狂犬病注射の日 The day for rabies shot

 今日は曇り時々雨の暗い一日でした。朝散歩で家を出た後で、ペットボトルの水の補充を失念していたことが分かったので、水道を利用するために強制的に公園へ向かいました。桜の木が集中している草地の奥に蛇口があります。

It was dark all day today, with heavily overcast sky and occasional rains.  Soon after we left home for our morning walk, I realised that I had forgotten to refill the water bottle.  With the bottle less than 1/4 full, I changed the course and we went to the Johoku Park, so that I could use the tap water (it is part of the dog walking manner to sprinkle water after the pooch has urinated, and when you have made a little mess in picking up the poop).  At the deep end of this field, there is a place offering running water.

この木は遅れて咲いて今朝やっと満開でした。今年は桜が長持ちした春でした。

This tree at the entrance is one of the Somei Yoshino variety but comes into bloom behind everyone else.  In all, the cherry blossom season has lasted long this year.

草地の奥のほうにはソメイヨシノではない木があって、毎年遅れて咲きます。

Near the end of the path, there is a tree that does not belong to the Somei Yoshino variety, and it always starts flowering after the Somei Yoshino has started to fall.

この写真では真ん中の小振りの木で、花の色がソメイヨシノと比べて白っぽいです。

Even the growth habit is different.  All the trees were planted in one go some 20 years ago, but this tree has been dwarfish, and its flowers are almost white.

これがその木。初夏には真っ黒いサクランボが鈴生りになります。小粒ではあるけど濃厚な味で結構美味しいですが、野鳥が見逃すはずありません。毎日ヒヨドリが群がって大騒ぎです。

This is the tree up close.  Unlike Somei Yoshino, the branches of this tree will be laden with black cherries in early summer.  The fruits are small but has a strong flavour and taste.  No wonder wild birds love them and every day we see birds feeding on the cherries.

帰宅途中の屋敷林に寄りました。ここは以前 畑として使われていたところで、所有者の老夫婦が亡くなってからは練馬区の管理下で一般に提供されています。

On our way home, we stopped at the field that used to be a farmland.  After the old couple passed away, the land has been managed by the Nerima Ward Office so that general public could enjoy the green space.

草地の奥に紅一点。

A red speck among the greenery in the distance.

チューリップです。畑だった頃は野菜だけでなく花の栽培もされていた名残です。

A tulip flower.  When this was a farmland, they used to grow flowers for the market as well as vegetables.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

狂犬病注射の会場は午後１時から３時半までだったので、お昼ご飯のあとで向かいました。散歩でよく横を通る高稲荷神社公園が会場。普段はワンコの連れ込み禁止です。

Today was the annual rabies inoculation day.  The event was held between 1p.m.-3:30p.m., so we left home after lunch.  The venue was set at the park we often pass by during our walk.  Normally, dogs are not allowed in this park.

会場に入る直前に仲良しのダイフク君に会えました。私の坐骨神経痛のせいで、あまりこの方角には来れなくなったので、ダイフク君に会うのは半年ぶりです。以下の写真はタイガもダイウク君も無事注射が終わったあと。

Just as we arrived at the park, we met Daifuku who also came for the shot.  Both Daifuku and Taiga were excited to see each other after more than 6 months, due to my sciatica which made it hard to come this far.  

The photos below are after getting the shots, since Daifuku's mom and I were too occupied with coaxing the pooches before the shots.

ダイフク君の注射のされ方が相当痛かったようで、興奮さめやらぬ状態です。その雰囲気に圧倒されてタイガの耳が後ろに倒れたままでした。

After the shot, Daifuku was very upset - apparently, the injection was given in a very painful way, and he could not get over it.  Taiga was overwhelmed by Daifuku's indignation, and her ears were pushed backwards.

ダイフク君と別れたあと、帰りは近くの民家の庭先にある水槽の金魚を見に行きました。

After parting with Daifuku, we headed home via the place where we could see the goldfish in front of a private house.

家の人の話では、水槽の掃除をするたびに外に出すメンバーを換えるそうです。今日は頭数がいつもより少ないです。

According to the owner, they change the members on display when they clean the tanks.  Today, there were fewer fish than normal - but I prefer this since it means they can swim more freely.

午後散歩 Afternoon walk

 今日の練馬区の最高気温は23℃だったそうですが、湿度も高かったので午後３時半過ぎに散歩に出たときは汗をかきながら歩きました。今日は石神井川を城北公園とは逆の練馬方向に歩きました。川岸の桜の木はほぼ散ってしまっていますが、それでも雨の降らない日曜日ということもあって、遊歩道の人出は多かったです。

Today's maximum temperature in our Nerima Ward reached 23℃, and the humidity was also high (68% at 3 p.m.), which made me perspire as I walked.  We walked in the opposite direction to Johoku Park, along the Shakujii River.  The cherry trees had lost most of their blossoms but, it being a day free of rain and Sunday, there were a lot of people walking in the riverbank walkway.

遊歩道脇の花壇は世話なしで毎年咲く黄花のオギザリスやハナニラが満開。

On the side of the walkway, yellow flower oxalis and spring star flowers were in full bloom.

園芸種の黄花オギザリスにくわえ、野草のピンクのも咲いていました。

There was also wild oxalis with deep pink flowers.

さらに、原種チューリップ。原種はうちでは１シーズンで終わったので難易度が高い印象ですが、こんなに咲いているのを見ると自然に増えたのでしょうか。

It was unusual to find a cluster of wild tulips.  These wild ones are difficult to grow in a garden.  All the wild tulips I have tried disappeared after just one season.  To see these thriving, they must have multiplied in this place, since these beds are unattended.

そこへ、このあたりでよく会うワンコが来ました。朗らかなミックス犬の「豆助」君で、タイガと同じくらいの年齢です。

A familiar face approached us - we often run into him when walking in this district.  He was adopted as a rescued dog and is about Taiga's age with a sunny disposition.

黒柴の血も少し入っているようですが、毛質が人形の毛のように柔らかく、和犬のものではありません。

He seems to have a drop of Black Shiba Inu, but his single coat fur is too soft for a Japanese breed.

４月７日に狂犬病予防接種の会場となる高稲荷神社公園の隅っこに映えているノイバラの大株は、トゲ無しです。毎年沢山の花を咲かせて、木全体が真っ白になります。

We came to the park at the foot of a shrine, which will be used for rabies vaccine on 7th April.  There is a mature plant of wild Japanese rose at the corner of the park.  The tree gets covered with white blossoms in spring.  Moreover, this tree is thornless - just like the one I bought recently.

もう蕾が出ています。先日JAで買ったうちのトゲ無しノイバラもいつか沢山の花を咲かせてくれるよう期待しています。

The tree already has flower buds.  I would be thrilled if my young tree produces any flowers this year.

近くに座るところがあったので、休憩してタイガのおやつタイム。今日のは乾燥牛タンの皮です。
There was a resting place nearby, and we sat down for Taiga's treat.

高稲荷神社横の坂道を上って丘の上を歩くと禅寺があります。ここは正門の横にある脇の入口ですが、まるで茶屋の入口のような雰囲気です。

We went up the slope by the side of the park and walked on the hill.  This is a side gate next to the formal entrance of a Zen temple.  I prefer this informal gate to the grand entrance, since this looks like a path leading to a tearoom.

ここは寺の裏手で、職員などの居住用の建物のようです。

This is a living quarter for the people working for the temple, situated at the back.

クマザサが密集して生えています。私は料理に利用するために鉢植えで２度、クマザサ栽培を試みましたが無理でした。このように、ある程度の群生を覚悟で地植えにしないと厳しいようです。

There was a mound covered with Kuma bamboo grass.  This bamboo is notoriously difficult to grow in a garden - its natural habitat is deep in high mountains with full sun and strong winds.  I have already failed twice in trying to grow this in a pot.

かなり歩いたので、川沿いの道に降りて帰ることにしました。

Having walked a lot, we came down to the riverbank to go home.

途中、民家の横を通ったら何とも不思議な良い香りがしました。

On our way home, we passed by a house where there was a tree with uniquely beautiful scent.

これはもしかしてロシアンオリーブ(グミ科)？  他では見たことないですが、花の形がグミの花です。本当にユニークな香りです。

Can this be the Russian olive?  I have never seen another tree like this.  The flowers look just like those of Elaeagnus flowers.

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.