公園で At the Park

今朝はいつもより遅めに 家を出て城北中央公園手前の草地に着いたら、近所の紀州犬のウメちゃんと会えました。最後に会ったのは真冬だったので数か月ぶりです。ウメちゃんちは我が家とは目と鼻の先の距離ですが、散歩の時間帯が合わないとなかなか会えません。

This morning, we left the house later than usual, and when we arrived at the field just before the Johoku Central Park, we saw Ume, our neighbour's Kishuken.  It was in the middle of the winter when we last met each other, so it has been months.  Although Ume's house is only a stone's throw away, our lifestyles are different, and we rarely run into each other.

ウメちゃんはタイガより1歳若くて11歳ですが、なぜかタイガは耳をぺったんこにして態度が下手になります。

Ume, at 11 years old, is one year junior to Taiga, and yet, Taiga always greets Ume in a submissive way.

臭い嗅ぎも、ウメちゃんがタイガに対してズンズン近づいて来て、タイガはじっと立ったまま。

After the initial contact, Ume aggressively sniffs Taiga, while Taiga stands still.

ウメちゃんは更にタイガの体の臭いチェックまで。その後、ウメちゃんにとってこの暑さは体力的に負担なので帰りました。

Ume goes on to sniff Taiga's back.  After that, Ume went home since the heat was too much for her health condition.

タイガと私は中央公園に入り、古代家のある涼しい林を歩きます。

Taiga and I entered the Johoku Central Park and walked in the cool air of the woods where a reconstructed ancient dwelling was.

その林の向こう、道を渡ってノムラモミジのある草地へ向かいました。

We then crossed the road to enter the field beyond, where there was the red maple tree.

ノムラモミジは未だ春の薄い葉っぱなので、色は夏以降と比べて薄めで透明感があります。

The leaves are still fresh and flimsy, so their colour is lighter than it will be from summer onwards, and sunlight passes through them.

タイガは冷たい草の上でリラックス。

Taiga relaxing on the cool grass.

帰る前のオヤツタイム。今日またジャーキーを作って補充する予定なので、いつもより多めに与えました。

It is the treat time before going home.  Since I was going to make a new batch of chicken breast jerky this morning, I was more liberal than usual with the treats.

満足したのか、珍しくカメラ目線でポーズ。

She must have been happy, since she posed for the camera, which rarely happens.

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帰宅して、ブラックベリー「ナバホ」の花が咲き進み、幼果が目立ってきました。

Back home, flowers of Navaho blackberries have passed their peak, and now young fruits are looking more prominent.

ブラックベリーの両脇にはバラのハンザを植えてあり、こちらも咲き始めています。

Hansa roses are planted on either side of the blackberry, and they are starting to flower.

門の横の鉢植えのほうは、側を通ると濃厚な香りが漂ってきます。この暑い天気で咲いても花びらがしっかり着いているのは1日くらいなので、栄養が種のために使われないよう、夕方には子房の下で切り取っています。他の２株については今年初めて種を育ててみるつもりなので放置です。ただし花びらは紅茶に利用。

Flowers of the Hansa plant by the gate send off a beautiful scent.  Unfortunately, the weather is too hot and the flowers last little more than a day.  In order to conserve nutrition for younger flower buds, I pick the open flowers just below the ovary, in the evening.  However, with the other two Hansa plants, I simply pluck the petals, hoping to see rose hips in autumn.  Not to waste, I add the petals to black tea leaves, which makes a beautiful pot of tea.

私がうっとり花に見とれていたら、先に庭に入ったタイガがこちらを見ていました。

As I was looking at the flowers and getting lost in my thought, Taiga was watching me through the gate.