今朝の散歩で城北中央公園の林を歩いていたら、何とも良い香りが漂ってきました。この時期、個人的に楽しみな３つの芳香のひとつ、シナノキ（科の木）の香りです。他の２つは山野草のスイカズラと、ナツメの花の香り。「植木ペディア」によると開花期は6-7月となっていますが、城北公園のは５月上旬から咲き始めます。
When we were walking through the woodland during our morning walk in the Johoku Central Park, there was a heavenly scent in the air. It was one of my 3 most favourite scents of early summer - the Japanese Linden was already starting to bloom. The other two favourite scents are those of wild honeysuckle and jujube. According to a site on the internet, the flowering period of the Japanese Linden is from June to July. However, these trees normally grow in mountainous regions where summer arrives late.
林の外にある木のほうが、樹姿が分かり易い。大木になるので、公園でしか見たことありません。
This is the Japanese Linden at the edge of the woodland. They grow tall and I have seen them only in parks.
カメラが捉えられる下のほうの枝は、まだ蕾の状態。
My camera could reach only the lower branches, where flower buds were too young.
あちこち歩いたあと、売店のある広場で休んでから帰ることにしました。
After enough walking, we came to a square where we decided to rest before going home.
植え込みの囲いがちょうど良い腰かけになります。子犬の頃のタイガは、このサークルの上を歩いて一回りするごとにオヤツをもらうのが遊びになっていました。
The brickwork encircling trees is used as a bench. When Taiga was a puppy, she used to jump on it and, after walking each circle, she would get a treat.
いつもの手作りチキン胸肉ジャーキー。
The usual, home-made chicken breast jerky.
木陰は涼しくて心地良いので、しばらく休んでから帰りました。
It was cool and comfortable in the shade, so we rested here for some time.＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
リンゴの幼果が育っています。クラスターごとに１個だけ残して摘果し、さらに変化に乏しいものも除去しています。私の皮算用では、１本につき５個以上の実が生ることを想定しています。
Young fruits of the two cooking apple varieties are growing. I have left only one fruit in each cluster. Also, any young fruits with stalled growth have been removed. By 'counting chickens before they hatch', I expect more than 5 fruits growing to maturity on each tree.
これは
グラニースミスの現在。
This is how the Granny Smith looks currently.
こちらは赤肉品種の紅の夢。普通、この小さな段階でもう赤い色がついていると落果を心配しますが、これがこの品種の特性です。
This is the red-fleshed variety called 'Kurenai-no-Yume'. Normally, if you saw the red colour on such tiny fruits, you would think that the young fruits will be dropping off soon. However, this is how this cultivar is.
リンゴ苗のそばに置いてある鉢植えは春紫苑で、ピンクの濃い株を駐車場になっている空き地から拉致してきました。自宅近くまで来たらご近所の母娘と一緒になりましたが、30代の娘さんが、私が手にした春紫苑を見て「あっそれ、ビンボウグサ！」。「えぇえー？！」とショックを受けて家の中に入ってすぐに検索したら出てきました。「貧乏草」、本当にそんな呼び方もあったとは..... ネットの情報によると一・二年草とのことなので、寿命が尽きるまで育ててみます。
The potted flower near the apple trees is Philadelphia fleabane. I transplanted it from a field used as a car park, near my home. When I came home with the plant in my hand, I ran into my neighbour and her daughter in her 30s. The daughter said 'Ah, that's the "poor man's flower"' - her mother looked embarrassed by her manner. I was shocked to hear such a name and told her the proper name in Japanese, which has a graceful and cultured tone to it. However, the moment I got inside, I looked it up on the internet and, yes, it was listed as another name. The article also said that the plant's life is one to two years only, so I am going to look after it for the duration.
これが、そのピンク系の株。結構キレイだと思います。
So, this is the plant I came home with. I think it is as pretty as any cultivated asters.
