2階バルコニーで洗濯物を取り込んだりして階段を上り下りしていたら、タイガが目ヂカラで静かに圧をかけていました。鼻を鳴らすなどせずに、いつも無言です。
As I was passing through the porch area a few times in order to do things upstairs and downstairs, I felt a silent pressure coming from Taiga who was getting bored. She never makes a whining sound or bark but her message comes through.
Since the sky cleared after it rained all night, I took her out for an extra walk. (Normally, she gets an hour's walk each in the morning and evening, and a short pee walk at about 1 p.m. and at midnight.)
以前から確かめたかった件があるので、そちらへ向かいます。
We walked towards a place where I had wanting to visit for some time.
昔は民家があったところが今は駐車場になっていて、その奥に植わっているリンゴの木です。
There is a parking lot where a house used to stand. At the back, among other tall trees, there is an apple tree.
この暑い練馬区で、もう誰にも世話してもらえない状態、かつ右側に写り込んでいる南側の家の陰になりながら、毎年リンゴの実がついているのが気になっていました。猛暑の間はここまでは来ないので、今の状態を見てみたかったのです。もうほとんど落果していて、残り少ない。
This apple tree has been growing there in spite of extremely hot summers in Tokyo, and without being properly cared for as a fruit bearing tree. Nevertheless, a lot of apples grow on it every year. I wanted to see how the fruits were this time of the year, since I never come this far when it is too hot. As it happened, most of them had already fallen to the ground with no-one to harvest them.
今ある樹上の実も地面に落ちて腐っているものも果皮は緑色なのと、実の形が扁平なのとで、たぶん料理用のリンゴのようです。地面のリンゴからは甘酸っぱい臭いが漂ってきていました。カツカツの土で他の樹木と押し合いながらの過酷な環境でも頑張っています。
Based on the fact that all the fruits, be they on the tree or on the ground, were green, as well as the fact that the shape of the fruits were flat, I think they are cooking apples. This variety must be very tough for the tree to survive in this harsh condition with hard soil and being surrounded by other trees.
帰りはJAを覗いてみようと向かっていたら、タイガが突然止まりました。横の露地にノラ猫の姿。
On our way home, Taiga suddenly froze - she had spotted a cat in a side alley.
口の周りの形から、オスだと思います。遠くからすごい迫力で唸っていました。
With round cheeks, I think it is a male feral cat. He had a menacing aura and growling even from the distance.
JAの駐車場入り口にタイガを括り付けて、展示物を見てまわりました。果樹コーナーで見かけたアルプス乙女。秋らしい商品。
At the entrance of the parking lot of the JA (farmers' co-op), I left Taiga tied to a metal pole. In the fruit tree section, I saw a type of crab apple tree called 'Alps Otome' which is a very popular variety in Japan for its compact growth habit.
いったい栽培者はどんな肥料をやって、こんなに美しい苗を作り出すのでしょうか？どの実も惚れ惚れするくらい綺麗です。うっとり見入ってしまいますが、ガマン、ガマン。今度の冬にはご近所からアルプスの枝をもらえるので、それをうちの「紅の夢」に高接ぎする予定です。
It always makes me wonder how the grower manages to make potted plants like these. The fruits are perfectly beautiful. I had to resist the temptation to get the plant. However, a neighbour of mine has promised to give me a scion of this variety in winter, which I intend to graft onto one of my trees.
花のコーナーでは、クルクマが700円台で売られていました。綺麗ですが、世話が大変そうなので葛藤なくスルー。
There were also some flowers that I like but they are not easy to look after during winter months.
サンパラソルも、今は綺麗でも冬の管理が不安なのでスルーです。
手ぶらでタイガの元へ帰ります。決して声を出したりせずに静かに待っています。
I returned to Taiga with no purchases. She always waits for me patiently and quietly.
オヤツを期待してか、近づいたら笑顔になりました。ウンチ袋を吊るしておくことで、通りがかる人には捨て犬ではないことが分かると思います。
She began to smile as I approached her, probably expecting a treat? By leaving my bags on the pole, people passing by can tell that she is not an abandoned dog.
