朝散歩 Morning Walk

 城北中央公園手前の交差点で、ヒナとセナに会えました。これから向かうルートが、うちの近くで建設中の幹線道路横の歩行者用通路を含むものだったので、タイガにとって逆戻りするかたちで、そこまで一緒に歩くことにしました。この幹線道路は、平和台、氷川台（地元）、小竹向原、池袋をつなぐ道路で、ちょうど地下鉄有楽町線の各駅のそばを通ります。

Just before reaching the Johoku Central Park, we met Hina and Sena, at the traffic lights.  They were on their way to the pathway that leads to the Ring Road No. 7.  For Taiga, it meant going back the way we came, because the starting point of that pathway was near our house.  However, it did not bother her since she was overjoyed to see Hina and Sena after a long time.

ヒナにとってタイガは子犬の頃からの友達なので、会うたびに嬉しそうな顔をしてくれます。

For Hina, Taiga is one of the friends she has had since she was a puppy, so she is always happy to see Taiga.

ヒナは黒虎なので、舌の黒班も広い。タイガは舌の奥にちょっと出ているだけ。

Hina is a black brindle Kai, and she has a dark stain covering more than half of her tongue.  Taiga's dark spot is very small and located at the back of her tongue.

甲斐犬3頭揃って歩き出します。

The three Kaikens started walking together.

ヒナ・セナに久しぶりに会えて嬉しいタイガは、ヒナにスリスリしたくて道路を歩くときの注意散漫。

However, Taiga was too excited to see Hina after a long time, and she wanted to snuggle up to her, giving no thoughts to walking.

４，５歳年上のタイガがすっかり「かまってちゃん」になっています。

Taiga getting desperate for Hina's attention, even though she is 4-5 years older than Hina.

別行動をとる地点まで来たら、近所の知り合いが通りかかったのでタイガが挨拶。

When we came close to the point where they would veer off, my neighbour passed by and called Taiga.

ヒナ・セナと別れたあと、短めの散歩で我が家を目指しました。うちのご近所の垣根はツツジが満開。手前から順に、

After parting with Hina/Sena, we headed home.  My neighbour's azalea hedge was in full bloom.  Starting with the closest colour,

白花の写真を見ていると、貧血症の私にはめまいがしそうです。

this anaemic picture makes my head go light.

この花は蛍光色なので、まともに写真に撮れない。

These flowers are too fluorescent for my basic camera.

これが個人的には最も好みのハデハデの花。

This is my best favourite type - so cheerful and showy.

この薄紫色のは、このあたりでは比較的めずらしい。

This lilac variety is rare in my neighbourhood.

うちの斜め向かいの公園では、西洋サンザシが咲き始めたところ。赤花の一重咲きで品種名は「クリムゾンクラウド」。多花性かつ実も沢山なるので、秋には野鳥が食べに来ます。同じ赤花でも、「ポールズ・スカーレット」は八重咲きでもっとハデですが、大きな木にならないと実はつきにくいのでこの品種にしました。

In the tiny park nearly opposite to my house, there is a hawthorn plant which has just started to bloom.  Named 'Crimson Cloud', this variety produces lots of berries in autumn, which are very popular with wild birds.  Now, the flowers of 'Paul's Scarlet' are more showy than Crimson Cloud's, but they hardly get fruits, so I chose this one and planted it here.

まだまだ蕾が沢山あります。

A lot more flower buds to follow.

花は雲間草のような配色で可愛いですが、臭いはビミョー。でも、海外ではサンザシはミツバチを呼ぶ花として知られています。

The blossoms are really pretty like the Irish saxifrage, but taking a close sniff is not recommended.  However, these blossoms attract honeybees.

日本ナツメ Japanese Jujube

今日は一日中雨。うっとおしいですが、でもこれから初夏にかけての雨は庭の植物を育ててくれる恵みの雨なので有難いです。 

去年の夏に買った大苗の日本ナツメがやっと芽吹き始めています。今年の冬に徹底的に根っこを洗って長さを整えたので、そのショックから立ち直るのに時間がかかったようです。

It drizzled all day today.  In spite of the gloomy weather, I welcome the warm rain since it nurtures my plants.  

The Japanese jujube tree that I bought last summer has at last started budding.  A few months ago, in the middle of the winter, I thoroughly washed the roots and trimmed them before repotting.  It took some time for the tree to recover from that shock.

枝の先々のコブコブから浅緑の新芽が噴出してきました。

Fresh green buds burst out of the nodes at the end of little twigs.

こちら↓は日本ナツメのひこばえを去年の秋に鉢上げしたもの。親木より一足先に芽吹き始めました。果実は小粒でもジューシーで甘酸っぱくて、大変気に入っている品種です。

These are the suckers that I potted from the above Japanese jujube tree, in autumn last year.  Their roots were more settled by this spring and started budding before their parent tree.  The fruits are small but quite juicy and has a sweet and sour taste, so I am very fond of this variety.

黄花のエビネ蘭はピークを過ぎたのか、散り始めています。

The yellow flower Ebine orchid seems to have passed its peak, and I saw flowers on the ground.

花の後に肥料を入れたいので、昨日のうちに草むしりをしてあります。

I plucked weeds yesterday, since I want to give fertilizer after the flowers.

こちらはエビネ蘭専門の育苗業者から取り寄せたコオズ系の香りエビネ。今年は今のところ、大小合わせて７本の花茎が確認できています。年々バルブが増えるのですが、こんなに丈夫な植物とは知りませんでした。

I bought these Ebine orchids from a specialist some years ago.  They are scented Ebine which is unusual.  The plant has been growing well and, this year, I have counted 7 flower stems coming up so far.  Ebines are said to be prone to diseases but mine are doing fine so far.

香りは、昔の白粉風で強香です。

When fully open, the flowers produce strong, old-fashioned sweet fragrance, reminiscent of the smell of my late mom's facial powder.

散歩など Walk, followed by Gardening

 今朝のうちは未だ天気が良くて暑い散歩でした。公園では築山にクルメツツジが咲いていました。

It was still sunny and hot during the morning when we went out for a walk.  In the park, there is a mound with azaleas with tiny flowers.

白花の品種がくすんでいるので、近くで見ると全体的にぱっとしない光景。

Since I prefer showy flowers, these are somewhat dull to me.

通路を挟んで隣にある築山に上って木陰で休憩。タイガも私もこの暑さではバテてしまいます。

We went up another mound close by, in order to rest under a tree.  Both Taiga and I were getting exhausted by the heat.

でも、オヤツを見たとたん嬉しそうな笑顔。ワンコは本当に素直な生き物。

However, Taiga perked up the moment she saw the treat.  Dogs are such uncomplicated creatures.

帰りは石神井川沿いに歩きました。ハナミズキが満開。
On our way home, we walked along the Shakujii River.  Flowering dogwood trees were in full bloom.

花はハデハデが好きな私の好みは、日本で「チェロキー」とか言う赤花のです。

They are pretty enough, but my favourite is the variety called 'Cherokee Chief' with red flowers (sepals).

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

帰宅して、溜まっていた諸々の庭仕事。タイガは監督。

リンゴの授粉作業が終わると初夏の剪定。新梢がスモモや柑橘類にびっしり育っています。スモモにはもうアブラムシが少し沸いていました。私が散歩から帰って庭にいるとスズメや時にはメジロもやって来るので、農薬は使いたくない。となると枝をスカスカにして後は毎日のシャワー水で洗浄です。柑橘類に関しては、私は芽摘みをする派ですが、手がとどかない高い枝はどうしようもありません。

At home, I had a lot of pent-up gardening work - Taiga watching as my supervisor.

Having now finished pollinating apple flowers, I need to do summertime pruning of plum and citrus trees.  I was shocked to find some aphids already on one of the plum trees.  I do not want to use pesticides, since sparrows, and sometimes even the Japanese White Eye, come down to branches when I return from walks and stay in the garden.  So, the only thing I can do is to prune the twigs to make the branches airy and also shower down the aphids with the garden hose every day.  As to the citrus trees, I have to pick new leaf buds so that only one bud will be left in any cluster.

今日は剪定の第一弾。草むしりした雑草も含めて、20リットル袋が一杯になりました。

Together with the weeds that I plucked, the pruned branches filled up the 20-liter plastic bag.  The work has only started today.

アンズのサニーコット。スモモのマーキュリーに高接ぎしてありますが、剪定後は日光に当たるようになりました。

I found young fruits on apricot branches, grafted onto a plum tree.  After the pruning, these fruits can now enjoy direct sun light.

リンゴ Apple trees

 グラニースミスに遅れて咲いた「紅の夢」と「紅玉」が満開です。今日は朝から花蜂が来ていたし、自分でも十分な授粉作業をしたと思っているのでもう安心です。

写真手前はグラニースミス、奥が紅の夢。米国のYoutuberの人によると、グラニースミスは自家受粉するし、授粉樹としてもオールラウンドな品種だそうです。ということは、紅の夢に高接ぎしたアルプス乙女が活着しなくても無問題？

Following the steps of Granny Smith, Kurenai-no-Yume and Kogyoku are now in full bloom.  I saw tiny pollinating bees this morning, so I am quite confident that enough pollination has been done by the bees and myself.  Now I can rest.

The photo below shows Granny Smith (right) and Kurenai-no-Yume (left).  According to a US Youtuber, Granny Smith is self-fertile as well as able to pollinate all other varieties.  In that case, if the crab apple graft that I did during the winter on Kurenai-no-Yume does not set, I would not be too sad.

赤丸で囲んだ部分は紅の夢。

The flowers in the red circle are Kurenai-no-Yume in full bloom.

紅の夢は開花後もピンクで本当にカワイイ。花柄はグラニースミスが一番大きくて、紅の夢は僅かにそれを下回るサイズ。そして紅玉の花は小さくて華奢。
The blossoms of Kurenai-no-Yume remain pink after opening.  In terms of size of the flower, Granny Smith is the largest, closely followed by Kurenai-no-Yume, whereas Kogyoku flowers are small and delicate.

紅の夢

Kurenai-no-Yume

紅玉

Kogyoku

これは紅の夢の頂点の枝を湾曲させたもの。実が生り出したら、長い支柱で支える予定。
This is the top of Kurenai-no-Yume, bent downwards.  When young fruits set, I will have to place a supporter.

これは紅玉で、矢印のあたりでグラニースミスに接いであります。

This is Kogyoku, grafted onto Granny Smith.  The graft point is around the level indicated by the red arrow.

今日もお付き合い有難う。

Thank you for being patient, as always.

午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

 獣臭を放ち始めていたタイガを洗ったので、午後の早い時間に散歩に出かけました。暑くて乾燥した気候を利用して、まずは自然乾燥の散歩。そのあとで乾いていない分は、帰宅してドライヤーでフィニッシュです。乾かすための長い散歩になるのが分かっているのか、タイガは環七方向に向かいます。途中の家の前で、花壇が綺麗なのでしばしストップ。ちょうど花壇の世話をしていた、家の方の許可を得て写真を撮りました。

Taiga was starting to smell like a wild animal, so I washed her, and we went out for an early afternoon walk.  Taking advantage of the hot and dry weather, Taiga's fur will get fairly dry by the time we come home, and then I will finish the work by using hair dryer.  Taiga knew that it was going to be a long walk, and she headed for the direction of Ring Road No. 7 crossing, beyond which there is a nice long walkway.  Just before the Ring Road, there was a house with a pretty flower bed in front.  The person of the house happened to be working on the flower bed, and he allowed me to take photos.

この花が特に綺麗。実物はキラキラ輝いていましたが、写真ではモヤがかかったようにボケてしまいました。

My eyes were rivetted on these attractive flowers.  They were sparkling in the sun, but the photo turned out to be somewhat hazy.

こちらも、まるで花束のようで見栄えします。

These are also pretty like a bridal bouquet.

環七を渡って有楽町線小竹向原駅に続く遊歩道を歩きます。

We crossed the Ring Road and started walking the pedestrian path towards the Kotake Mukaihara Station.

もうすっかり新緑の季節。

The trees are fully covered with new leaves.

途中、前回はハデハデの椿の花が咲いていた家の横を通りました。今回はナニワノイバラが満開です。

Soon, we passed by a house where we saw beautiful camellia flowers the last time we were here.  This time, Rosa laevigata was in full bloom.

何とも騒がしい雰囲気ですが、うっとりするほど綺麗。

They look like a group of noisy little children, but at the same time, very beautiful.

遊歩道に戻り散歩を続けます。ハナミズキのピンクと白の木が開花中。
We went back to the pathway.  Flowering dogwood trees in pink and white were in bloom.

ノムラモミジは緑の背景に映えます。

The Nomura Momiji maple tree stands out against the green background.

折り返し地点の小竹向原駅横の広場で一休みして、タイガのオヤツタイム。

The Kotake Mukaihara Station is the turning point of our walk.  We stopped for Taiga's treat.

車道の反対側の遊歩道を、環七交差点に向けて歩きました。

After resting, we walked the pathway on the other side to go back to the Ring Road crossing.

帰宅してぐったりのタイガと私。シャンプー後の毛はほぼ乾燥していたので、ドライヤーは無しで済みました。

Coming home, both Taiga and I were absolutely exhausted in the heat.  Fortunately, Taiga was more or less dry and did not need the dryer.

リスボンレモン Lisbon Lemon

 地植えのリスボンレモンには去年４個の実が生りました。うち１個が今朝 地面に落ちていました。もう蕾が膨らむ季節なので、全部収穫することにしました。（南向きバルコニーに置いてあるリスボンは陽当たり良し、北風は受けない、ということで既に開花していますが、この苗の蕾はまだ硬いです。）

The Lisbon Lemon growing in the ground produced 4 fruits from last year's flowering.  One of them was on the ground this morning.  This tree's flower buds are growing, and I decided to pick the remaining 3 fruits as well.  (The other Lisbon Lemon growing in a pot and placed on the south-facing balcony benefits from full sun while being shielded from north wind.  But this tree's growing environment is less fortunate, and its flower buds are still small.)

玄関前で退屈していたタイガ様にお見せします。なぜか警戒して耳が後ろ向き。

I wanted to show the result of my labour to Taiga who was getting bored.  She seems to be on alert with her ears pushed back.

「あっ、見たくない」と言わんばかりの顔。ワンコは柑橘類が嫌いです。

Her reaction was 'Put them away!'.  Dogs do not like citrus fruits.

嫌がらせのつもりはありませんが、一緒に記念撮影。私にとっては有難く大切な果実です。

I did not mean to annoy her, but I took a picture of them together.  For me, these fruits are precious - the tree worked hard to grow them.