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This is Page 2 of 3 - the best of June 2014!
posted: June 30th, 2014
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This page begins and ends with June 15th and a trip to and climb of Mt. Mitsutouge (1,786.1 m = 5,860 ft) in search of the elusive Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum - the Japanese Pink Lady Slipper - Orchid. We found it too!   Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin June 15th
  These first 2 shots of the day show Mt. Fuji and were taken from Kawaguchi Lake Station. There were a lot of electrical wires in both of these photos, but both photos have been cleaned up significantly with Photoshop to at least reduce their prevalence.
June15_02_MtFujiFromKawaguchiLkStaRC
June15_02_MtFuji
FromKawaguchiLkStaRC
June15_03_MtFujiFromKawaguchiLkStaRC
June15_03_MtFuji
FromKawaguchiLkStaRC

  These 2 photos both show a single specimen of Dichocarpum stoloniferum. This was the only one of these we saw all day.
June15th_MtMitsutouge001_DichocarpumStoloniferumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
001_DichocarpumStoloniferumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge002_DichocarpumStoloniferumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
002_DichocarpumStoloniferumRC

  These 3 images all show Neottia asiatica - an orchid. This species has no chlorophyll. The 3rd image is a small piece which was extracted from the 2nd photo. The portion which was extracted is outlined in the center photo.
June15th_MtMitsutouge003_NeottiaAsiaticaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
003_NeottiaAsiaticaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge004_NeottiaAsiaticaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
004_NeottiaAsiaticaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge004_Part_NeottiaAsiatica
June15th_MtMitsutouge004_
Part_NeottiaAsiatica

  These 2 photos both show a violet which is a relative rarity for us to find - Viola acuminata. It is a species which was added to the Some Violets of Eastern Japan - 2nd Edition when it was updated earlier this year.
June15_06_MtMitsutougeClimb_Viola_acuminataRC
June15_06_MtMitsutouge
Climb_Viola_acuminataRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge007_ViolaAcuminataRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
007_ViolaAcuminataRC

  Here are the final 2 shots which show Viola acuminata.
June15_07_MtMitsutougeClimb_Viola_acuminataRC
June15_07_MtMitsutouge
Climb_Viola_acuminataRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge054_ViolaAcuminataRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
054_ViolaAcuminataRC

  Last year when we visited this area on June 9th we found a single plant of Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum in this secret area. It is a very rare Japanese Pink Lady Slipper Orchid. We were not sure that we could find this spot again, but after scouring the mountainside area where we were sure that we had found it last year, we finally found the very same plant. Last year we were too early and it had only a very large bud, but this year it was fully open. This year we found 3 plants in this area. In the 3rd photo you can see a second flower behind and to the left of the one in the photo center.
June15th_MtMitsutouge009_CypripediumMacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge009_Cypripedium
MacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15_08_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_08_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge015_CypripediumMacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge015_Cypripedium
MacranthumVarSpeciosumRC

  Due to its extreme rarity, combined with its extreme beauty, you should expect to see several shots of this Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum. Here are 3 more of them.
June15_11_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_11_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_09_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_09_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_12_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_12_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC

  From near the area where we found the Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum we had a good view of some distant mountains on this date.
June15_15_MtMitsutouge_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15_15_MtMitsutouge
_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15_16_MtMitsutouge_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15_16_MtMitsutouge
_FarAwayMountainsRC

  Here are 3 more shots of the Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum orchid. The center shoy has been cropped to enhance the orchid flower.
June15th_MtMitsutouge026_CypripediumMacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge026_Cypripedium
MacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15_20_Crop_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_20_Crop_MtMitsutouge
_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge027_CypripediumMacranthumVarSpeciosumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge027_Cypripedium
MacranthumVarSpeciosumRC

  Here are 2 more shots of Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum. The center image is an extract taken out of the 1st photo. The extracted area has been outlined in the 1st photo. In the 3rd photo you can once again see a 2nd flower behind and to the left of the center orchid flower.
June15_21_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_21_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_21_Part_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_21_Part_MtMitsutouge
_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_24_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_24_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC

  Here are the final 3 photos of Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum in this secret area. In all 3 photos you can spot a 2nd flower behind and to the left of the main flower.
June15_30_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_30_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_29_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_29_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_31_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_31_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC

  Now, as we leave the secret spot we once again have a good view of the distant mountains with an abundance of snow on them. The center shot on this row shows Vincetoxicum acuminatum.
June15_34_MtMitsutouge_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15_34_MtMitsutouge
_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge053_VincetoxicumAcuminatumRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge053
_VincetoxicumAcuminatumRC
June15_35_MtMitsutouge_FarAwayMountainsRC
June15_35_MtMitsutouge
_FarAwayMountainsRC

  In first position in this row is a wide angle view of the distant mountains. In the center is a view of the summit area of Mt. Mitsutouge. In 3rd position is a far away view of Mt. Yatsugatake. We have climbed Mt. Yatsugatake a few times now and it will be the subject of Volume 13 of the Climbing a Few of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains series of books.
June15th_MtMitsutouge056RC
June15th_
MtMitsutouge056RC
June15_38_MtMitsutouge_SummitRC
June15_38_Mt
Mitsutouge_SummitRC
June15_40_MtMitsutouge_ToYatsugatakeRC
June15_40_MtMitsutouge
_ToYatsugatakeRC

  Here is a zoomed-in shot of Mt. Yatsugatake in first position. In 2nd position is a cropped shot of Mt. Yatsugatake.
June15_41_MtMitsutouge_ToYatsugatakeRC
June15_41_MtMitsutouge
_ToYatsugatakeRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge057RC
June15th_
MtMitsutouge057RC

  Here are 3 shots of our 3rd orchid of the day - Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid. Last year we found this species on June 8th, in a different location and only a few here on June 9th. We were thinking that it may have already finished at this location this year, but we were wrong. We found a great number of them.
June15th_MtMitsutouge067_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
067_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge063_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
063_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge069_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
069_GalearisCyclochilaRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid.
June15_45_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_45_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_46_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_46_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_50_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_50_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC

  Here is one shot of another Cypripedium macranthum var. speciosum. This is in a very visible location, so it has been put in "jail" to protect it from plant thieves. Look at the great number of flowers on it! The 2nd shot shows Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid again. The outlined portion of this photo has been extracted and is used for the 3rd image in this row.
June15_54_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_54_MtMitsutouge_Cypripedium
_macranthum_var_speciosumRC
June15_57_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_57_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_57_Part_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_57_Part_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC

  In first position in this row is a shot of Kazuya as he shoots the Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid. The outlined area has again been extracted and is used in center position - can you find the orchids? The 3rd shot is another one of Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid
June15_63_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochila_KazuyaRC
June15_63_MtMitsutouge_
Galearis_cyclochila_KazuyaRC
June15_63_Part_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochila_Kazuya
June15_63_Part_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochila_Kazuya
June15th_MtMitsutouge079_GalearisCyclochilaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge079
_GalearisCyclochilaRC

  Here are 3 additional images of Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid. In the center image the outlined area has once again been extracted and is used for the 3rd image in this row.
June15_64_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_64_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_67_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_67_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_67_Part_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_67_Part_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC

  Here are the final 3 shots of Galearis cyclochila - the Seagull Orchid.
June15_68_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_68_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_69_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_69_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_82_MtMitsutouge_Galearis_cyclochilaRC
June15_82_MtMitsutouge
_Galearis_cyclochilaRC

  The 1st and 3rd shots in this row show Enkianthus campanulatus f. albiflorus. The center photo is the summit marker for Mt. Mitsutouge. I have added the 1786.1 alongside the appropriate Japanese characters. The sun was in front of the camera, so I had to use the flash to capture the carving on the rock and that is what resulted in the bright spot near the bottom of the rock.
June15_88_MtMitsutouge_UnknownFlowerRC
June15_88_MtMitsutouge
_UnknownFlowerRC
June15_85_MtMitsutouge_SummitRC
June15_85_MtMitsutouge
_SummitRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge133_EnkianthusCampanulatusFAlbiflorusRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge133_Enkianthus
CampanulatusFAlbiflorusRC

  Here is a single shot of Viola biflora, which we found just below the summit. The 2nd and 3rd shots - show Iris sanguinea. This was not found until about 1/2 way into our descent of the mountain.
June15th_MtMitsutouge135_ViolaBifloraRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
135_ViolaBifloraRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge137_IrisSanguineaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
137_IrisSanguineaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge138_IrisSanguineaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
138_IrisSanguineaRC

  Here is a distant shot of Mt. Fuji, by now it had clouded up around its summit, which is the reason we took no photos of it from the summit of Mt. Mitsutouge. The 2nd shot is the final one from this climb - a final shot of Iris sanguinea. The 3rd image in this row and on this page shows our newest book Climbing a Few of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains - Volume 10: Mt. Mizugaki, which went on sale on June 18, 2014. You can find a Details page and a sample PDF file for this book HERE (new window or tab).
June15_92_MtMitsutouge_ToMtFujiRC
June15_92_MtMitsutouge
_ToMtFujiRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge140_IrisSanguineaRC
June15th_MtMitsutouge
140_IrisSanguineaRC
Volume10_Mizugaki_Cover_CroppedRC
Volume10_Mizugaki
_Cover_CroppedRC

End June 15th, End Page 2
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