四季成り果樹園芸: 公園で　At the park

四中横の草地に設置されている棚にはサルナシのツルが絡まっていて、今が満開です。写真の左側の柱の脇には雌木、右の柱脇には雄木が植わっています。

The trellis standing in the field near the Johoku Central Park holds two vines of Kiwi berries (Actinidia arguta) - the female plant growing next to the pillar on the left, and the male plant growing next to the right pillar.

ツルが密なので、春から秋にかけて日陰を提供してくれます。

The vines are dense enough to provide a good shelter from the strong sun from spring to autumn.

これは雌花。子房があるので簡単に見分けがつきます。

These are female flowers with ovary - easy to distinguish them from male flowers.

この房の花はどれも受粉済みのようです。

These flowers all seem to have been pollinated.

こちらは雄花。

These are male flowers.

子房が無くて、オシベだらけ。サルナシの花の構造は、キウイのそれと同じ。

Without ovary, the flower is full of stamen. The structures of male and female flowers are the same as those of Kiwi flowers.

タイガが勝手にあたりをウロウロしないよう、サルナシのツルに係留しておいたら、根元の浮き上がった樹皮を剥がして退屈しのぎしていました。

I had tied Taiga to a vine nearby, so that she would not wander away. When I came back to her, out of boredom she was peeling the bark that was already starting to come off.

道を挟んで向こうの草地にあるヤマボウシの木は、開花期間が長いのでまだ咲いています。

We crossed the road to enter another field, where there was a Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa) tree that had been in bloom for weeks.

この木には毎年ピンクがかった花（厳密にはガク）も混じって咲きます。

Some of the flowers on this tree are pink - it happens every year.

これもそのひとつ。「サトミ」という品種名で売られているピンクのヤマボウシの花に近いものがあります。また、うちの近所には門を挟んで白花と、「スカーレットファイヤー」に近いような赤い花のが、紅白で咲く家がありますが、剪定が原因でここ２年間は花が無し。

Now, there is a pink flower variety called 'Miss Satomi'. I suspect that they developed it through repeated selection out of naturally occurring pink flowers, like this tree. Otherwise, flowers of the Japanese dogwood are basically white. Also, my neighbour has a red-flower Japanese dogwood tree with flowers almost as red as the US developed variety called 'Scarlet Fire', but hers is another naturally occurring one and not a cross breed.

赤花西洋トチノキのある築山で一休みします。

We moved to the mound where the European horse chestnut tree was, to have a rest.

今日は曇りで直射日光の暑さはないけど、湿気が高いです。
It was cloudy today and we were spared of the burning sun, although quite humid and tiring.

タイガがおやつを期待してカメラ目線になってくれました。

Taiga posed for the camera, since she expected a treat to follow.

道を渡って城北中央公園の草地に入ると、枇杷の実がもう色づいていました。

We entered the Johoku Central Park, where there was a loquat tree with its fruits ripening.

つい最近まではもっと沢山の実がありましたが、たぶん、野鳥がごちそうになっているのでしょう。

There used to be a lot more fruits until recently - wild birds have been busy feasting on them?

帰り道、桜の木が沢山植わっている草地を通りました。ソメイヨシノに交じって、サクランボが生る正体不明の木が１本だけあります。

On our way home, we passed the field with cherry trees. Among the usual Somei Yoshino trees, there is one tree that does not belong here.

今はまだ幼果の段階で赤いですが、もう少し肥大して真っ黒になると完熟。野鳥に大人気の木です。

The tree actually produces cherries. They are still young and red but, when they are larger and black, the fruits are quite tasty. Then, this tree becomes popular among wild birds.