Unimaginable Growth

I posted this mini phalaenopsis orchid with its pink flower last August. I show you the present state here. I payed attention to keep the temperature over 15℃ during the winter. 

This plant has three types of root. The three green roots near to you are natural ones when we see plants. They are growing directly into the soil. Other two types are beyond my imagination. Never have I seen a root coming out between an upper and lower leaves. You can see two long roots on right and left sides growing towards the ground.

To my surprise, the third type root is growing into the air ! What is it doing?? I checked internet and knew that this one catches moisture in the air.

蝴蝶蘭的根長得很奇怪。

Now the orchid has four or more buds. It will take long time to bloom because the temperature is still low until mid April.

A Heavy Snow 下了一場大雪

We had a big snowfall last Sunday for the first time in 12 years. The rice fields were completely covered.

The snow was 18 cm deep. Some of you would not say this was a big one.

We have not had a snowfall of more than 20 cm deep for 30 years. 

I went to the park to see trees covered with snow. 

 

The Spring Sunshine 立春

Ume (apricot or plum) blossoms have started to bloom.

Today is the first day of spring. This day is defined as the middle between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  

In East Asia, one year is divided into 24 solar terms. People have been enjoyed the changes of seasons with the sensibility influenced by these terms.

 

The blossoms are giving off a mild scent and shining in the chilly air. 

Stay warm and enjoy Spring.

Strong Nature Lives Keep You

Ａ series of cold waves has been covering wide areas. Almost every day, the lowest temperature is around -6℃ (23F) and the highest 10℃ (50F). These are pictures of wheat fields. Farmers finished sowing in the beginning of November. 

There is no rain for 3 weeks. Young wheat roots get moisture at the quite shallow underground.  During December and February, a tractor is going to pull the roller over the field two or three times. The stamped wheat can promote tillering and their roots become more stable against the push-up by frost columns. No matter how cold or dry it is, every leaf keeps green always.The first day of spring is 4th February.
 

New Year's Foods

2026 has started. May the new year bring you happiness, health and peace.

Mochi (rice cake, 糯米年糕) on pine needles and salmon.

I would like to show you some traditional and new foods below.

Nishime （煮〆）with carrot, radish, lotus root and chicken boiled with soy sauce.

The top yellow ones are herring roe (数之子）. The right is black soybeans（黒豆）. The right bottom is the sliced and vinegared carrot and radish topped with salmon roe（紅白膾）.

The upper right is duck, the bottom is vinegared fish and the left bottom is shrimp.

The top right is walnut, the right is shrimp and the two green fruits at the bottom is candied peaches.

Clockwise from the top: boiled fish paste in a sliced shape (蒲鉾）, rolled omelet mixed with fish paste, vinegared octopus (伊達巻）, candied kumquats (金柑砂糖漬） and pickled vegetables with herring roe and wasabi (山海漬）. The center is the mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts (栗金団）.

A Cup Of Cafe Latte After Lunch

A man finished training to be a French chef. He loved rural districts in France. The chef bought land to build a restaurant and grow vegetables at a city 100 km far from Tokyo. He still keeps the atmosphere he loved.

Stay warm, friends.

 

A Warm Day

Lots of people come to this park to take a walk. 

Leaves make anthocyanins and change their colors red. The reason of changing red has not been discovered yet. Scientists are still studying it.
 

Take a cup of hot black tea, coffee or puerh.

How have you been? The new flu variant H3N2 subclade K is spreading now. Take care and enjoy winter days.
 

An Old Shrine In The wood

Nowadays it's not easy to find old wooden shrine buildings. I visited this place by car navigation.

a pair of guardian dogs (or lions)

a holy cow

chrysanthemum

a small garden

The winter is coming. I hope you stay healthy and safe.