城北中央公園のイチョウの実が落果し始めています。ただし、いまの時期の落果は完熟前の生理落果であって、中身は美味しくないと思います（私はイチョウに関心がないので試したことはなくて、単なる想像）。
The ginkgo trees in the Johoku Central Park have started shedding some of its fruits. However, this is just releasing excess fruits shortly before the ripening season. So, the nuts inside are probably not formed even (I have never tried, because I do not eat gingko nuts).
Since the nuts are not ripe yet, the flesh on the outside does not emit the offensive smell.
このイチョウ並木が黄葉すると綺麗です。その頃の気候は暑くも寒くもなく、空気が乾燥しているので散歩が快適です。
When the leaves of these ginkgo trees turn yellow in late autumn, this avenue will be beautiful. At that time, the air will be neither cold nor hot with low humidity, and walking will be so much more enjoyable.
帰るまえの休憩。タイガは頭の中がオヤツで一杯なので、泡ふいて期待しています。
Having a rest before going home. There is only one thing occupying Taiga's mind and she is frothing at the mouth.
以前、自作の盆栽鉢に植えた実生のノムラモミジを植え替えることにしました。鉢を作った「粘土」の素材は乾燥したあとも硬いマシュマロのように弾力性があり、さらに、猛暑のあいだ鉢の足が熱で溶けたようにタイルにくっついていました。そこで、まともな鉢を再度探し始めたのです。
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A few months ago, I made a shallow pot for the red-leaf maple tree seedlings. I was not quite happy with it, so I wanted to repot the plants. The material was not natural clay and even now, with the pot completely dry, it is soft like marshmallow. Moreover, during the heat wave, the legs at the bottom became glued to the tiles in the sun. It made me look for a proper pot even more eagerly than before.
本当は昔ながらの青いうわぐすりを塗って焼いた鉢を探していたのですが、やっと見つけたのがこのテラコッタ鉢。縁が鉢の内側へ向けて折れ曲がっているので、いつか大きくなった苗を取り出すとき、鉢を壊さなければならないかもしれません。
I wanted a traditional bonsai pot baked with blue paint on the outside, but no such luck. The best I could find was this terracotta pot. Its rims overhang towards inside, which means I may have to break the pot when the plants become too large, and I want to take them out for replanting in a larger pot.
この容器の裏には足が着いていなくて、周りが盛り上がっている形状。足はなくても鉢全体が水が染み出しやすそうな材質なので、排水性に関しては問題なさそうです。ダオン鉢と比べて非常に軽くてデリケートで、テラコッタ独特の臭いがします。
This pot has no 'legs'. Instead, the four sides are meant to keep the centre off the ground. Also, the material may allow excess water to seep out, so there is no problem regarding drainage. This pot is Western terracotta and, compared with old Japanese clay pots, this one is light, delicate, and has a different smell.
苔も新調。以前のはボサボサに伸びるタイプでしたが、今度のはビロードのように張り付くタイプ。
I got new moss, too. The previous one had long fibres, whereas this replacement is smooth as velvet.
植え替え完了。「和」の雰囲気ゼロですが、あの樹脂製の器よりはマシでしょう。
Repotting done. It does not look very 'Japanese', but I think it is an improvement on the previous plastic one.
