輸入苗３本の幼果 Young fruits of 3 imported plants

今日は午後3時頃に雷雨がくるという予報だったので、お昼過ぎにバルコニーの掃除をしました（結局、降らずじまい）。

去年の12月に届いた３本の輸入苗のそれぞれに、1個+ の幼果が着いています。

これは早脆王。３品種のうち一早く成長が始まったのに、今の枝ぶりはスカスカ気味で頼りない樹姿です。

It was forecast that we would have a thunder and rainstorm at around 3 p.m., so I cleaned the balcony after lunch so that the drainage would not be blocked (as it turned out, no rain whatsoever).  

Each one of the imported 3 jujube varieties that arrived in December last year has at least one fruit growing currently.

This is Early Crisp King.  The tree started growing in early spring, ahead of two other varieties.  However, the current state is not robust with lanky branches and dainty leaves.

先日の写真では早脆王の幼果はまだ長さ1cm未満でしたが、今は２個とも少しふっくらして、私の人差し指の頭ほどになっています。ちなみに、国華園のカタログ写真は、たぶん冬棗の写真を転用していると思います。早脆王の実は楕円形がかった俵型のような形状です。

The last time I took photos of these two young fruits, they were less than 1 cm long.  Now, they look a little rounder and almost as large as the tip of my index finger.  The importer/seller of these plants has a photo of winter jujube as Early Crisp King, I think.  The fruits of this variety should be squarish oval, not a sphere.

こんな感じですね。

This is how they should look.

これは無核金絲棗。早脆王と同じ樹高ですが、枝ぶりはずっと充実していて葉っぱも大きいです。

This is Seedless Gold Thread.  This tree has caught up with Early Crisp King in height, but its branches are a lot more mature with healthy leaves.

先日の早脆王の幼果写真のときはまだ開花中だったものから、4個の実が育ってきました。カタログ写真によると無核金絲棗の実は細長いので、この最初の実はこれから細くなるでしょう。

When I took the photos of Early Crisp King's young fruits previously, this tree was still in bloom, but now it has 4 young fruits growing.  According to the catalogue photo, this variety's fruits are thin and oblong.  This one fruit should become elongated soon.

他の３個はすでに細長い形になっています。

The other 3 fruits are according to the standard.

これは３本注文したうちの本命、蟠棗です。

This is Panzao and the reason why I placed the purchase order.

最近 主幹の天辺から伸び出してきたこの恒常的な枝のおかげで、樹高が40cmほど追加されて現在1mほどです。その真っ直ぐ上に伸びた恒常的な枝から横方向に枝が分岐して、それらの枝に垂直な小枝が新たに出てきます。最終的に、矢印から上に出た枝の全ての葉っぱが拡大してくると、冬が来る前に相当充実した樹姿になるはずです。

Recently, a permanent branch (more like an extension of the tree trunk) came out of the top of the trunk then.  As a result, the tree is now some 40 cm taller and measures about 1 metre.  From the upright new branch, side branches have come out and on each one of these side branches, little twigs are starting to grow upright.  Ultimately, when all the branches above the red arrow have fully grown leaves, the whole tree will look mature before the arrival of winter.

今育っている１個の実。直径はまだ3cm弱程度です。

The only young fruit on this tree keeps growing and, currently, just under 3 cm in diameter.

最近数個の花が咲いて、1個だけ着果したかもしれません。

I had several flowers recently, and one of them might end in fruit setting.

これがその幼果。球体のようなまん丸な形で始まり、直径1cmくらいになると中央が窪み始めます。

This is the one.  The young fruit starts with a tiny sphere and, when it reaches about 1 cm in diameter, a dimple starts to appear in the centre.

散歩 Walks

 早朝散歩で公園に着いたら、柴犬のリンちゃん、８歳、と会えました。２，３年前からときどき見かけてはいたけど、嬉しいことに最近けっこう遭遇するようになりました。

When we arrived at the park, we met Rin, an 8 years old, female Shiba Inu.  We have been seeing her from time to time since a few years ago.  Recently, the frequency has increased to my delight.

まずはタイガと挨拶。耳の状態からすると、12歳で年上のタイガのほうが緊張しているように見えますが、背中の毛は立っていません。

Rin greets Taiga, nose to nose.  Judging by Taiga's ears, she looks a little tense, although she is older than Rin, at 12 years old.  However, Taiga's hair on her back is not standing, so it was nothing.

タイガとの挨拶はおわり。

With the greeting done, Rin directed her attention to me.

このスマイル。タイガはこうやって私の目を真っ向から見ることはめったにありません。

This big smile.  Taiga rarely looks into my eyes like this - she is more like a Japanese person before Western culture was introduced to Japan.  It used to be considered impolite to look someone head on.

リンちゃんは本当に人の心を掴む方法を知り得ているようです。

Rin seems to know how to enchant a person.

リンちゃんにこうやって体重を掛けられると、メロメロ。

When she put per weight on my leg, my heart melted.

タイガが、のそーっと近づいてきました。これがタイガのヤキモチのやきかたです。

Taiga crept closer.  This is how she demonstrates her jealousy.

あくまでも平和裏におわります。

It ended peacefully on all sides.

ここは中央公園手前の草地で、複数種類の果樹が植わっています。この木は甘夏で、毎年たくさんの実を着けます。

This field lies just before the Johoku Central Park, and there are several species of fruiting trees.  This tree in the circle produces bitter oranges and it is a reliable producer.

陽当たり及び風通しバツグンなので、とても健康そうな葉っぱをしています。

Standing in full sun, and getting enough air current, the leaves on this tree look very healthy.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

午後の３時過ぎに、またしてもタイガのシャンプーをしました。最近ときどき漏らすので、その都度お尻の飾り毛をタオルで拭いて綺麗にするのですが、他所のワンコと会ってお尻の臭い嗅ぎをされるのを見ると、オネショの臭いが残っているのではと不安になります。

I shampooed Taiga yet again, after 3 p.m.  Recently, she has been having 'accidents'.  Each time, I clean her back side with a towel, but when I see other dogs sniffing at her back, I worry that they might be detecting the lingering smell of urine.

歩いているうちに抜け毛が表面に浮いてきて、見ている方がムズムズしてきます。

As she walks and her fur gets dry, the loose hair from her undercoat comes up to the surface.  Just looking at this gives me an itchy feeling.

それにしても今日も暑い。街路樹のハナミズキの葉っぱはカリカリになっています。

It was another hot day today.  The leaves of the flowering dogwood trees by the side of a walkway were getting crispy dry in the sun.

今朝リンちゃんと会った草地の隣の広場へ行きました。この築山はタイガのおやつスポットなので、よく誘導されて来ます。

We went to the field next to the one where we met Rin this morning.  This field has a mound where Taiga has designated as a treat spot.  So, she often guides me to this place.

築山の上から、道路向こうの今朝の草地を一望。

Looking over this morning's field across the road, from the top of the mound.

お約束のオヤツ。

The treat she has been waiting for.

オヤツのあとは帰ります。タイガの毛がだいぶ乾いて、ツヤが出てきました。

After the treat, we head home.  Taiga's fur is getting dry and shiny.

今朝の草地のリンゴの木。「アルプス乙女」が数本植わっているコーナーです。

Walking through this morning's field, I checked the apple trees.  There are several crab apple trees in this corner, called 'Alps Otome'.

小粒のリンゴですが、この木は実着きが良いです。

This variety's fruits are tiny, but it is a super pollinator that can be used for any apple cultivars.

実が色づき始めています。ということは、うちのリンゴの袋を外したほうがよさそう。

The apples are getting red.  Perhaps I should remove the bags from my apple trees.

うちのすぐ近くのマンションまできました。写真奥に写り込んでいる青い網が掛かっている場所は、ブルーベリー園です。元は普通の野菜畑だったところを、20年くらい前に重機を使って土壌を根本から変え、周到な準備をしてから苗木が植えられて、それらが育つのを始めから見てきたので、毎年ブルーベリー狩りで利用者が集まるのを見ると嬉しくなります。

We are nearly home and stopped to take a breath.  The blue net in the back is where there is a blueberry farm.  It used to be an ordinary vegetable farm, but about 20 years ago, the owner brought in heavy equipment to change the soil to turn the place into a blueberry farm.  He made such a thorough job of tilling the land that it took more than a year before they finally started planting young trees.  Having seen it from the start to the current mature blueberry farm, it is satisfying to see people visiting this place when it is open to the public for picking the berries.

猛暑の中の散歩のあと、タイガの毛はほぼ乾いてきました。

After walking in the hot air outside, Taiga is almost completely dry.

プチマル金柑 Seedless Kumquat

金柑のプチマルは７月の頭から咲き始めて、今でも返り咲きを繰り返しています。朝食後の洗い物をしていると、網戸を通して花の甘い香りが漂ってきます。

The seedless kumquat started flowering at the beginning of July.  As is the way with kumquat plants, my seedless variety also repeatedly flowers throughout the summer.  It is again in bloom right now and I can smell the sweet scent when I open my kitchen window in the morning.

何度も咲く割には、幼果のつきかたは「鈴なり」というわけではありません。でも、真夏には他に柑橘類の開花は無いので、自家受粉で種がほとんど入らないのが有難いです。

Considering how often the tree blooms, the young fruits are not exactly in abundance.  However, this tree being the only citrus plant flowering in the summer, the seedless characteristic of this cultivar is enhanced.

この小枝は大実柚子に高接ぎしたもの。こちらは着果率がバツグンでした。

This tiny twig is grafted onto Yuzu.  Although a tiny graft, its fruit setting has been good.

私が夕方散歩前に写真を撮り始めたので、辛抱強く無言で待つタイガ。５時半に家を出ましたが、帰り道では首輪状の明りが活躍しました。暗い道を黒っぽい犬が歩いていると目立たないので、人とぶつかるのを防止できます。

I started taking the above photos just before leaving for our evening walk, and Taiga waited patiently.   We left home at 5:30 p.m., and it was completely dark on our way home - days are really getting shorter.  The dog collar light is indispensable for Taiga to avoid accidents, since she becomes almost invisible in the dark.