danwiz.com
This is Page 2 of 3 - the best of May 2013!
posted: May 31st, 2013
Go To Page:

This page begins with May 16th when Kazuya takes you to Mt. Mitake again to see those Paeonia japonica plants in bloom. Then we jump to May 18th and we go together to Mt. Mitake and see the Paeonia japonica for the final time, in addition to other things.   Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin May 16th
  On Thursday, May 16th, Kazuya did not have to work, so he took a trip to Mt. Mitake to check on the progress of those Paeonia japonica plants and flower buds which we showed you near the bottom of the previous page. The first thing in this row is a Veronica miqueliana in bloom. That is followed by 2 shots of Paeonia japonica - Kazuya caught it right at the absolute peak of beauty. On the night of the 16th it rained pretty hard, so it destroyed some of the flowers. He was so fortunate to have decided to go and look again on his Thursday off from work!
May16th_MtMitake003_VeronicaMiquelianaRC
May16th_MtMitake003
_VeronicaMiquelianaRC
May16th_MtMitake007_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake007
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake019_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake019
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Paeonia japonica. This is an endangered species in Japan, primarily due to plant thieves who think it will look better in their yards than it does here in the forest! It's so sad. For this reason we never say where we find it. If you are fortunate enough to find this flower in your wanderings in the forest, please leave it where you find it so that other people might be able to come and experience the thrill of finding it too.
May16th_MtMitake034_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake034
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake028_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake028
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake036_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake036
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC

  And here are 3 more shots of this large clump of Paeonia japonica. It is so fortunate that this clump of these plants is quite a distance from the trail. We discovered it by accident one year when we saw some "snow balls" down the slope from us. We were curious enough to go and investigate and this is the clump which we found. We could not find it last year, but this year Kazuya searched diligently and found it again.
May16th_MtMitake040_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake040
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake050_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake050
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake064_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake064
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC

  Here are 2 shots of Meehania urticifolia - an interesting plant with hairy flowers. The 3rd shot is the final one of Paeonia japonica for this date.
May16th_MtMitake077_MeehaniaUrticifoliaRC
May16th_MtMitake077
_MeehaniaUrticifoliaRC
May16th_MtMitake078_MeehaniaUrticifoliaRC
May16th_MtMitake078
_MeehaniaUrticifoliaRC
May16th_MtMitake086_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May16th_MtMitake086
_PaeoniaJaponicaRC

  Here are the 2 final shots of May 16th and Kazuya's trip to Mt. Mitake - these show a Scrophularia musashiensis in bloom.
May16th_MtMitake100_ScrophulariaMusashiensisRC
May16th_MtMitake100_
ScrophulariaMusashiensisRC
May16th_MtMitake101_ScrophulariaMusashiensisRC
May16th_MtMitake101_
ScrophulariaMusashiensisRC
End May 16th, Begin May 18th
  On Saturday, May 18th, Kazuya and I went to Mt. Mitake together so that I could see the Paeonia japonica this year. These first 3 shots show the beautiful Wisteria at the top of the Cable Car on Mt. Mitake.
May18_005_Mitake_WisteriaRC
May18_005_
Mitake_WisteriaRC
May18_010_Mitake_WisteriaRC
May18_010_
Mitake_WisteriaRC
May18_008Crop_Mitake_WisteriaRC
May18_008Crop_
Mitake_WisteriaRC

  As we ascended up to the peak from the Cable Car we found this area with an abundance of Azalea (Rhododendron kaempferi) in bloom. We seemed to have found it at its peak of flowering this year. The first shot in this row shows a clump with bushes showing 3 different colors of flowers. The 2nd shot - out of chronological sequence for portrait mode/landscape mode balance - is a Silver Orchid (Cephalanthera erecta). The 3rd shot shows the red-flowered Azalea which is on the right side of the clump in the first shot in this row.
May18_012_Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18_012_
Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18th_MtMitake004_CephalantheraErectaRC
May18th_MtMitake004_
CephalantheraErectaRC
May18_013_Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18_013_
Mitake_AzaleaRC

  The first shot in this row shows a closer photo of the center bush from the 1st photo in the previous row and the 2nd shot shows a closer photo of the left bush in the 1st photo in the previous row. The 3rd shot shows a bush with orange colored flowers.
May18_014_Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18_014_
Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18_015_Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18_015_
Mitake_AzaleaRC
May18th_MtMitake006_RhododendronKaempferiRC
May18th_MtMitake006_
RhododendronKaempferiRC

  Here are 2 additional shots of the Silver Orchid - Cephalanthera erecta - and those are followed by a shot of a shelter in this area.
May18_022_Mitake_Cephalanthera_erectaRC
May18_022_Mitake_
Cephalanthera_erectaRC
May18_023_Mitake_Cephalanthera_erectaRC
May18_023_Mitake_
Cephalanthera_erectaRC
May18_027_Mitake_SceneRC
May18_027_
Mitake_SceneRC

  Here are 3 final shots of the Silver Orchid (Cephalanthera erecta). Enjoy, because this is the last time you'll see it until next year.
May18th_MtMitake018_CephalantheraErectaRC
May18th_MtMitake018_
CephalantheraErectaRC
May18th_MtMitake016_CephalantheraErectaRC
May18th_MtMitake016_
CephalantheraErectaRC
May18_036_Mitake_Cephalanthera_erectaRC
May18_036_Mitake_
Cephalanthera_erectaRC

  The first shot in this row is a scenic shot of some peak which we could see from the trail. That is followed by 2 shots of Paeonia japonica - the Wild Japanese Peony. You can clearly see that it is past its peak at this time.
May18_041FRM_Mitake_SceneryRC
May18_041FRM_
Mitake_SceneryRC
May18th_MtMitake024_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake024_
PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18_047_Mitake_Paeonia_japonicaRC
May18_047_Mitake_
Paeonia_japonicaRC

  Here are 2 more shots of Meehania urticifolia, brighter day and different angle than the shots shown above. The 3rd shot is another of the Wild Japanese Peony - Paeonia japonica.
May18_055_Mitake_Meehania_urticifoliaRC
May18_055_Mitake_
Meehania_urticifoliaRC
May18_056_Mitake_Meehania_urticifoliaRC
May18_056_Mitake_
Meehania_urticifoliaRC
May18th_MtMitake044_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake044_
PaeoniaJaponicaRC

  Here are the final 2 shots of the Wild Japanese Peony - Paeonia japonica. Hopefully we'll be able to find this clump of plants again next year - and more importantly --- hopefully it won't be discovered by plant thieves and it will still be here next year! In 3rd position is a shot of a very large clump of Sedum sp. down by a small creek.
May18th_MtMitake050_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake050_
PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake053_PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake053_
PaeoniaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtMitake058_SedumSubtileRC
May18th_MtMitake058
_SedumSubtileRC

  Here is another shot of the same group of Scrophularia musashiensis which you saw on May 16th (Row #5). That is followed by 2 more shots of the same clump of Sedum sp. as shown in the previous row. The center shot shows an overview of the location of this Sedum sp. clump.
May18_087_Mitake_Scrophularia_musashiensisRC
May18_087_Mitake_
Scrophularia_musashiensisRC
May18_089_Mitake_Sedum_subtileRC
May18_089_Mitake_
Sedum_subtileRC
May18_092_Mitake_Sedum_subtileRC
May18_092_Mitake_
Sedum_subtileRC

  In 1st position in this row is a beautiful Rhododendron X hybridum bush. Unfortunately it was much more beautiful in the forest than it is here! That is followed by a shot taken from the summit of Mt. Hinode and then a shot of a HUGE Cephalanthera falcata - "The Golden Orchid" plant. We've never found any which approached the size of the ones we found in this area.
May18_094_Hinode_RhododendronRC
May18_094_Hinode
_RhododendronRC
May18_098_Hinode_SceneryRC
May18_098_Hinode
_SceneryRC
May18th_MtHinode067_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode067_
CephalantheraFalcataRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid taken in this area - actually, all 3 of these shots show the same plant, but there were several large plants here!
May18th_MtHinode068_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode068_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode074_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode074_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode071_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode071_
CephalantheraFalcataRC

  And, in this row there are 3 shots of the very tiny Polygala japonica. Can you get an idea of the size of this plant by looking at the dead grasses and other things in the photo?
May18th_MtHinode076_PolygalaJaponicaRC
May18th_MtHinode076
_PolygalaJaponicaRC
May18_102_Hinode_Polygala_japonicaRC
May18_102_Hinode_
Polygala_japonicaRC
May18_103_Hinode_Polygala_japonicaRC
May18_103_Hinode_
Polygala_japonicaRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid. The first shot shows several specimens of this plant in bloom.
May18th_MtHinode081_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode081_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18_113_Hinode_Cephalanthera_falcataRC
May18_113_Hinode_
Cephalanthera_falcataRC
May18_115_Hinode_Cephalanthera_falcataRC
May18_115_Hinode_
Cephalanthera_falcataRC

  Here are 2 more shots of Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid and sandwiched in between them is an example of the very tiny Polygala japonica.
May18th_MtHinode091_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode091_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18_122Crop_Hinode_Polygala_japonicaRC
May18_122Crop_Hinode_
Polygala_japonicaRC
May18th_MtHinode093_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode093_
CephalantheraFalcataRC

  Interesting - this row is a duplicate of the row immediately above, but different photos - 2 more shots of Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid and sandwiched in between them is an example of the very tiny Polygala japonica.
May18th_MtHinode096_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode096_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18_124Crop_Hinode_Polygala_japonicaRC
May18_124Crop_Hinode_
Polygala_japonicaRC
May18th_MtHinode097_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode097_CephalantheraFalcataRC

  Here is a shot of me shooting a Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid and that's followed by a Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid collage which attempts to show the internal structure of the flowers - kind of a typical orchid type flower, wouldn't you agree?
May18th_MtHinode117_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode117_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
Cephalanthera_falcata_Collage_May2013RC
Cephalanthera_falcata
_Collage_May2013RC

  Here are the 2 final shots of Cephalanthera falcata - Golden Orchid from this adventure and probably until next year. And, that's the end of May 18th too.
May18th_MtHinode100_CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18th_MtHinode100_
CephalantheraFalcataRC
May18_155_Hinode_Cephalanthera_falcataRC
May18_155_Hinode_
Cephalanthera_falcataRC
End May 18, End Page 2
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation and conclusion of this month's adventures. Go To Page:


(will open in new window)

(will open in new window)

Purchase Photos Complete List Of All Photos E-mail us Go to the Special Items Page
Top Of Page Lightbox Instructions Comprehensive Site Map Return to our home page



Link to Amazon.com (new window).
We get 2% of whatever you spend if you go to Amazon from this link!! Please shop on Amazon from here.
If you would like to donate to our hiking & traveling fund or show your appreciation for our efforts you can donate through PayPal. A single donation will entitle you to request a single full-sized photo IN THE DONATION MONTH - which you may then use as a desktop wallpaper or whatever. The copyright will be retained by us and the photo will be inconspicuously marked with the copyright symbol (©), year and photographer's name. (Donation probably not tax deductible.)