散歩など Walk etc

 城北公園にはアジサイが沢山植えられている箇所があります。梅雨入りしたので、そのアジサイが開花しているか見に行きました。実際に着いてみると、まだ咲き始めたばかりのようです。

There is a place in Johoku Park where they have a lot of hydrangeas growing.  Since the rainy season has started, I wondered if they are in bloom now.  When we arrived, I found that they have just started flowering and nowhere near in full force.

アジサイが植わっている斜面には通路があるので歩いてみます。

There is a narrow foot path through the hydrangeas.

少数派のピンク系のが綺麗に見えます。

I find the pink ones pretty, although there are not many of them.

木によってはこのように濃いピンクの花もあります。花の塊の形状から、上のとは品種が異なるようです。上の写真のはガクアジサイ寄りで扁平なのに対し、下の写真のはこんもりした形。

Some of them are in deep pink like these.  Judging by the shape of the flower bunch, this tree seems to be of a different variety from that of the photo above.  The flower bunch in the above photo looks flat with a gap in the middle, whereas the bunch in the photo below is solid and globular.  

これは青が綺麗に出ています。葉がしっかり厚めでつややかなので、ガクアジサイでしょうか。

This one is in beautiful deep blue.  I think this is a lace cap hydrangea rather than the Japanese wild hydrangea - the leaves of lace cap hydrangeas are thick with smooth surface, whereas the leaves of the wild variety is flimsy with miniscule hair.

これは「墨田の花火」の2年目以降のものに見えます。アジサイは育苗業者が集荷に向けて創り出した最高に立派な状態と、翌年以降の咲き方とでは、大きなギャップのあるものが多いと個人的に思っています（一度も苗を買ったことありませんが）。

This one looks like the cultivar called 'Sumida-no-Hanabi', but in the 2nd year onwards.  I find that some hydrangea cultivars look alarmingly different from second year onwards - almost like a fraud (says I, who has never bought a hydrangea in her life).  It goes to show the skill of commercial growers who can create such a miracle that lasts only for the initial season.

墨田の花火は10年以上前、このあたりで大ヒットして、民家の軒先に地植えや鉢植えでよく見かけました。

Sumida-no-Hanabi was all the rage in Tokyo more than 10 years ago.  I used to see this in so many private gardens anywhere I went.  The name means 'Sumida River Fireworks' which is a famous annual event in Tokyo at the height of summer (the bits hanging look like the embers of a firework after the explosion).  The name also evokes an Edo period nostalgia.

その次に流行ったのが「ダンスパーティ」で、墨田の花火のピンクバージョンといった外観でした。この↓株は、もしかしてダンスパーティの翌年以降？草丈が高すぎて花序の形が見えません。

The next sensation was a cultivar called 'Dance Party' which looked like a pink version of Sumida-no-Hanabi.  I think this tree is the seasoned version of Dance Party, although I cannot see the shape of the flower bunch well since the tree is too tall.

これはカシワバアジサイでしょうか。

This seems to be Hydrangea quercifolia from North America.  We call it 'Kashiwaba Ajisai' which means 'oak-leaf hydrangea'.

この木もカシワバの葉に似ていますが、

This one also has the same leaves, but

花序が変わっています。

the flower bunch looks unusual.

アジサイはまだこれから開花ピークに向かうようなのでまた来てみることにして、今日はこれで帰ることにしました。

The hydrangeas have only started to flower, so we will come back in a few days.  For now, we go home.

途中、甲斐犬のヒナとセナに会えました。

On our way home, we ran into the Kaiken duo, Hina and Sena.

タイガとヒナは会うたびに大喜びです。

Taiga and Hina (the dark one) are always excited to see each other.

こうしてヒナを見ると、本当に黒い。目もツメも黒い。タイガの目はこげ茶色、爪はクリーム色に近い薄茶色です。

Hina is a black brindle, and she indeed is dark - her eyes and nails are also black.  Taiga's eyes are brown, whereas her toenails are creamy light brown.

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帰宅途中の民家の庭のアンズはもう終わっていて、道路にこぼれ落ちた実が雨で草っていました。うちのは？と気になり早速チェック。実が生らなくなったスモモに高接ぎして今年が初めての開花・結実で、数個しか生っていませんが楽しみです。

On our way home, we passed by a house where the apricot tree had finished its season for this year, with a few overripe fruits having fallen on the road.  It made me wonder if my apricots were ready yet.  I grafted two apricot scions on a plum tree, and this is the first year of flowering and fruit setting - although there are only a few of them.

この実が最も色づいています。

This one looks most advanced.

早すぎたようで、実をもぎ取るのに力が要りました。実は硬いし、まだ香りもありません。台所で追熟させてから試食してみます。（将来、これくらいの大きさのナツメが生ったら嬉しいな、と関係ないことを考えてしまいました。）

Actually, it was a little too early.  I had to apply a bit of force to pluck it.  The fruit is still hard and there is no scent.  Hopefully, it will ripen off the tree in the kitchen.  Commercial growers probably pick the fruits at this stage, so that they would ripen in the course of distribution.  (I could not help thinking how happy I would be if I could grow jujube fruits of this size in the future.)

タイガの反応を見ます。

Let's see how Taiga reacts.

散歩から帰って空腹のはずですが、アンズには興味ないようです。

Not interested, even though she must be hungry after the walk and before her first meal of the day.

朝散歩 Morning Walk

 今日も一日雨でしたが、朝の散歩の時間帯は一時的に止んでいたのでラッキーでした。「柿の木広場」に入ると、スバル君がいました。ワンコも雨はうっとおしいのか、沈んだ面持ちで動きません。

Another rainy day.  Luckily, we managed to catch the brief time when the rain stopped.  When we arrived at the Persimmon Park, our friend Subaru was already there with his mom.  It seems dogs also hate the rain, and Subaru seemed despondent.

タイガは家を出たときからやる気のない散歩で、スバル君との挨拶もそこそこに、あくびをしながら前を通り過ぎました。

Taiga was not eager for a walk since we left home, and after a brief greeting with Subaru, she walked away with a big yawn.

ごめんね、スバル君。

Sorry, Subaru, for Taiga's manners.

柿の木広場のすぐ近くに住むサスケが、草地の奥のほうから近づいてきました。タイガといつもの挨拶。

Sasuke, who lives near the Persimmon Park, was at the deep end of the field and came towards Taiga.  He started his usual greeting with her.

こうやってタイガに強気で近づきます。サスケの耳、尻尾、後ろ脚の状態から、自分を強く見せたいのが伺えます。飼い主さん曰く、タイガが唯一の友達だそうですが、

He always approaches her in a domineering manner, with his ears, tail and the way he holds his hind legs, all suggesting that he wants to look strong.  According to his dad, Taiga is the only friend he has, and other dogs do not allow him to come near.

強気で挨拶をしてくるので、タイガが突き放しました。サスケは拍子抜けした顔ですが、いつもこれです。これと対照的なのが、サスケの家の前で塀越しに挨拶するとき。サスケが外に出ているときに通り過ぎると、タイガを見つけて鼻をならし哀れな目つきで柵の間から顔を突き出します。タイガは興味なさそうに塀の外の芝生の上でオシッコをして、挨拶は私にまかせます。

Taiga pushed him away for his abrasive manner, leaving him looking lost, but it always goes like this.  In contrast, the way he greets Taiga at his house is very different.  If we walk in front of his house when he happens to be in the garden, he pushes his snout through the fence and looks at Taiga with a whine and piteous eyes.  Taiga takes no notice of him and starts peeing on the lawn outside of the fence, leaving me to stroke him through the fence.

その後、道路の向かいの茂呂山公園へ行きました。この公園には住所がついているようです。

Later, we crossed the road and went to the Moroyama Park.  This park has its own address.

ここは板橋区。練馬区は基本的に公園に犬は入場禁止だそうです。板橋区はどうなのか分かりませんが、茂呂山公園も柿の木広場も都立城北公園の一部なので、ワンコOKです。

This park is situated in Itabashi Ward.  We live in Nerima Ward, where dogs are not allowed into parks.  I do not know the rules in Itabashi Ward, but fortunately, both Moroyama and Persimmon Parks belong to the Johoku Park which comes under the management of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government which allows dogs into parks.

いかにも湿度の高い風景。

The air was heavy with moisture.

公園の上の広場に着くと、

When we arrived at the top of the hill,

だれもいない。

there was no-one else.

広場に植わっているのはモミジと桜の木。

Here, the trees are Japanese maples and cherry trees.

歩く気のないタイガと、のらりくらりその辺を回ってみました。

We ambled, with Taiga ready to go home any second.

モミジの枝が雨で重たそうです。

The maple branches were heavy with rainwater.

公園近くの民家のヤマアジサイ。つい先日まではもっと濃い青だったのが、咲き進んだからか色が薄くなってきました。

The Japanese rainy season and hydrangeas are inseparable.  These are wild hydrangeas that you see in mountain creeks and valleys.  Some people like them for their simple appearance.

こちらは園芸種。同じ一株の花なのに、このように紫がかったものや、濃い青など変化があります。

This is a cultivated variety.  The flowers of this tree seem to vary in colour, with some bunches in deep blue, and others like this one looking purplish.

帰宅途中でまた雨が降り出しました。私が雨の中  庭の植物を見回っているあいだ、タイガが相変わらず天気にうんざりした様子でした。

It started to rain again on our way home.  While I was looking at the plants in the garden, Taiga was flat on her stomach looking fed up with the rain.

梅雨入り Rainy season is here

 関東地方も今日 梅雨入りしたそうです。朝の散歩で空き地の横を通ったら、ツユクサが咲いていました。雨は散歩のときにうっとおしいけど、梅雨の涼しさは有難いです。

The rainy season officially started today.  When we passed by an empty plot of land during our morning walk, we saw this flower.  It is called 'tsuyukusa' -  'tsuyu' meaning the rainy season, and 'kusa' means grass.  Rain is inconvenient for walks, but I like the cool temperature of the rainy season.

散歩からの帰りに近所のマンション横まできたら、タイガが立ち止まってしまいました。未だおやつスポットでもないのに止まるのは、ワンコも雨にうんざりなのでしょうか。

Just before we reached home, Taiga suddenly stopped at the side of a block of flats.  We had not reached the usual 'treat' spot yet, but for her to stand still now, she must have been fed up with the rain, too.

いつもは、そのマンションの反対側にあるこの窪んだ場所の階段に腰かけて、おやつを上げています。家はすぐそこなのに、散歩をしたご褒美を要求してきます。一体誰のための散歩なのか。。。　その階段の上のほうではクチナシの垣根が満開になっていました。

It is at the other side of the same block of flats, where I sit down on the stairs and give her the treat.  Our house is literally 30 seconds away from here.  However, she expects a treat for having been out for a walk - whose walk, anyway?  Above the set of stairs, gardenia plants were in full bloom.

大輪の一重咲きで、秋には大きなクチナシの赤い実が生る様は見栄えがします。実は料理などに使えるので、いつか園芸店で苗を見かけたら欲しいと思っています。

These are large flowers with single petals, and in autumn, the trees will have red fruits against the backdrop of green leaves.  The fruits can be used in cooking, and I would love to get a plant if I see one in the shop one day.

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今年もオニユリが元気に育っています。これらの数本は10号ロングスリット鉢に植わっています。スモモの木の下、半日陰の状態が良いのか、それとも日向が良いのか実験中。

My tiger lilies are growing well again.  These several stems are in a 30 cm deep pot and placed in half sun, under a plum tree.  I am experimenting to see which is better for the tiger lily - half sun, or full sun.

蕾も出始めました。

Flower buds are starting to separate.

咲くと、こうなります。うちのオニユリは珍しい無点青軸の品種です。普通のオニユリよりも濃い朱色で、花びらが艶やかで、とても美しいです。

These are flowers from last year.  My tiger lily is a rare variety with no dark spots, and with the glossy petals, the flowers are very beautiful.

門の階段の反対側には２本植えの鉢が置いてあり、これは日陰にはなりません。

On the other side of the stairs, I have another pot with two plants.  Here, the plants are in full sun.

かなり草丈がありますが、茎がしっかりしているので未だ支柱をしていません。ただし開花時期には上部が重くなるので、支柱は有るほうが風対策に良いと思っています。

The stems are quite tall but, being sturdy, they have not needed any props yet.  However, when the flowers are in bloom, the upper part of the plant will become heavy and need a support against wind.

こちらの日向の鉢植えのほうが、蕾の成長が進んでいます。野生のユリは雑木林の半日陰で咲くイメージですが、できれば日向が良いのでしょう。
These plants in full sun seem to fare better, with the flower buds' growth much advanced.  Despite the usual image of wild tiger lilies growing in woodlands with half sun, they probably thrive in full sun, given a chance. 

どの鉢の苗にも大きなムカゴができています。開花前だというのに、もう成熟して落ち始めています。まだ落ちていないものも、葉腋の上にかろうじて座っている状態です。

On each of the plant of both pots, baby bulbs are growing.  Even though the flowers are yet to bloom, these baby bulbs are already mature, and some of them have started to fall off.  Those baby bulbs that are still on the plant are now barely hanging on to the base of the leaf.

地面にはいくつか落下しています。

Some are on the ground.

一部のムカゴには既に根っこが出始めていました。

You can see the root coming out with some of them.

今日の雨の中で植え付ける作業はキビシイので、ほんの少しだけ鉢に植え付けしました。

I really did not want to do the planting in the rain, but some of them could not wait.

土をかぶせて来年の冬までこのまま。今年の冬までには葉っぱが出て来ますが、鉢やスペースに余裕がないのでこの窮屈な状態で１年半 育てます。

The baby bulbs will start growing leaves by winter this year, but I am leaving them as they are in this pot until winter next year, when I will space them out in multiple pots.  I have baby bulbs growing from previous years, too, and I am running out of pots and space.