Happy holidays!

With only ten days left this year, I’d like to thank you all for encouraging and inspiring me 
in the blogsphere throughout the year.

I also hope you spending this special time of year in a relaxed way enjoying what you like to do.

It's gotten quite chilly these days after five months of summer

and only one month of autumn.

Ginkgo leaves are still beautiful even in the late-December.

Dec. 16th

My husband and I are having the secular Christmas only between two of us
and celebrating the New Year with all the family members. 

Origami ornaments for Christmas by M

                                                  

December is the most eventful month in my family.

My son, the eldest and the youngest grandchild F and M, were born in December.

S completed Kobe Full Marathon in November

 Merry Christmas and Joyous New Year!

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Paths through fresh verdure in the fragrant breeze

When Sakura season is over, I'm realized trees already have a plenty of leaves.

It is the season of 新緑 Shinryoku, fresh verdure.

I especially like it when water is shimmering green.

About three weeks ago the water color here was pink.

Sagi-ike Pond

花疲れ/Hana-zukare (noun, seasonal word for haiku) is “tiredness after cherry blossoms viewing” 

as well as “spring sadness”. 

When you submerged yourself in the beauty of Sakura to your heart’s content, 

you could suddenly feel tired and have a sense of loss.

It would be Sakura's nature to make you realize ephemerality of the beauty of the flowers

and cause the sense of loneliness amidst the splendor of flowers under the blue skies.

Then fresh greenery softly fills the void and refreshes your soul, mind, and body.

You can walk freely choosing your paths to weave the story of your day in the spacious Nara Park.  

(Nara Park Walking Map)

At Kasugano-enchi, Mt. Wakakusa and the big roof of Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA  are seen.

  Garden of Iraka 

The left side of the steps is Chayama-enchi, where Nara-no-kokonoe-zakura is abundant

 as was mentioned in the previous post.

Near the north entrance gate to the Mt. Wakakusa

The smells of new green leaves and of the flowers in season seem to be wafting in breeze.

Japanese Andromeda

The tiny baby leaves of Ginkgo were so cute on April 14th. 

 

About two weeks later, leaves were bursting out on branches.

A big lacy green parasol

Opposite side of Kasugano-enchi

Another day of late April, wisteria flowers were cascading at the Manyo Botanical Garden 

in the precinct of Kasuga Shrine.

They seem to have bursted out before clusters grow long enough.

The garden of Yoshiki-en on the way back to Nara Station.

(Autumn in Yoshiki-en, here.)

Green maples

A pond near the station

After looking at a lot of greenery, how about the young leaves bokeh in monochrome?

May is one of the most eventful months in my family; Golden Week (Greenery Day, 

Children's Day, etc.), my wedding anniversary, and my grandson Y's birthday.

He turned 11 on the first of May.

He likes soccer, swimming, painting and reading above all.

What paths will he choose on his journey?

Linked to Mosaic Monday

May is passing by with sweet, fresh breezes

May, the season of fresh balmy breezes, is going to end.

風薫る/kaze kaoru is "kigo", season words for May in haiku poem, 

literally means "wind-fragrant".

It is the sensation perceived from warmer, fresher and sweeter air of May.

At the garden of Yamato-bunnkakan Museum in my neighborhood yesterday,

"Sasayuri", Lilium japonicum, were blooming here and there in the shade of trees.

The flowers will fade in less than a week.

May is passing by with the pleasant faint fragrance of Sasayuri.

May 29

Sasayuri is called so as its leaves resemble "sasa", bamboo leaves.

The smaller lilies with pale pink petals are the indigenous species to Japan.

May has been so eventful with the ballet recital of the girl Y, the boy Y's birthday, 

family reunion and a celebratory dinner in addition to the Golden Week holiday.

Golden Week consists of four national holidays and two weekends from 

the end of April to the beginning of May. 

Happy Children's Day! (The 5th of May)

The 4th of May is Greenery Day.

At this time of year, you can't help going out into nature.

I had as many as four trips to Kyoto only in May before the coming increase 

of inbound tourists.

The first was Tenjyuan reported in the last post.

The second was to enjoy green Maples at Eikando, which is noted for

 fabulous autumn Maples dyeing the whole grounds shades of red.

The below is all maple leaves including those of Nomura maple

of which leaves are purplish red from spring to autumn.

I like to breathe in the scent of green leaves.

May 10

Eikando's main buildings are connected by corridors and stairs.

Visitors walk up and down in quite big elevation difference.

The third was to Kyutei Omuro built in 1937, where you can feel

the authentic ambience of early-Showa (1926-1945).

The 29th of April is Showa Day to think about Showa period (1926-1989).

We will learn for future by reflecting on the past.

Much of the 20th century was tough period not only to Japan but also the world.

The 21th century looks tougher.

Pine trees of the garden is reflected on the table made of 花梨 Chinese quince.

The reflection is called "niwa kagami/garden mirror".

May 24

Two days later, I was in Kyoto again.

My sister and I have celebrated each other's rite of passage including our spouses'.

To celebrate my turning into the next stage of life, my husband and I was invited 

to an established Japanese restaurant near the Sanmon Gate of Nanzen-ji.

May 26

So lovely to have dinner in a room where you can feel one with the garden.

 Kaiseki Cuisine, traditional Japanese course of wholesome meal, 

and "yudofu" boiled tofu.

One of the most famous foods of Kyoto is yudofu.

Season is changing into summer with temperatures higher than 30C,

blooms of hydrangeas, and forecasted rainy season coming in two weeks.

Camphor tree at this time of year

I came across fluid art on water created with fallen leaves and 

reflections of trees with sprouting leaves at Sansha-ike Pond, Kasugano-enchi, Nara Park.

What do you think these colored leaves are?

They are old leaves shedded from Camphor trees.

The evergreen Camphor trees have yellowish, reddish, and green leaves

in early spring.

Camphor trees shed old reddish leaves to grow new leaves.

Baby leaves are also red with purplish hue which turn quickly to fresh green.

The fallen leaves were gathering around a real branch of some tree

which was spreading low on water.

The branch looked like a fall tree on water canvas.

Carp joined the art show.

Camphor tree, "楠or樟 Kusunoki”, is native to China and Japan.

It is loved for its sprawling form on massive bark, thick and contorted branches, 

and grossy evergreen leaves. 

Camphor tree has spritual and cultural importance in Japan.

In Japanese folklore and Shinto (nature worship) tradition, massive aged trees 

can be a home to divine spirit.

"Totoro", a guardian of forest only visible to children, lives in a gigantic camphor tree.

The tree below is so large but no comparison with the one where Totoro lives.

One week later at the grove of Kasuga, a gigantic camphor tree had splash of mauve color.

Wisteria was blooming on the tips of veins which coiled up the tree.

 

Wild Wisteria

Wisteria came into bloom much earlier than usual.

Their clusters were getting longer and longer.

Cultivated Wisteria at Kasuga Grand Shrine

In late April, small white flowers of Camphor tree bloom imcomspicuously but profusely.

They mingle with the fresh green leaves and contrast to the massive dark bark.

Bottom right; buds of Camphor flowers

My grandson Y turned 9 today.  Happy Birthday!

He's gotten more focused, diligent, and skillful on "what he likes".

He loves soccer and swimming as well as painting and is sometimes earnest in

 practicing paper-folding. 

I enjoy watching over how he grows a seed within him in each season of his life.

Left top; Inu-washi, Aquila chrysaetos, Golden eagle

Linked to Mosaic Monday