桜ほぼ満開 Cherry trees almost in full bloom

 桜の時期の週末はたいてい雨か花曇りで寒いうちに桜が散っていきます。なので、朝から晴天の今日の公園は、人、人の波でした。桜の木が最も密集している草地では、入口が自転車でいっぱい。写真両脇の２本の木は開花が始まったばかりですが、他は８分咲きの印象です。

Almost every year when cherry trees bloom, the weather is either rainy or overcast with freezing temperatures, and the flowers open in vain.  This year, we have warm and dry air, and the cherry trees are almost in full bloom.  So, it was no surprise that the park was full of people enjoying the weekend with picnic lunches.  When we arrived at the field where they have most cherry trees, the entrance was almost blocked with bicycles.  In this photo, the two trees on either side have just started to flower, but other trees were almost 80% in progress.

その駐輪場エリアを抜けて先に進むと、午後の３時近くでも地面は花見客で埋め尽くされていました。

We managed to go through the bicycles and found that the ground was almost all covered with people who were still enjoying their little parties, although it was nearly 3 p.m.  A lot of these people probably have to work, so they are making the most of this weekend.

向こう３-４日は花を楽しめそうです。

We should be able to enjoy the flowers for another 3-4 days.

公園からの帰りにアイスクリームを買って、静かな休憩所に立ち寄りました。お昼ご飯後の昼寝のあと、タイガのシャンプーをして自然乾燥の散歩に出てきたので、シャンプーのご褒美です。

On our way home, we bought an ice cream and found a quiet corner to rest.  I shampooed Taiga after lunch and an afternoon nap, and we came out to let the coat dry in this warm weather.  So, this ice cream was a reward for the shampoo.

嬉しそうなガイガですが、お座りするまであげません。

Taiga was excited to see the ice cream, but she had to sit down first.

まず私が頂点を毒見したあと、マイスプーンでタイガにおすそ分け。

I tasted the top part for poison, then gave her a spoonful.

食器のステンレス製のスプーンだとアイスが滑って落ちてしまいますが、百均のプラスチック製のだと落ちるどころかアイスがいつまでもスプーンにひっついているので、タイガが苦戦するほど長持ちします。

Unlike with the stainless-steel spoon I used to bring, the ice cream does not slip off with this cheap plastic spoon that I got from a 100-yen shop.  The ice cream actually sticks to the plastic and Taiga has to try hard to get it off, which makes the ice cream last a long time.

ウエハースの部分はタイガが独り占め。

The bottom part with wafer is all for Taiga.

公園で At the park

 最近 あちこちでバラ科の花木が開花し始めているので、いつもより早い時間帯に午後の散歩に出かけました。この民家の庭では豊後梅のような木（写真左）の横で慶応桜（写真右）が満開でした。

Some rose family trees have started to flower recently, and I decided to go out for an afternoon walk earlier than usual.  This is a neighbour's house with a Bungo Ume tree on the left, and Keio cherry blossom tree on the right. 

公園では樹高4メートル超えのサンシュユが開花中。去年の暮れに実の付き具合を見ましたが、疎らでした。これがコーネリアンチェリーなら、離れたところから見ても鈴なりの実で木全体が赤くなるはずです。

In the first park we visited, a mature Asian cornel tree was in bloom.  This tree stands above 4 meters tall with lots of upright branches.  In spite of all these blossoms every spring, I see hardly any fruits in autumn.  I cannot wait for my Cornus mas trees to grow and start producing fruits - it will be such a beautiful sight.

草地を歩いていると、久しぶりに友達と会えました。白柴のオモチちゃんと、柴ミックスのスバル君。いつもはオモチちゃんが目ざとくタイガを見つけて駆け寄ってくるのに、今日はクールな態度で、タイガの燥ぎぶりが空振りです。飼い主さんによると、オモチちゃんは現在ヒートの真っ只中で友達とじゃれ合いたい雰囲気ではないそうです。

As we were walking through a field, we met familiar faces - Omochi, a female White Shiba Inu, and Subaru, a male Shiba mix.  Normally, it is Omochi who spots Taiga from a distance and rushes to meet but, today, she was totally calm in front of excited Taiga.  According to her dad, Omochi is in heat and in no mood for jostling with other pooches.  

タイガは遊びに誘いますが、オモチちゃんは無視。後ろからスバル君がにじり寄って来るのを警戒している様子。

Still, Taiga keeps inviting Omochi to play only to be ignored.  From behind Omochi, Subaru sneaks up to her and Omochi is weary of him.

タイガは諦めてオモチちゃんの飼い主さんに挨拶に行きました。

Taiga leaves Omochi alone and says hello to her dad.

スバル君が新ためてオモチちゃんにアプローチ。

Subaru tries his luck,

一括されました。

only to be repelled.

バツが悪そうなスバル君です。口を舐めて自分の心を落ち着けようとしています。

Subaru looks embarrassed and tries to calm himself down by licking his mouth.

他の草地へ移動すると、もう咲き始めたコブシの木がありました。山のコブシの花より豪華で、白モクレンよりも小さいので、実際にはどちらなのか定かではありませんが、コブシのように開花直後の花は北向きです。

We moved to another field and saw a Kobus magnolia tree already starting to bloom.  The Kobus magnolia trees in this park have larger flowers than those of wild trees in the mountain, but smaller than regular magnolias that bloom much later in the season.  Nevertheless, the flowers of this park face the north just like those of wild varieties.

帰りしなに初めて会った豆柴の女の子。生後８か月のナナちゃんだそうです。最初はガウガウ言って偉そうにしていましたが、そのうち甘え始めました。

As we were leaving the park, we met a new face - a female miniature Shiba Inu, 8 months old, named Nana.  She started with a growl and then became playful.

タイガが怒らない犬だと分かると、したい放題。

Once she found that Taiga was a totally calm dog, she got bold.

でも、顔を近づけられると途端にビビって前足が浮いています。

However, the moment Taiga put her face close to Nana's, she became nervous with her front paw not touching the ground.

タイガが飼い主さんに挨拶するために前に身を乗り出したとたん、ナナちゃんは怖くて後ずさりしました。

When Taiga moved forward so as to greet Nana's mom, she was frightened and jumped back.

去り際に、最後の勇気を振り絞って吠えて来ました。タイガは相手が噛みついてこようとしない限り反応しない犬なので、終始無言で落ち着いていました。

As we were parting, Nana mustered the remaining courage and started barking.  Taiga stayed calm all the time, since she does not react unless the other dog tries to actually attack her.

今日のタイガ Taiga outside

 今年に入ってから、ハナニラの駆除を始めました。10年以上前に買ったほんの小さなポット植えが瞬く間に増殖してしまいました。視界に入るハナニラを何度も掘り起こしていますが、かなりのクセモノです。米粒ほどの球根でも、しかも土を耕しているうちに地中深く埋まったものでも、体勢を取り直して地上に葉っぱを出してきます。ということで、今日も目に入ったものを徹底的に掘り上げました。

タイガは玄関前で私の働きぶりを監督。今日は３組のタイガファンの方たちが通りがかったのでゴキゲンでした。タイガに声がかかるたびに私は作業の手を止めて起き上がり、門を開けてタイガが直接ファンサービスできるようにしました。夕方に作業を終えたときはヘロヘロ。

Since the New Year, I have been trying to get rid of Ipheion uniforum from my garden.  About 10 years ago, I bought a tiny pot of Ipheion, and did they multiply like mad.  Now, if I ever see a hint of them, I grab my trowel and start digging.  Still, there seems to be no end of it.  Even a tiny bulb, the size of a rice grain, that has been buried deep in the soil can start to recover and send up leaves.  So, I continued my efforts to exterminate them this afternoon.

Taiga sat in front of the porch and watched me hard at work.  As she did, 3 sets of her fans passed by.  Every time her name was called, I had to stop my work and get up, so that Taiga could get out of the porch and get a lot of pets from her fans.  By the time evening came and I stopped working, I was exhausted.

６種混合ワクチン接種 Vaccination

 6種混合ワクチンの接種で江古田の動物病院へ行ってきました。本来なら初冬に行くのですが、去年の秋から私が坐骨神経痛を患っていたので、暖かくなるまで待っていました。

タイガに疑われないよう、ハーネスをつけた散歩を正月以来 数回練習しています。難関は桜台と江古田の間にある環七交差点を渡るときですが、今日は通りがかった人に「ワカイイ」と声を掛けられて、そのその勢いで一緒に交差点を無事渡ることができました。

I took Taiga to the animal clinic for a mixed vaccine this morning.  Normally, she gets this in early winter, but she missed it last year due to my sciatica which started in autumn 2025.  So, I waited until the weather turned warm.

However, I had taken her out with the harness on several walks since the New Year, so that she would not become suspicious.  The tricky point was the Ring Road No. 7 Crossing, which separates our Sakuradai district and Ekoda where the clinic was.  Fortunately, this morning, a passer-by called out to Taiga saying 'kawaii (cute)', which pleased her and we crossed the road together without any resistance from Taiga.

クリニックに到着して状況を把握したのか、ちょっと放心状態。

When we got into the clinic, the reality dawned on her.

体重は、私の脚の影響で運動不足になり、増えていました。前回計ってもらったときは20kg台だったのが、今回は23kgになっていました。それ以外は、心音や体温を含め、いたって健康だそうです。

帰りしなに、「次回は２年後で十分」と言われました。今の混合ワクチンは長持ちするからだそうです。あとは来月に狂犬病注射を打ってもらえば安心です。

As expected, she had put on weight, due to the lack of exercise arising from my sciatica.  She weighed 20kg last time, and this morning she weighed 23kg.  Otherwise, the doctor said that she was perfectly healthy with her steady heartbeat and body temperature.

As we were leaving, the doctor said, 'The next vaccine will be in 2 years' time'.  According to him, the current vaccine on the market lasts long enough.  So, for this year, just the rabies vaccine is left, which will be in April.

雪で元気なタイガ Taiga running in snow

 土曜の夜から日曜の朝にかけて降った雪は、最大で10センチくらいに積もりました。早朝散歩で玄関から出ると、門が凍り付いたように固まっていたのにはびっくり。ヤカンでお湯を沸かして解凍しました。

It started to snow overnight, from Saturday night to Sunday morning.  At the peak, it was about 10 centimeters deep.  When we came out of the porch to go for our early morning walk, the gate was frozen and would not open.  So, I boiled water in a kettle and thawed the ice inside the metal hinge.

子供専用の公園横のロウバイ。最近は満開で良い香りを放っていたのに、雪で香りも凍り付いているようです。

The wintersweet blossoms were in full bloom recently, sending off a beautiful scent.  This morning, the perfume seemed to be frozen.

その横、金網フェンスの向こうが目指す草地です。数年前までは農家の畑だったので、木があまり生えていなくてワンコにとって走りやすいです。

The field beyond the wire fence is where we were heading.  Until a few years ago, it was a farm field and, therefore, very few trees standing, which makes it an ideal field for dogs to run freely.

今回の動画のタイガは、いつもより更にぽっちゃり体形です。去年の秋に私が坐骨神経痛になって以来、運動不足がたたっています。坐骨神経痛のほうは、最近までは治ったかのように楽で、夕方のジョギングを再開していましたが、この寒さですっかり痛みがぶり返しています。まあ、暖かくなるまでの辛抱ですよ。

Taiga in this video may look chunky but it is because of me.  My sciatica started in autumn last year and she has not been getting enough exercise since, while eating the same amount of food.  As to my sciatica, it seemed to have gone recently, and I started jogging in the evening as before.  However, the current extremely cold weather has brought back the pain, and I am scared of going out into the cold air.  On the bright side, it is a matter of time when the weather turns warm enough to bring relief to my sciatica.

午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

 今日は朝から曇りでしたが午後3時半頃には日がさして暖かくなったので、昨日に続いて今日も公園を目指しました。途中にある屋敷林では柿が色づいていて、インド原産の野生化したワカケホンセイインコが熟した実を突いていました。

It was cloudy for most of the day today.  However, the sun came out at around 3:30 p.m. and the temperature rose a little.  So, we headed for the park for the second day in a row.  We first walked through the privately owned woodlands that are open to the public.  The fruits on the persimmon trees were ripe, and a flock of Indian ringnecks were feasting on them (these parakeets are thriving in the wild).

写真手前の左側、白い小さな花が咲いているのはお茶の木（チャノキ）です。この辺の屋敷林は元は古い農家の敷地だったのが今は一般に提供されています。チャノキがあちこちに植えられているので、もしかしたら昔 農作物として栽培されていたものの名残かも、と勝手に想像しています。

The little bush on the left with white flowers is a tea plant.  The woodlands in this area used to belong to working farm families that lasted for ages.  In each of these woodlands, there are numerous old tea plants.  I personally think that they were probably introduced to this area many decades ago for commercial growing, but now totally abandoned.

これがチャノキの花。

These are the flowers of tea plants - they really look like little camellia flowers.

小さなサザンカの株が植わっているスポットは、そこだけ明りがついたかのようです。

A tiny bush of sasanqua, making this spot bright as if shown by a light.

素朴な花ですが、可愛い。

These are modest flowers but pretty at the same time.

この屋敷林は竹林もあれば

This particular woodland has both bamboo area,

雑木林もあります。近くには都立城北公園という大きな存在があるので、これらの屋敷林は知られていないのか、散策中めったに人に会うことはありません。

as well as mixed wood areas.  I rarely run into anyone when I walk through this woodland.  It is probably not known to many people due to the larger existence of Johoku Park nearby.  These woodlands are managed by Nerima Ward Office, whereas the Johoku Park comes under the control of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

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そのあとは茂呂山公園のモミジの様子を見に行きました。

We then visited Moroyama Park to see how the Japanese maple trees were doing.

ノムラモミジが真っ赤です。

The 'Nomura' maple trees are in their full autumn colour.

人気もなく静かな晩秋の公園。

We enjoyed the quiet park in the late autumn afternoon.

暖かい気温のおかげで脚の調子が良かったので、帰る前に城北公園の林を通りました。次はもっと明るい時間帯に来ようと思います。

Thanks to the warm weather, the sciatica pain in my leg was not too bad, so we moved to Johoku Park and walked through the woods.  It was already starting to get dark.  A sunny day is forecast for tomorrow, so we will come here at earlier hours.