種無し金柑のプチマルが、７月初旬の本格的な開花時期のあともチョロチョロと返り咲きしています。返り咲きの花からも多少は着果するので、歓迎です。
The seedless kumquat has been producing a few flowers repeatedly, following the real flowering period of early July. I welcome it since such flowers can end in some fruit setting.
Young fruits from the first flowering are growing nicely. I cut down this tree in spring this year, as the tree was getting too large. At that time, I had given up the hope of getting any fruits for next spring, but it made a remarkable recovery.
タイガは興奮して遊びに誘いますが、場違いなのでコンちゃんに却下されました。
玄関ちかくに植えてある本柚子を中間台として、セミノールとモロが高接ぎされています。その本柚子の一箇所に、去年の夏にプチマルも接いでみました。
On the yuzu tree in front of the porch, I grafted Seminole and Moro oranges a few years ago, and they are growing steadily. Last summer, I also grafted the seedless kumquat in one place.
それがまだ小枝の状態で幼果を着けています。ミカンの石地が10号鉢で根詰まりを起こして、去年 枯れそうになって以来、鉢植えのものは保険でどこかに高接ぎしておかないと不安になりました。
The branch is still tiny, but it is already fruiting. I did this because I was getting worried that the seedless kumquat might end up in the same dire way as my favourite Ishiji tangerine which nearly died as the 30 cm diameter pot was getting too small for it. Since then, I am trying to graft all the pot-growing citrus trees, as an insurance, on other trees growing in the ground.
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日中はよく晴れて、買い物に出ると発狂しそうなほど暑かったですが、天気予報では夕方には不安定になって所によっては雷を伴うにわか雨が降るかも、という内容のことを言っていました。夕方散歩の時間には本当に曇ってきました。石神井川近くで柴犬のコンちゃんと遭遇。いつもは城北公園の草地で会うので、一瞬 目を疑いました。
During the day, it was so hot that I nearly went mad while out shopping. However, the forecast was that the weather would become unstable and cloudy, and in some places, there might be rain with thunder. It did become very cloudy in the evening by the time we went out for walk. Near the Shakujii River, we ran into Kon, a male Shiba Inu, whom we normally meet at the park. I had to look at him twice to believe it was Kon.
Taiga was delighted and invited Kon to play. However, Kon knew when and where it was appropriate to play and rejected her invitation.
今日のコンちゃんは、公園ではなくうちの３丁目を歩く気分のようです。
Today, his choice was to walk in our home 3-chome district.
今日のタイガの気分はというと、公園とは逆方向の練馬の方角へ、石神井川沿いに歩くことでした。
Taiga's choice was to walk in the opposite direction to the Johoku Park, along the Shakujii River.
川から少し離れたところに生産緑地の指定を受けた区画があり、その一角には一坪ほどのスペースに十数種類の果樹が植えられているところがあります。興味は無くなったけど一応ここに植えておこうという、まるで掃きだめのような扱いです（気持ち分かりますが）。よーく見ると、そのうちの１本がサンシュユでした。
At a small distance from the river, there is a plot officially designated as productive green space. In one of the corners, there is a space equivalent to two tatami mats, where there seem to be easily more than 15 fruit bearing trees squashed together. I suspect that the owner lost interest in these trees but not enough to discard them (I know the feeling), so the trees were shoved into this corner. Today, I discovered one of them was a fruiting dogwood.
そのサンシュユは、極東アジアに自生するもの（野生種）なのか、それとも西洋サンシュユなのか、判断がつきません。城北公園近くの、幼児専用の公園（こどもの森）には２本の野生種が植わっています。大木なのに実の付き方は非常に疎らで、公道から見てよく目を凝らさないと見つけられません。疎らの点ではこの木の実付きも同じですが、実のサイズはこちらのほうが大きいです。ただし、ショリコなどの西洋サンシュユなら、実の形は似ているけど遥かに豊産性のはず。
However, I cannot tell whether this is one of the wild dogwood trees that are indigenous to the Far East Asia, or if this is one of the Cornelian cherry varieties (Cornus mas). Now, there are two Asian wild dogwood trees in the park dedicated to infants, near the Johoku Park. The trees are large and mature, but the fruits are sporadic. Looking for fruits on those trees from the public road (the park is for infants only), I really have to strain my eyes. The fruits are also very tiny, which is expected of the Asian wild variety. In contrast, the fruits on this tree are much larger. However, if this tree was a Cornelian cherry tree, it should be prolific like Jolico.
この丸いポチは、うちのパイオニアに出ているものとそっくり。やはりあれは蕾で間違いないようです。見方を変えると、パイオニアのあの１個だけが蕾であって、１歳上のカザンラクに現在全く出ていないということは、来年も花は無しということになります。そういう判断を可能にするという意味で、この木の発見は貴重でした。
この木の存在が私にとって意味ある発見だったのは、蕾の観察ができたことです。うちの近所にはハナミズキの木ならいくらでも植わっているけど、蕾の出方に関しては全く参考になりません。また、「こどもの森」のサンシュユは大木すぎて、公道からの観察はムリ。それが、この木の枝は手にとって観察できます。
The value of discovering this tree was the fact that I could study when and how next year's flower buds grow. There are countless flowering dogwoods in my district since they are popular garden trees, but they are no use when it comes to learning about flower buds. As to the two large wild variety trees in the kids' park, they are too tall and too far from the public road. In contrast, with this tree, I can reach out and hold the branches in my hand to study.
今日は既に薄暗くなっていたので、日を改めて見に来たいです。
These round flower buds are almost identical to the one on my Cornus mas 'Pioneer'. I am now convinced that it is a flower bud for next year. Looking at the situation from another angle, it means that I have only one flower bud, and Kazanlak, although one year older than Pioneer, will have no flowers next year again. Finding this tree has been meaningful in the sense that I can have a clear idea about my Cornelian cherry trees.
It was getting dark, so I will come back another day at an earlier hour.
