Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (25 December 2020) I heard bad news that almost all metropolitan garden or park including Koishigawa koranken garden would be suddenly closed from 26 December to January 11 2021 because of rapid spread of COVID19 in these days. Good combination of Japanese and Chinese style of Garden in late autumn and winter was there. And I watched newly reconstructed Karamon gate (Chinese style gate) from Naitei (Inner garden). I found early blooming pale pink Japanese apricot blossoms on branches. Kadomatsu, new year’s bamboo decoration on the gate looks a little bit loneliness. I was wondering to enjoy … Continue reading Winter scene of Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Seven herbs of autumn (18 September 2020) I visited Mukojima hyakaen, literally “hundred flower garden” established in Edo era by rich merchant, admiring beaty of seven herbs of autumn. Seven herbs of autumn were selected in Manyosyu by ancient poet Yamanoueno Okura lived in 7th century in these poems, “Aki-no No-ni Sakitaru Hana-wo Oyobiori Kakikazoureba Nanakusa-no Hana, Meaning: When I count on my fingers for blooming flowers in the autumn fields, I find there are seven.”“Hagi-no Hana Obana Kuzuhana Nadeshiko-no Hana Ominaeshi Mata Fujihakama Asagao-no Hana, Meaning: Bush clover, Susuki grass or Japanese panpas grass, Kudzu or Japanese arrowroot, Fringed … Continue reading Seven herbs of autumn (Akino nana kusa)