Mini-sunflowers are forming buds

ミニヒマワリがもうすぐ咲きそうです。

 

Purple Edo morning glory is elegant and short-lived

琉球アサガオより、江戸アサガオの開花期のほうが短いです。この紫色の花はほとんど枯れています。

The Edo morning glory doesn’t have a long season like the perennial Okinawa version. You can see this bloom is already starting to wither.

Clematis returns yet again

このクレマチスをいつも忘れてしまいますが、毎年びっくりさせられます。

I am always forgetting about this clematis, and each year it surprises me.

Have you ever heard of micro-basil?

マイクロ・バジルというバジルを聞いたことがありますか？　ヒヨコさんからもらったたねの一つですが、たくさんありました。ちっちゃくて、おいしいです。

Micro-basil is small and tasty. Part of Hiyoko’s seed gift, this envelope contained by far the most seeds. Hundreds. As the sprouts grew larger, I started eating them as I thinned out the plants. Very tasty and delicate!

Gorgeous cucumber flowers, but unfortunately no cukes

種から育ったキュウリの花がきれいですが、実がなっていません。衆生は全部雄花だと言っています。それは可能でしょうか。花がたくさんあります。

The cucumbers I grew from seed had a lot of flowers. Unfortunately, there were no vegetables. Shu thinks maybe all my plants were male. Is that possible? At least they look good.

Vase made from persimmon juice

このきれいな花瓶は日本の両親の四国からのお土産です。柿渋という方法で作られました。

This vase is made with kakishibu, a dye made from persimmons. The vase was a gift from my in-laws, who brought it back from a trip to Shikoku. The bright red of the keitou flower (celosia argentea, or plumed cockscomb) seems to overwhelm the film.

A closer view of decorative grass on Tokyo balcony

小さな植木鉢の草がもっと詳しく見えます。色と動きがあって、大好きです。

The color and movement of this grass growing in a small flowerpot are very enjoyable.

Camellia has red-tinged new leafs

新しい葉の赤い色が好きです。ベランダの椿です。

This camellia has survived in a small pot for many years. Since the photo was taken, I realize it’s already setting buds for winter.

Blueberries still pink and already drawing attention

まだピンク色のブルーベリーも美味しいそうです。

I already want to eat these still pink blueberries.

Neon yellow mushrooms growing wild in container garden on Tokyo balcony

ベランダの庭にも、計画していなかった植物も登場しています。このキノコは非常に黄色いです。

No matter how planned or controlled, even a balcony container garden gets volunteer plants. These mushrooms are neon yellow.

Summer Balcony Details: Sunflower sprouts in ceramic pot

真夏の暑さが終わりましたが、これから夏のベランダのクローズアップの写真のシリーズをお見せします。写真は全部フィルムです。小さいスペースなのに楽しいです。これは種子から育てたヨーロッパのミニヒマワリです。

This is the start of my summer balcony details series. A close look at some of the flowers, foliage and edibles of summer. First, a pot of micro-sunflowers, grown from Hiyoko’s seeds from Europe. The leaves looks so fresh.

Okinawa morning glory became dominant element of summer balcony garden

夏のベランダで、琉球のアサガオが一番目立つ存在になっています。マンションと都市の間に、きれいなブラインドになってくれています。

When it was blooming prolifically, the Okinawa morning glory became an exterior screen between the apartment and the city outside. The shades of violet, red and blue are stunning.

Planning a small garden at a new house in Nakano

駅の途中、最近できた家の外に、小さな庭を作るようです。楽しみです。

I was so happy to see that the new neighbors are putting in a small garden. They built their house on a lot that used to have weeds and summer-time bats, after holding a Shinto ceremony. I am excited to see what they plant.

Hard-hat intervention at sidewalk Sony Aquarium in Ginza. Beware of the sidewalk shark!

銀座のソニーアクアリウムで何が起っているのか分からないけど、面白そうです。歩道でもサメにご注意ください。

Not sure what the crew is up to, but it makes for a dramatic surprise in Ginza. Beware of the sidewalk shark!

Pedestrian overpass also passes under freeway in Shiodome

汐留の歩道橋です。高速道路のせいで、階段を登って、階段を下って、階段を登って、階段を下りなければなりません。なぜそんな道があるでしょうか。

This pedestrian overpass, which dips below the freeway in Shiodome, is a hot mess. I often wonder why city planners value pedestrians and bicyclists so much less than private vehicles and trucks. This is not how I’d like to walk to work from the station.