Leaf-watching

Cherry tree, Nov. 15th

In Japanese archipelago which is long south to north, autumn foliage season 

starts around mid-September in the high mountains of northern Hokkaido and gradually 

moves to lower elevation and more southern latitudes.

It's peak usually reaches both Kanto (including Tokyo) and Kansai 

(including Kyoto and Nara) regions in the latter half of November and 

continues into early to mid-December.

Now in the latter half of November, coloring is delayed due to the severe,

long lingering summer heat into early November.

And besides, deadly heat of mid-summer made some of trees lose leaves before coloring. 

However, I do love the leaves which have changed colors very slow but steady.

They are not overwhelmingly gorgeous but beautiful with the muted tone of various colors.

  Cherry Trees (the first four images) have displayed soft green, yellow, orange, 

and reddish orange at the same time. 

People love their blossoms in spring, Sakura, but their autumn foliage is not so popular 

as Japanese Maple, Ginkgo, or Chinese Tallow leaves.

It's a shame. Cherry Tree blooms twice a year in spring and in autumn.

Chinese Tallow is one of my favorite trees for its heart or spade-shaped leaves 

and the flamboyant display of colors.

Nov. 15th

The strong wind of yesterday blew off most of the leaves and seeds covered

in the layer of white wax remain.

Nov. 19th

This is Crape myrtle, which I once featured in Autumn colors of Crape myrtle.

Nov. 3rd

The last leaves of the Crape myrtle caught my eye.

Nov. 19th

Tulip poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera, changes colors as early as September

and is usually bare in the beginning of November, but green to yellow leaves 

were still dancing on top branches.  

Nov. 3rd

The top part of the quite tall tree receives the last rays of the sun.

Dogwood leaves start changing colors the first among all the deciduous trees.

In my garden, they reached prime time in early November.

Nov. 3rd

The following four photos are the leaves of 南天 Nanten, Nandina domestica.

The tree is believed to bring good fortune when planted in the northeast, "demon's gate".

Nov. 11th

I love the bright red berries and the deep green leaves on the upright shrub.

I had thought my Nanten was evergreen, though learned it "semi-evergreen"

when I found reddish leaves for the first time since we planted it in our garden.

I don't know the science behind the sudden change.

As you see the photo, leaves are mostly green and a little of red is seen 

in the blurred background.

  

Colored Nanten tinted gold with Dogwood in the background.

On November 7th, it was recorded the highest November temperature in 100 years.

Five days later, winter chill suddenly gripped most of Japan.

 I had repeated "too warm" so often and now I miss those warm days.

I was shivering in 6 degrees C yesterday.

As the temperature goes down, Japanese maples are speeding up their coloring.

Nandina, Cherry tree, Chinese Tallow, and Tulip poplar

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Deer, Chinese Tallow leaves, and reflections

I went to Nara Park riding a cute train of the Kintetsu Railway featuring Deer of Nara Park.

This is a rapid express mainly connecting Sannomiya, Kobe and Nara stations.

By my iPhone

A spacious area of scenic beauty in the eastern Nara City is called Nara Park.

Less than ten minutes after getting off the train at Nara Station, you're in the park.

I walked viewing autume leaves, looking for nice reflections, and meeting deer

in the late afternoon.

鷺池 Sagi-ike Pond

Hello, Deer!

- Along the 吉城川 Yoshiki River -

 I was caught by the shine of the fallen leaves.

On the water, interesting patterns are made with fallen leaves, reflections, and ripples.

Meanwhile, two deer appeared looking for foods.

- At 浮雲園地 Ukigumo-enchi -

 Ukigumo-enchi is ablaze with 南京櫨 Nankinhaze Chinese Tallow leaves.

(Fabulous autumn coloration of Chinese Tallow trees)

Leaves grow old beautifully in each individual speed.

Each leaf shines with the color of the moment, transforming from green 

to light yellow, orange, fainally to crimson or to gold.

Unfortunately Chinese Tallows in Nara Park have been cut down as  the tree's invasiveness 

has put the primmitive forest of Mt. Kasuga, World Heritage, in danger.

As far as I know, Nara Park is the only place famous for autumn foliage of Chinese Tallow.

I feel sad to see Chinese Tallows getting sparse every year in the park.

The Chinese Tallows seen from the bench in the old photo below are gone now.

(To keep memories alive of the Chinese Tallow Trees at Ukigumo-enchi)

2015

- At 飛火野 Tobihino -

This tall Chinese Tallow is a landmark of Tobihino.

Look at the tree in the golden glow before the sunset.

I was lucky that I could ride "Nara Deer Train" as it runs randomly.

At COLLOSAL, more photos and explanation about this adorably whimsical train.

"The Deer Train is decked out with lush, spotted seats, grassy flooring, 

handles shaped like pudgy animals, and illustrations by Tokyo-based artist Gemi 

that transform the cars into a whimsical, cervine world."

It's November, but the highest temperature of a day is forecasted to hover around

 25 degrees C at least for a week.

Linked to 

Saturday Critters

Mosaic Monday

In the balmy air of October

When thinking of the title of this post, I wondered which word to choose,

 "balmy" or "barmy".

I chose "balmy" from the atmosphere you'd feel from the following photos.

The weather has been barmy with sporadic balmy days; 

 top-summer-like September, summer-like early October, sudden November-like days, 

with occasional breif wind storms.

 Hibiscuses were lingering long.

The pink bokeh back of the hibiscus is Crape Myrtle blossoms.

百日紅 (百日 one-hundred days 紅 crimson) Sarusuberi, Crape Myrtle, 

bloom about 100 days summer to autumn on the whitish beige barks.

彼岸花 (彼岸 Equinox 花 flower) Higanbana, Lycoris radiata, Cluster Amaryllis, 

is called so as it blooms around the autumn Equinox.

They were blooming in the sultry air late-September to October.

Sunshine is comfortable when air is crisp.

萩 Hagi, Japanese Bush Clower, is one of the wild seven grasses of autumn in Japan.

(There is 秋 autumn in that Chinese Character.)

Such a profusion of purplish pink on the powerful shrubs!

The bloom of cosmoses were much delayed due to the hot weather.

秋桜 (秋 autumn 桜 Sakura) for its shades of pink, is one of the representative flowers of autumn.

Autumn really makes up for the summer heat, especially when it was 

the record hottest and longest with the oppressive humidity.

Sports Day is back at schools and kindergartens, though on a smaller scale

 compared to the pre-covid times.

I could look at M's performance, a marching band and a relay, in person 

for the first time since her entrance to the kindergarten.

Linked to Mosaic Monday