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This is Page 3 of 5 - the best of July 2011!
posted: July 31st, 2011
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This page begins with July 15th, a trip to Oze National Park, takes you all the way through the 15th and then we'll start the 16th on this page - but not finish it. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin July 15th
  On Friday, July 15th, Kazuya and I got up at 4:00 AM and headed off, via trains and buses, and ended up at Oze National Park at 11:40 AM. This first shot is at the entryway to the National Park. The 2nd shot is an amazingly huge Trillium tschonoskii Seedhead and the 3rd shot is an amazingly huge Paris tetraphylla Seedhead. When walking into this place some of the plant growth is so huge that it makes one feel like one must have stepped back into some prehistoric time when everything was really huge. You should note that we came here in both June and July of 2010, so if some of these shots seem familiar it is because we've been here before. In fact - I am even going to recycle 6 different collages of flowers. If you want to review the June and July 2010 trips here then please go to the bottom of this page and click on the "All Photos List" Button and then find the June 2010 photos and/or the July 2010 photos and click on those.
July15th002_OzeRC
July15th
002_OzeRC
July15_003_OzeNP_Trillium_tschonoskiiRC
July15_003_OzeNP_
Trillium_tschonoskiiRC
July15_010_OzeNP_Paris_tetraphyllaRC
July15_010_OzeNP_
Paris_tetraphyllaRC

  As we hiked the trail in to the camp spot we passed this scenic overlook where one can look up at Mt. Shibutsu (2,228.1 m = 7,310 ft). We'll be climbing up there tomorrow - same as we did last year. The 2nd shot is a Polygonatum macranthum and the 3rd shot is Thalictrum filamentosum var. tenerum - both of these are very interesting flowers.
July15_011_OzeNP_MtShibutsuRC
July15_011_OzeNP_
MtShibutsuRC
July15_019_OzeNP_UnknownFlowerRC
July15_019_OzeNP_
UnknownFlowerRC
July15th014_OzeRC
July15th
014_OzeRC

  The first 2 shots in this row were taken as we hiked in to the camping place. The first shot is an unknown thistle Cirsium sp. and a bee. The 2nd shot is a Crowfoot - an Aquilegia sp. We arrived at the camping place at around 12:30 PM, purchased a ticket giving us the right to set up a tent and allowing 2 people to sleep in it. Then we set up our tent - we were the 2nd - note this for later reference - the 2nd tent which was set up there, so we had a good choice of spots. Then we hiked out into the marsh. The 3rd shot was taken out in the marsh and shows Iris laevigata and Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).
July15_024_OzeNP_Thistle_BeeRC
July15_024_OzeNP
_Thistle_BeeRC
July15_022_OzeNP_CrowfootRC
July15_022_
OzeNP_CrowfootRC
July15_035_OzeNP_MarshFlowersRC
July15_035_OzeNP_
MarshFlowersRC

  Now we'll be hiking in the marsh for the next few hours. The first shot shows several Marsh Flowers, but primarily Cottongrass and Lilies. The 2nd shot is a Platanthera hologlottis - a White Flowered Orchid. The 3rd shot shows more marsh and Iris laevigata mixed with Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).
July15_036_OzeNP_MarshFlowersRC
July15_036_OzeNP
_MarshFlowersRC
July15_039_OzeNP_WhiteOrchidRC
July15_039_OzeNP
_WhiteOrchidRC
July15_041_OzeNP_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July15_041_OzeNP_
Cottongrass_IrisRC

  Here is a zoomed in shot showing Iris laevigata mixed with Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) in first position. The 2nd shot shows the boardwalk and Mt. Shibutsu - the mountain we'll climb tomorrow. The 3rd shot is looking in the opposite direction across the marsh at Mt. Hiuchigatake. Mt. Hiuchigatake is the highest mountain in the Tohoku Region (2,356 m = 7,730 ft). I wanted to climb it this summer, but the summer is quickly passing and it doesn't seem like we'll get a chance to do so.
July15_043_OzeNP_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July15_043_OzeNP_
Cottongrass_IrisRC
July15th024_OzeRC
July15th
024_OzeRC
July15_055_OzeNP_Mt_HiuchigatakeRC
July15_055_OzeNP_Mt_
HiuchigatakeRC

  In the first photo in this row you can see several Orchids - Pogonia japonica and Eleorchis japonica. The 2nd photo is a single Pogonia japonica Orchid and the 3rd shot is a single Eleorchis japonica Orchid.
July15_072_OzeNP_Pogonia_japonicaRC
July15_072_OzeNP_
Pogonia_japonicaRC
July15th032_OzeRC
July15th
032_OzeRC
July15th045_OzeRC
July15th
045_OzeRC

  Here is another stunningly beautiful shot of Mt. Hiuchigatake in first position. This shot is the one which was used for this month's Favorite Photo. In 2nd position is Eleorchis japonica (the Pink Flower) & Narthecium asiaticum (the Yellow Flower). In 3rd position is the first of the recycled collages from last year. It shows several shots of Pogonia japonica Orchid.
July15_081_OzeNP_Mt_HiuchigatakeRC
July15_081_OzeNP_Mt_
HiuchigatakeRC
July15_091_OzeNP_Eleorchis_japonica_YellowFlowerRC
July15_091_OzeNP_Eleorchis
_japonica_YellowFlowerRC
PogoniaJaponicaRC
Pogonia
JaponicaRC

  Here is the 2nd recycled photo from last year - another collage of Pogonia japonica. This photo can also be found on page 115 in our book "Outdoor Photography of Japan: Through the Seasons". The 2nd shot shows Kazuya pointing at something down in the water. The 3rd shot shows several leaves of Drosera anglica - Sundew - an insectivorous plant.
PogoniaJaponica1RC
Pogonia
Japonica1RC
July15_113_OzeNP_KazuyaRC
July15_113_Oze
NP_KazuyaRC
July15_111_OzeNP_Drosera_spRC
July15_111_OzeNP_
Drosera_spRC

  Here is a red dragonfly - a Nannophya pygmaea. This is the smallest dragonfly in Japan, measuring about 2 cm. The 2nd shot is a closer shot of a leaf of Drosera anglica - Sundew - an insectivorous plant. The 3rd is a scenic shot showing marsh and Mt. Hiuchigatake.
July15_122_OzeNP_RedDragonflyRC
July15_122_OzeNP_
RedDragonflyRC
July15_118_OzeNP_Drosera_anglicaRC
July15_118_OzeNP_
Drosera_anglicaRC
July15_131_OzeNP_SceneryRC
July15_131_
OzeNP_SceneryRC

  Here is a zoomed in shot showing marsh and Mt. Hiuchigatake. This was taken from the same spot as the previous photo. The 2nd and 3rd shots are amazing shots of the Pogonia japonica Orchid.
July15_133_OzeNP_SceneryRC
July15_133_
OzeNP_SceneryRC
July15_137_OzeNP_Pogonia_japonicaRC
July15_137_OzeNP_
Pogonia_japonicaRC
July15_148_OzeNP_Pogonia_japonicaRC
July15_148_OzeNP_
Pogonia_japonicaRC

  In first position in this row is a shot of the flower of Drosera anglica and in 3rd position is a shot of the leaf of the same plant - remember that this is an insectivorous plant - the sticky substance on the little arms is for catching small insects. The center shot is once again, Mt. Hiuchigatake.
July15_152_OzeNP_Drosera_spRC
July15_152_OzeNP_
Drosera_spRC
July15_151_OzeNP_Mt_HiuchigatakeRC
July15_151_OzeNP_
Mt_HiuchigatakeRC
July15_153_OzeNP_Drosera_spRC
July15_153_OzeNP_
Drosera_spRC

  Here is a beautiful shot of an Iris laevigata flower by Kazuya. The 2nd and 3rd shots show you that we are now approaching an area that appears to be filled with Yellow Lilies - Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta.
July15th118_OzeRC
July15th
118_OzeRC
July15_173_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_173_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_179_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_179_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC

  Yes, it's true - as shown in these 3 shots - this area is filled with - Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta Lilies.
July15_184_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_184_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15th144_OzeRC
July15th
144_OzeRC
July15th146_OzeRC
July15th
146_OzeRC

  We just couldn't stop taking photos of all the - Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta Lilies. It was unbelievable.
July15_191_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_191_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_200_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_200_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15th172_OzeRC
July15th
172_OzeRC

  Kazuya caught me sitting down on the job - taking an easy close up photo of a Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta. The 2nd shot is another shot of Platanthera hologlottis - the same White Flowered Orchid as shown in Row 4. The 3rd shot is, of course, familiar to you by now.
July15th180_OzeRC
July15th
180_OzeRC
July15_219_OzeNP_WhiteOrchidRC
July15_219_OzeNP_
WhiteOrchidRC
July15_221_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_221_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC

  There is Kazuya in the first shot of more Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta. The 2nd shot is the same. In the 3rd shot, we are on the way back to the camping spot and the sun is now getting low enough in the sky (5:06 PM) so that it is shining through the Drosera anglica leaves very interestingly.
July15_232_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_232_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15th208_OzeRC
July15th
208_OzeRC
July15_243_OzeNP_Drosera_spRC
July15_243_OzeNP_
Drosera_spRC

  Here is a low sun angle shot of Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum), followed by an even lower sun angle of Eriophorum vaginatum and Iris laevigata. The final shot for today, a Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta, was taken at 6:53 PM. We have returned to our tent, cooked our supper and cleaned up and now we are walking around the loop trail near the camp spot.
July15_244_OzeNP_Eriophorum_vaginatumRC
July15_244_OzeNP_
Eriophorum_vaginatumRC
July15th250_OzeRC
July15th
250_OzeRC
July15_252_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July15_252_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
End July 15th, Begin July 16th
  Now it's July 16th, we've cooked and eaten breakfast, cleaned up and now we are hiking the trail that will take us to the summit of Mt. Shibutsu (2,228.1 m = 7,310 ft). The first shot here of Mt. Shibutsu was taken at 5:45 AM. The 2nd shot was taken at 5:49 AM - it shows Mt. Shibutsu and its perfect reflection in a small pond. The 3rd shot is a dew covered Eleorchis japonica orchid which we could not pass by without taking a photo.
July16_001_OzeNP_MtShibutsuRC
July16_001_
OzeNP_MtShibutsuRC
July16_011_OzeNP_MtShibutsu_ReflectionRC
July16_011_OzeNP_
MtShibutsu_ReflectionRC
July16_017_OzeNP_Eleorchis_japonicaRC
July16_017_OzeNP_
Eleorchis_japonicaRC

  Here is another dew covered Eleorchis japonica orchid and that is followed by 2 more recycled collages from last year. The 3rd shot in this row is another which can be found in our book "Outdoor Photography of Japan: Through the Seasons" on page 116.
July16_018_OzeNP_Eleorchis_japonicaRC
July16_018_OzeNP_
Eleorchis_japonicaRC
EleorchisJaponicaRC
Eleorchis
JaponicaRC
EleorchisJaponica1RC
Eleorchis
Japonica1RC

  In first position in this row is a Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta, some Eleorchis japonica orchids and another Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta.
July16th026R_OzeRC
July16th
026R_OzeRC
July16th028_OzeRC
July16th
028_OzeRC
July16_024_OzeNP_Hemerocallis_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC
July16_024_OzeNP_Hemerocallis
_dumortieri_var_esculentaRC

  Now we are getting some elevation on Mt. Shibutsu - already above tree line - and we have found our first type of Edelweiss. This one is Leontopodium japonicum var. shiroumense. The 3rd shot is a different Iris - this one is Iris setosa.
July16th041_OzeRC
July16th
041_OzeRC
July16_030_OzeNP_Leontopodium_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC
July16_030_OzeNP_Leontopodium
_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC
July16th043_OzeRC
July16th
043_OzeRC

  Here are 3 shots of Enkianthus campanulatus var. palibinii - all zoomed in to a different extent. As you can see, this is a fairly good sized bush.
July16th047_OzeRC
July16th
047_OzeRC
July16_036_OzeNP_FlowersRC
July16_036_
OzeNP_FlowersRC
July16th066_OzeRC
July16th
066_OzeRC

  Here is a hazy shot of Mt. Hiuchigatake and the marshland. If you study hard enough you can just barely make out the boardwalk snaking across the marsh. The 2nd and 3rd shots are 2 additional shots of the Leontopodium japonicum var. shiroumense type of Edelweiss.
July16th055_OzeRC
July16th
055_OzeRC
July16_052_OzeNP_Leontopodium_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC
July16_052_OzeNP_Leontopodium
_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC
July16_051_OzeNP_Leontopodium_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC
July16_051_OzeNP_Leontopodium
_japonicum_var_shiroumenseRC

  Here is an amazing blue sky scenery shot and then a hazy shot of the marsh - in this one you can easily see the boardwalk crossing the marsh. The 3rd shot is another type of Edelweiss - Leontopodium fauriei var. angustifolium. This one is much more photogenic than the other type.
July16th060_OzeRC
July16th
060_OzeRC
July16_057R_OzeNP_SceneryRC
July16_057R_Oze
NP_SceneryRC
July16_059_OzeNP_Leontopodium_fauriei_var_angustifoliumRC
July16_059_OzeNP_Leontopodium
_fauriei_var_angustifoliumRC

  In this, the final row on this page, you can see an Anemone narcissiflora in first position, an amazing blue sky shot in 2nd position and a Primula modesta in 3rd position. Last year we were here one week earlier and there were many more of this flower. This year, the few which we found were fading out and not very pretty any more. We were just a bit late for several flowers which we had hoped to see. As stated below, this final photo was taken at 7:57 AM, so please go on to Page 4 for the continuation of June 16th.
July16_063_OzeNP_WhiteFlowerRC
July16_063_OzeNP
_WhiteFlowerRC
July16_067_OzeNP_SceneryRC
July16_067_Oze
NP_SceneryRC
July16_068_OzeNP_Primula_modestaRC
July16_068_OzeNP_
Primula_modestaRC
End Page 3, but July 16th continues on Page 4
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 4 for the continuation of this Oze National Park adventure and the continuation of July's photos. The final shot on this page was taken at 7:57 AM, the following page will continue at 8:03 AM. Go To Page:


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