 Bokeh light is fantastic!

Outside was glowing champagne gold.

The warmth and brilliance of illuminations look symbolizing human miracles and wisdom

overcoming past disasters.

Vaccines for the new corona were developed and proved high protection with unprecedented speed.

In this slow-moving disaster (compared to earthquakes or the likes), 

political leaders' decision-making can be delayed till the patients become alarming level,

and some people's code of action can be loosened at times.

But nonetheless ordinary people would have saved themselves by voluntarily following 

the advice of experts in advance of the government's action without legal authorities... so far.

December is full of festivities in my families.

My eldest grandchild F and youngest M turned 10 and 3 respectively.

F's sister Y celebrated her 7th year of Shichi-Go-San as was written last  time.

The father of F and Y turned forty something.

Can you see M peeping through the window of a tent?

Wish you a sparkling Christmas 

and a New Year with the promises of a brighter tommorrow!

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Summer Travels to Japan Alps region

It's August!  The prolonged long rainy season is over at last.

At this time of year, my husband and I are always in the mood for travelling.

To get away from the dreadful heat and humid, we would often have 

a trip to our favorite Japan Alps region, highlands and mountains of 

Nagano, Gifu, Toyama, and Nigata prefectures of central Japan.

For the time being, however, we don't feel like having a trip.

So, here are photos from my favorite past summer travels. 

When you feel inclined to learn more, please have a visit to each post.

Senjyojiki Cirque at the Central Japan Alp (2013)
Nagano Prefecture

 

霧ヶ峰 Ridge of fog, on a clear day (2012)

Kirigamine Highland, Southern Japan Alps in the backdrop

上高地 Kamikochi Walk (2011)

Economy or Environment? (2012)
Northern Japan Alps, Nagano Prefecture

Taisho-ike Pond with Mt. Yake-dake

Heaven at the altitude of 2700 meters (2012)

Geum pentapetalum (l.) Makino., or Aleutian avens, Tatamidaira Flower Field at Mt. Norikura-dake

Mysteriously radiant Atera-blue (2013)
Nagano Prefecture

Atera gorge

Mt. Tate-yama (3015m), 2007
Toyama Prefecture

Most of elementary and middle school students have very short summer holiday,

a couple of weeks depending on their grade and the region.

With travels cancelled, pools closed, no playing with cousins,

adults are thinking out how to make this historical strange summer holiday exciting for the kids. 

I see the current situation very serious but would like to be positive.

I'll have a break in blogging till September.

Be safe and in fit, dear Friends, while enjoying your season in possible ways.

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Raindrops

Wide range of Western and Central Japan has been hit by the record torrential rains

since the 4th of July.

Especially in Kyushu, torrential rainfall during July 4-8 ruthlessly caused havoc

on linear precipitation zone, and later Gifu and Nagano prefectures of Central Japan as well.

Green fields, city streets, houses, cars .... all were submerged in muddy water,

which are old distressful familiar scenes during the rainy season but in extreme level.

The victims and the affected are in my prayers and thoughts.

It is forecast that deluge will last till tomorrow.

One morning, it was raining softly after down-pouring of the night.

Standing in my garden, I couldn't help feeling humbled and thankful.

Right after the rain before the sun appears, colors were muted but still vibrant.

Wet leaves were fragrant.

Tiny raindrops were gleaming on the fresh green maple leaves,

 some of which still retain red tints when they were babies. 

The colors within the raindrops shone with clarity.

Peeping into the tree, a couple of red leaves still remained.

 Dripping arch.

Soaking wet hydrangea.

Earthquakes, floods and landslides, typhoons ... and COVID-19

reminded me of the words of Buddha;

"Life is no more than a dewdrop balancing on the edge of a blade of grass." 

Raindrops as substitute for dewdrops

By association, however, I prefer this;

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf." 

(Butterfly by Rabindranath Tagore)

Prior to the disaster, all my grandchildren got together at my home after a long interval.

We lightly danced on the edges of time to enjoy each moment,

for we were not sure when would be the next gathering.

Despite the resurgence of confirmed COVID-19 cases with higher positive rate,

political decision is to continue to ease restrictions on business including large events and gatherings.

Domestic travel is promoted; "Go to Travel Campaign",  which will subsidize 

up to half of travel expenses, is going to be started next week.

Business as well as individual responsible attitude with necessary preventive measures 

is the most basic of basics, I think, but isn't it irresponsible for the government 

to leave almost all to businesses and individuals by only showing guidelines made by experts, 

though steering would be difficult.

Playing with water balloons, soap bubbles, cards, painting and crafting, and so on.

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Deer and fresh verdure in Nara Park

Sansha-ike Pond at Kasugano Park

All the travel restrictions were lifted June 19th.

Two days before it, I visited my favorite places of Nara Park not using public transportaion.

All the places including Kasugano Park (the photo above) were so sparse 

that I could almost monopolize the views. 

Ukigumo Park

At Ukigumo Park, many deer were grazing or were rested in the shade.

I was cautious as I was told a herd of deer would come around rather in an aggressive manner 

in stead of familiar bowing for deer crackers once they see a tourist.

One of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan was a bus driver from Nara prefecture,

who guided tourists from Wuhan end of January.

Nara governor informed that they stopped by Nara Park,

which was followed by the sudden drastic decrease of tourists to Nara Park.

 Deer might have been hungry for snacks for a while but gradually

 they seem to have adapted their new normals.

They didn't ask me crackers, and even didn't pay attention to me.

Ukigumo Park is the place where I admire Chinese Tallow leaves in autumn.

 (Fabulous coloration of Chinese Tallow Trees)

The fresh green leaves were glinting in an interlude of sunshine during the rainy season.

The scattered seeds rarely germinate trampled by many tourists, but due to few visitors, 

they have grown into young plants here and there.

Chinese Tallows are invasive by nature.

New fawns are born from late spring to June.  (Meeting new fawns)

The babies are protected at the shelter of Roku-en Deer Protection Center 

with their mothers until they get enough old to follow mothers.

This curving road is a road bridge over Ara-ike Pond.

(Road-bridge over Ara-ike Pond in Nara City)

Chinese Tallow trees or Cherry trees, various trees line up on both sides of the road.

On the slope between road bridge and pond, I spotted deer.

I saw a family; a mother, a fawn, and a bambi.

They looked hiding under the Chinese Tallow tree to protect themselves.

A bambi was suckling while mother and elder fawn were rubbing cheeks together.

Of course I was attracted not only by deer but also the reflections on the pond.

The first weekend after the lift of travel restrictions,

many people seem to have surged to Nara Park mostly by car.

I hope people are on their guard acting responsibly with the new social behavior. 

It's wonderful to feel un-winded and relaxed by the natural, affectionate, 

and charming behavior of deer and the fresh verdure.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Roses and reflections

When I visit a park at this time of year, without a visit to a rose garden is not perfect.

- A rose garden of Tottori Hana-kairo Flower Park -
Part of my trip to Tottori prefecture, end of May, 2019
Therapeutic time at the mountain stream of Oku-Daisen

I was 19 when Lynn Anderson’s I Never Promised You a Rose Garden was released.

It was constantly on at my favorite radio program featuring Western pop songs.
I enjoyed listening to it though I couldn't hear full lyrics back then.

“Along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometimes.....”

As a naive, happy student, I didn’t think about future rain when the sun was shining.

I thought my generation in Japan were so blessed without wars or destructive disasters.

1995 Hanshin Great Earthquake which hit my loved home town Kobe and its vicinity
 was a stark realization to me that my country is prone to massive earthquakes.

- My garden -

My concern about natural disasters are not only earthquakes 

but also typhoons or torrential rains which has gotten much more powerful in a decade.

 I think that always normal is abnormal, but can't I say

 "more windy days due to the violent collision of warm and cold air during the warm winter

or cold April with sleet or hails or occasional summer days" abnormal?

The talks of abnormal weather has been overshadowed by the overwhelming news about COVID-19.

Along with the sunshine, rainfall is also a blessing to roses.

Why don't people see the same direction regarding the climate change?

When imminent danger of COVID-19 was informed and then perceived,
so many people could imagine and understand of the full consequences of our actions.
Majority of people changed their behavior to slow down the spread of infections.

Without that attitude and respect to nature, what would happen near future,

whatever the reason, anthropocentric, natural cyclical change, or combination of the both.

Reflection on the wood-deck mirror on a rainy day

BTW, the plant below is not a rose but called “California Rose” in my country. 

It is double petaled impatiens, Impatiens wallerana. 

The rose-like flowers bloom profusely May through mid-summer. 

State of emergency for COVID-19 was lifted across the nation a week ago.
But our battle against the virus still continues with utmost cares.
Rainy season is coming soon followed by top summer's unbearable heat wave.

I hope high humidity and temperature decrease the force of the virus
so that we can prepare enough to stop or face efficiently the second big wave 
which is supposed to come, probably autumn to winter at latest.

The kind, cheerful, playful, and curious boy Y turned 7 the first of May.
I hope bright future for him but no one is promised a rose garden.
At only 7, he seems to be coming to know things sometimes don't go his way
and has to accept it, which is surely part of his growth.
I hope he'll enjoy his first school life started today.

Wish him grow healthy and develop personality with love, wisdom, and courage
so that he can rise to the future challenge of life.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

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Thank you, Angie, for hosting.