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posted: February 28th, 2013 |
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This page begins with February 3rd and shows you all 3 photos taken on that date. Then we jump to February 9th and a trip to Nogawa Park in a quest for the first spring flowers. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin February 3rd |
On February 3rd I went out and climbed Mt. Takao (599 m = 1,965 ft) for the 88th time and then continued on to Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama (670 m = 2,199 ft) for the 36th time (Kazuya had to work that day). Here are 3 photos taken from the summit of Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama, as we've never shown you any photos similar to these. The first two are looking back from Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama to Mt. Takao. The 3rd photo shows the Hikage Creek Road, which obviously follows Hikage Creek down from the summit of Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama to a bus stop from where one can take a bus back to Takao Station. Along that sunny clear-cut area is where we often find our first Violets of the spring.
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 Feb03_1_From KobotokeShiroYamaRC |
 Feb03_2_From KobotokeShiroYamaRC |
 Feb03_3_From KobotokeShiroYamaRC |
| End February 3rd, Begin February 9th |
On February 9th Kazuya and I bicycled to Nogawa Park in a quest for the first spring flowers. We were successful in our quest too! But, first, here are some bird shots. The first 2 shots are Coccothraustes coccothraustes or Hawfinch - a pretty bird. The 3rd shot is a Japanese Chickadee (Parus minor). These things move around so quickly that it's a real challenge to capture a shot of one. They are quite common, but 99.9% of the time, by the time I get my camera turned on they are gone!
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark001_ Coccothraustes_coccothraustes_HawfinchRC |
 Feb09_74_NogawaPk_Coccothraustes _coccothraustes_HawfinchRC |
 Feb09_76_NogawaPk_Japanese Chickadee_Parus_minorRC |
The first 2 shots in this row show Adonis amurensis - a very bright yellow early spring flower. There are only 3 or 4 plants here in Nogawa Park. The 3rd shot is what we were really wanting to find. This is Shibateranthis pinnatifida or Setsubun-sou in Japanese. Setsubun is the "Bean-Throwing Festival" or "Bean-Throwing Ceremony". It is the day before the beginning of Spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the Spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun, celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival. This flower (Sou) is called the Setsubun flower because it generally can be found on or near Setsubun.
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 Feb09_05_NogawaPk _Adonis_amurensisRC |
 Feb09_57_NogawaPk _Adonis_amurensisRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark004_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
This is a VERY good year for Setsubun-sou (Shibateranthis pinnatifida). We found more here than ever before I think. And, there were some really nice ones. Unfortunately we hit here just when it was most difficult to get good pictures due to the sun angle. We want to come again earlier in the morning.
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 Feb09_01_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_02_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark009_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
Three more Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) shots. So, a little more information about Setsubun. The custom of Mamemaki (bean throwing) first appeared in the Muromachi period. It can be performed by any member of the household. Roasted soybeans (called "fortune beans") are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" and slam the door. This is still common practice in households. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark010_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark011_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_10_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
And, another three Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) shots. And, the Setsubun story continues. It is customary in some areas to eat uncut special sushi rolls in silence on Setsubun while facing the year's lucky compass direction (it was SSE this year), determined by the zodiac symbol of the year. This custom started in Osaka, but in recent years, thanks to modern marketing methods, these special sushi rolls can be purchased at stores in other areas and it is becoming more recognized as a part of Setsubun tradition.
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark014_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_15_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark018_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
And, another three Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) shots.
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark020_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_18_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark022_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
And, another three Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) shots.
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 Feb09_20_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark024_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_24_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
And, another three Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) shots.
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark027_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark028_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb09_32_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
The final shot of Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Setsubun-sou) and then 2 shots of Chimonanthus praecox or Roubai in Japanese. This is another yellow early spring flower.
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 Feb09_37_NogawaPk_ Shibateranthis_pinnatifidaRC |
 Feb9th_NogawaPark033_ Chimonanthus_praecoxRC |
 Feb09_55_NogawaPk_ Chimonanthus_praecoxRC |
Here are 2 additional shots of Chimonanthus praecox or Roubai in Japanese.
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 Feb9th_NogawaPark034_ Chimonanthus_praecoxRC |
 Feb09_56_NogawaPk_ Chimonanthus_praecoxRC |
Here are the final 3 photos we'll show you from this date in Nogawa Park. This is a type of Skunk Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus or Zazen-sou in Japanese.
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Feb09_65_NogawaPk_ Symplocarpus_foetidusRC |
 Feb09_65_NogawaPk_ Symplocarpus_foetidusRC |
 Feb09_68_NogawaPk_ Symplocarpus_foetidusRC |
| End February 9th, End Page 1 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of this month's adventures. Page 2 begins with February 23rd. |
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