Green-scented, wind-fragrant May

風薫る/Kaze kaoru is a seasonal term traditionally used in Waka and Haiku, Japanese poetry.

 It describes the refreshing breeze that blows through fresh greenery, carrying the scent of flowers and plants.

It signals the start of the pleasant early summer right before 梅雨 Apricot Rains, about a month and a half

 rainy season.

May is a season of "green scent"— fresh, crisp aroma arising from young, lush vegetation. 

Probably because of the high moisture content of the thriving new leaves,

I feel soaked in the dripping essence of  foliage when walking in the greenery.

Sparkling or dancing light  and reflection.

Bentobox-like small, rectangular, shallow basin sits nestled inside a larger, natural pond.

As the gentle, rhythmic ripples moves across its surface, the reflection of the surrounding

foliage start shimmering.

The window became a leafy veil, with the trees outside painted on the glass.

In Nara Park, deer are very active and transitioning from their winter to summer coats, 
often looking patchy as they shed.

The breeze in early May often carries these scents of Wisteria, Rhododendron, or Yellow Roses.

So free and comfortable in the balmy air of May!

Linked to Saturday's Critters

Mosaic Monday

Sky-dyed flowers and fresh greenery

The sky-dyed Nemophila always remind me of a poem by KANEKO Misuzu.

空色の花/Sora iro no hana/ Sky-Blue Flowers 

Listen close, you little flowers,

Color of the blue, blue sky.

Around here there used to be

A pretty black-eyed girl,

Always looking at the sky

Like I was just doing now.

Dawn to dusk the blue sky

Shining in her eyes,

They turned one day to little flowers

That even now watch the sky.

If what I say is right, why,

Flowers, you must know

More about the real true sky

Than wise professors do.

I’m always looking at the sky

And thinking lots and lots

But what’s real and true I don’t know.

I bet you see it all and do.

Wise flowers don’t say a thing,

Just keep looking at the sky.

Those blue eyes, sky-dyed,

Still aren’t tired of watching

(Translated by D.P.Dutcher)

Another post about Nemophila; The blue sea of Nemophila by the Sea of Osaka (2019)

With Sakura season behind us, new spring leaves have bursted into life.

Leaving the blue sea of Nemophila, I walked through the fresh greenery 

of Nagai Botanical Garden, Osaka City.

Green leaves are sparkling on the water.

Sakura Front has already moved to the northernmost Hokkaido.

There are only remnants of late-blooming multiple-petaled Yae-zakura in Kansai region.

We are in the middle of the "Golden Week", four national holidays and weekends

 from the end of April to the beginning of May. 

Today, May 4th, is Greenery Day and tomorrow is Children's Day.

It's so refreshing and calming to be basking in the shades of green and mild sunshine.

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