February 24, 2021

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Kaizo-ji


The orbital revolution of the planet earth makes the seasons keep rotating. As the pleasant manifestations of these ever-changing seasons, the flowers of various figures and colors appear one after another and emit sweet scents in their own way.

The bleak and colorless winter is over and spring has just returned here. In the garden where familiar living things begin to awaken from winter sleep one by one, I realize again that the earth is filled with abundant life force.

The slender twigs of Shidare-ume (weeping apricot tree), which bear cascades of pale pink flowers, are trembling gently in a tender breeze as if to express the joy of spring gracefully.


 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji


Ume flowers make preparations for blooming in harsh mid-winter and blossom elegantly in spring earlier than any other flower. They are also called "spring-announcing flowers" because they are the first to make us notice the incoming of long-awaited spring by their graceful beauty and fragrance.

In East Asia, the noble flower of Ume symbolizes a pure female child because of its liveliness and pleasingness and is regarded as an auspicious sign. The flower buds of Ume emerge and grow up in the middle of cold winter and bloom vigorously on bare branches before the appearance of young leaves in early spring.

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach


The sun has just set behind the distant peninsula, and, in the dusky azure sky, the bright afterglow emitted by the setting sun is coloring the cumulus clouds ever-changing gold and crimson.

In the same way as everything in this universe keeps changing endlessly, the sky tinted by the evening twilight is transforming ceaselessly from moment to moment and is showing the delicate transition of hues and gradations which I can only see right now at this moment before darkness comes on.


 

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach

 

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach

Sunset seascape: Yuigahama-beach

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus × Kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’) flowers: Engaku-ji

Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus × Kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus × Kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’) flowers: Engaku-ji

Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus × Kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Mejiro (Japanese white‐eye) bird: Engaku-ji

Mejiro (Japanese white‐eye) bird: Engaku-ji

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Kaizo-ji

 

Fukujyu-so ((Adonis ramosa) flowers: Engaku-ji

Fukujyu-so ((Adonis ramosa) flowers: Engaku-ji

 

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji

Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Engaku-ji