月末恒例のナツメ成長記録。毎日眺めていると変化を感じられないですが、ひと月ごとなら何とか違いが分かります。自分の衣替えをした4月20日以降、ナツメの新苗はバルコニーに出しっぱなしにしています。手前の３鉢が新苗、奥の伸び伸びになっているのは去年の夏に買った皇帝棗。
This is the month-end reporting on the progress of new jujube trees. Looking at them every single day, I can hardly see any difference, but one month brings about a lot of changes. The three new plants that arrived in December last year spent the winter indoor, and I finally put them out on 20th April (the three little plants in front). The lanky tree at the back is the Emperor jujube that I bought last summer.
Emperor: since the plant started budding as in the photos of 31st March, it grew rapidly. The branches A and B are now over 40cm.
節と節の間が長い。
Inter-node distance is long.
新苗のほうは、見やすいように壁紙を背景に写真を撮りました。左から、早脆王、蟠棗、無核金絲棗。
I brought the new plants into the room so that we can see them better against the pale wall. From left to right, Early Crisp King, Panzao, and Seedless Gold Thread.
早脆王：一番長い枝は30cmくらいになっています。が、上２本の枝が異常に早く伸びて、下の３本目は伸び悩み。
数日前に開花した花はまだ着いてはいるけど受粉していないよう。正常に受粉していたなら、直ちに花の中央に突起ができて育ち始めるはず。
Early Crisp King: the longest branch is about 30cm. While the first two branches are exceptionally long, the third branch (at the bottom) is struggling.
The first flower that opened several days ago is still there, but I do not believe that it is viable. If the flower got pollinated properly, the centre of the flower should have started protruding and growing into a young fruit.
蟠棗：枝ぶりは３品種のなかで最もバランスのとれた育ちかたをしています。でも葉っぱが小さいままなので、開花も遠いはず。
Panzao: this tree is growing in the most balanced manner of the three. However, the leaves remain tiny, which means that flowers will not open for some time yet.
無核金絲：最近、成長ストップでもしかた？と疑うほど変化がない。
Seedless Gold Thread: recently, I often wondered if the tree wants to grow at all.
右の無核金絲は早脆王の次に芽吹き、蟠棗が最後に動きだしましたが、今では枝の成長ぶりで蟠棗に遅れをとっています。結果的に枝の展開は、苗が配達された当時の根っこの量の多い順番と同じになりました。すなわち、早脆王 ＞ 蟠棗 ＞ 無核金絲
Seedless Gold Thread (right) started budding after Early Crisp King, followed by Panzao who came last. However, in terms of branches growing, Seedless Gold Thread is getting behind that of Panzao now. In the end, the growths of branches reflected the amounts of roots at the time of plant delivery in December last year, i.e., Early Crisp King ＞ Panzao ＞ Seedless Gold Thread.
日陰伝いに歩いたあとは、帰る前にベンチでおやつ。手作りの鶏むね肉のジャーキーです。一旦冷凍したむね肉を冷凍庫から出して、よく切れるナイフで薄く削ぎ、直射日光で自然乾燥。今の時期、すぐにカリカリに乾燥します。
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今日も良い天気で公園は清々しい初夏の空気でした。
Another fine day today, and we had a pleasant walk in the park with the fresh, early summer air.
We picked our way from one shaded area to another. We sat at a bench for Taiga's treat before heading home. This is home-made chicken breast jerky. I make it by freezing chicken breast meet, take it out of the freezer, and make paper-thin slices. Spread the slices on baking sheets and dry in the sun.
帰ろうとして草地を横切っていたら、タイガが突然座り込んでしまいました。雑草が冷たくて気持ち良いようです。
While crossing a field on our way home, Taiga suddenly crouched on the grass. She was obviously enjoying the cool grass.
まあ、私はヒマ人間なので付き合うことにしました。
リードを引っ張っても、そっぽを向いて拒否。
When I pulled the leash, she looked away refusing to budge.
Well, I have all the time in the world, so I sat on the cool grass, too.
草地の横を幼馴染が通りかかったので、タイガはバネ仕掛けのように飛び起きて挨拶。テリアミックスのフウちゃん（左）とビションフリーゼのビっちゃん（右）。
草地の横を幼馴染が通りかかったので、タイガはバネ仕掛けのように飛び起きて挨拶。テリアミックスのフウちゃん（左）とビションフリーゼのビっちゃん（右）。
Taiga sprang to her feet when she spotted familiar faces walking by the field. They are Taiga's puppyhood friends: Fu, a terrier mix (left), and Bi, Bichon Frise (right).
