Childlike delight amid a forest of flowers
Camellia, or tsubaki in Japanese, has always been integral to this country's culture. Mentioned in ancient chronicles and legends, it is also used as a design motif for noh costumes, is highly regarded in ikebana arrangements and was prized by Tokugawa shoguns. Without the ...
Bloomin' good fortune in winter
A Greek myth tells of the beautiful youth Adonis, beloved of Aphrodite, who was killed by a wild boar while hunting. A flower growing on the spot where he fell was stained crimson by his blood and was named Adonis aestivalis. This red, summer annual ...
A short trip way back to Shinto's arcane roots
In the depths of winter, when their barren fields yielded no blooms to adorn their altars, Japanese farmers traditionally fashioned flowers of wood to celebrate the New Year. To make their festive flora, they cut leafless branches and carved the white wood inside in ...
Stroll under pines where shoguns took their ease
Pines belong to the traditional Japanese landscape, as olive trees belong to the Mediterranean. The people of these islands have always admired them for their graceful shape and appreciated the wood for its many uses. Pines dotting sandy beaches or thriving on sunny, low hills ...
Just a-flowerwalkin' in the rain
No one would regret getting wet in the rain while admiring irises. Any complaints would melt away before the array of dainty flowers saluting you above crisp green leaves. Irises have captivated the hearts of Japanese since ancient times. A native species called kakitsubata became ...
