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posted: April 30th, 2014 |
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The 63 images on this page cover the period from Wednesday, April 9th through Sunday, April 13th only. Between the 2 of us we had 4 separate adventures during these 5 days. Kazuya went to a secret location on April 9th to search for Viola violacea. Then on April 12th we went together to the Takamizu 3 Mountains Area to see what we could find. That was followed by a return visit to that area on April 13th by Kazuya. On the 13th, I however, went out and climbed up the Hikage Creek Forest Road to Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama to see what I could find. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin April 9th |
As the header says, on April 9th Kazuya went to a secret location in search of Viola violacea. He was successful too, as you can see in the 3 photos below.
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 Apr9th_002_ ViolaViolaceaRC |
 Apr9th_004_ ViolaViolaceaRC |
 Apr9th_011_ ViolaViolaceaRC |
Here are 2 more photos of Viola violacea.
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 Apr9th_015_ ViolaViolaceaRC |
 Apr9th_025_ ViolaViolaceaRC |
The first photo in this row is the result of tightly cropping the 2nd photo on Row 2 to show only the flower of Viola violacea. The 2nd photo is a Mountain Azalea which he found.
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 Apr9th_025_ ViolaViolaceaCropRC |
 Apr9th_038_ MountainAzaleaRC |
| End April 9th, Begin April 12th |
On Saturday, April 12th we went out together and climbed in the Takamizu 3 Mountains Area. The first shot shows a nice Viola sieboldi flower and plant. The 2nd photo shows that we have 2.7 km, to go to reach the summit of Mt. Sougaku (756 m = 2,480 ft) and 4.2 km to go before we reach the summit of Mt. Iwatakeishi (793 m = 2,602 ft). It will be the 9th time we've been at these 2 mountain summits together. The 3rd shot shows a nice Cymbidium goeringii orchid which we found.
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 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts 012_ViolaSieboldiRC |
 Apr12_07_Iwatakeishi _SignRC |
 Apr12_09_Iwatakeishi_ Cymbidium_goeringiiRC |
Here are 3 shots of a Viola violacea var. makinoi which we found. It is so difficult to capture the true colors of these violets - none of these shots are accurate, although the center one is closest.
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 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts027_ ViolaViolaceaVarMakinoiRC |
 Apr12_11_Iwatakeishi_Viola _violacea_var_makinoiRC |
 Apr12_15_Iwatakeishi_Viola _violacea_var_makinoiRC |
Here is one more shot of Viola violacea var. makinoi, with pretty accurate color rendition. The 2nd and 3rd shots show specimens of Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana.
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 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts032_ ViolaViolaceaVarMakinoiRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts037 _ViolaTokubuchianaVarTakedanaRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts045 _ViolaTokubuchianaVarTakedanaRC |
Here is a really fine shot of Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana and that's followed by 2 shots of Shortia uniflora, which only seems to grow on the most dangerous rocky precipices.
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 Apr12_24_Iwatakeishi_Viola_ tokubuchiana_var_takedanaRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts060_ ShortiaUnifloraRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts062_ ShortiaUnifloraRC |
Here is a nice shot of Viola bisseti (aka bissetii) and then a beautifully colored Viola rossi. The 3rd shot is a view from the summit of Mt. Iwatakeishi (793 m = 2,602 ft).
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 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts 064_ViolaBissetiiRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts 072_ViolaRossiRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts 078_MtIwatakeishiRC |
Here are 3 images of what we came here in search of - Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. It is the natural hybrid of Viola violacea var. makinoi and Viola eizanensis. We discovered this single specimen several years ago and we come here every year to search for its flowers. This year it has the most flower buds we have ever seen on it, but we are just a few days too early to see it at its peak of blooming. The first image in this row has the most accurate colors, but it's a bit too saturated - due to it being a Tone-Mapped rendition of 3-exposure bracketed shots.
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 Apr12_36_37_38_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ taradakensis_var_eizalacea_TMTC_SIPx2-V-SRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts083_ ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts089_ ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC |
Here are 2 more images of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. The first image is again, Tone-Mapped from 3-exposure bracketed photos.
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 Apr12_39_40_41_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ taradakensis_var_eizalaceaTMTC_SIPx2-V-SRC |
 Apr12_47_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ taradakensis_var_eizalaceaRC |
Here are 3 photos of another hybrid violet - this one is Viola x pseudo-makinoi f. concolor. This is a natural hybrid of Viola violacea var. makinoi and Viola sieboldi. It too is quite rare. This was the first time we had ever found this particular specimen of it.
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 Apr12_57_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ pseudo_makinoi_f_concolorRC |
 Apr12_61_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ pseudo_makinoi_f_concolorRC |
 Apr12_62_Iwatakeishi_Viola_x_ pseudo_makinoi_f_concolorRC |
Here are 2 more shots of that same Viola x pseudo-makinoi f. concolor. We took several photos of it when we passed it in the morning, and then we returned to our starting point via the same route so that we could see it in brighter light.
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 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts146_Viola XPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC |
 Apr12th_Takamizu3Mts167_Viola XPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC |
| End April 12th, Begin April 13th - Takamizu 3 Mountains Area |
On the following day, April 13th, Kazuya returned to the Takamizu 3 Mountains Area because he wanted to find that Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea with more flowers open. He went via a different trail and on his way he found this specimen of Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana f. variegata. The center shot shows a considerable amount of snow remaining in a valley! April 13th is awfully late to still be finding snow here, but remember that Tokyo had its heaviest snowfall in 45 years during this past winter.
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 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts013_Viola TokubuchianaVarTakedanaFVariegataRC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu 3Mts007RC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts016_Viola TokubuchianaVarTakedanaFVariegataRC |
Kazuya also found some Trout Lily (Erythronium japonicum) and some Rhododendron pentaphyllum var. nikoense before he arrived back at the specimen of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. He was extremely disappointed that it looked essentially the same as it did yesterday.
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 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts 029_ErythroniumJaponicumRC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts043_Rhododendron PentaphyllumVarNikoenseRC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts033_Viola XTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC |
Here is a final shot of that Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea and then 2 Trout Lily (Erythronium japonicum) shots.
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 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts077_ViolaX TaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts051 _ErythroniumJaponicumRC |
 Apr13th_Takamizu3Mts050 _ErythroniumJaponicumRC |
| End Takamizu 3 Mountains Area, Begin Hikage Creek/Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama Area |
The Takamizu 3 Mountains Trail is a steep and difficult one, so on the 13th I went out to Hikage Creek and climbed up the forest road to Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama (670 m = 2,199 ft). It was the 48th time I'd been at the summit of Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama. As I climbed I found several nice violets and in this row are 3 shots of the famous Takao Violet - Viola yezoensis f. discolor. The "discolor" of course refers to the purplish colored leaves.
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 Apr13_10_Hikage_Kobotoke_ Viola_yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
 Apr13_11_Hikage_Kobotoke_ Viola_yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
 Apr13_16_Hikage_Kobotoke_ Viola_yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
In first position in this row is the Hikage Violet - Viola yezoensis - it is essentially a Takao Violet without the purplish leaves. The 2nd shot is a Viola yezoensis f. discolor - Takao Violet. The 3rd shot could possibly be a cross between the Takao Violet and the Hikage Violet, as the leaves are not green and they are also not as purplish as the normal Takao Violet.
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 Apr13_22_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_yezoensisRC |
 Apr13_17_Hikage_Kobotoke_ Viola_yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
 Apr13_24_Hikage_Kobotoke_ Viola_yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
Here is a very nice shot of a Takao Violet - Viola yezoensis f. discolor, unfortunately it's a bit lacking in its depth of field. Due to the darkness of the area where it was shot, it was not possible to use a small aperture. The 2nd and 3rd shots show beautiful examples of Oxalis griffithii var. kantoensis. Of course being an Oxalis, the leaves of this plant make a nice tangy snack, don't eat too many of them though, as the reason for the tanginess is the Oxalic Acid content.
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 Apr13_26_Hikage_Kobotoke_Viola_ yezoensis_f_discolorRC |
 Apr13_30_Hikage_Kobotoke_Oxalis_ griffithii_var_kantoensisRC |
 Apr13_33_Hikage_Kobotoke_Oxalis_ griffithii_var_kantoensisRC |
Here are 2 more great shots of Oxalis griffithii var. kantoensis and those are followed by a shot of Viola bisseti.
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 Apr13_36_Hikage_Kobotoke_Oxalis_ griffithii_var_kantoensisRC |
 Apr13_38_Hikage_Kobotoke_Oxalis_ griffithii_var_kantoensisRC |
 Apr13_40_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_bissetiRC |
I also found snow. You may recall that we showed you photos of the Hikage Creek Forest Road last month HERE and this is the valley which is uphill from the road - the 2nd and 3rd shots in Row 6. The 2nd shot is a Viola phalacrocarpa f. glaberrima and the 3rd shot is a Viola obtusa.
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 Apr13_45_Hikage_ Kobotoke_SnowRC |
 Apr13_50_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_phalacrocarpaRC |
 Apr13_53_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_obtusaRC |
The first image in this row was Tone-Mapped from 3-exposure bracketed shots with PhotoMatrix. The shots were taken across the valley from I-Ccho-Daira and those are Mountain Cherry Trees in bloom. Can you pinpoint the shelter that is there? It's just to the left of center. The 2nd shot is a nicely colored Viola eizanensis and the 3rd shot is one of our most common violets - Viola grypoceras, but this small clump of them has SO MANY flowers that it is really impressive.
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 Apr13_59_60_61_Hikage_Kobotoke _I_Ccho_Daira_Cherry_TMTCRC |
 Apr13_66_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_eizanensisRC |
 Apr13_74_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_grypocerasRC |
Here is a closer shot of that small clump of Viola grypoceras shown just previous. The 2nd shot shows the "restaurant" at the summit of Mt. Kobotoke-Shiro-yama. You may recall that this shop was closed last month due to that heavy snow on the road which you might have looked at from the link in Row 20's row text. Thankfully, they are back in business now and the crowd today is pretty substantial. You don't have to purchase something from them to be able to sit here and eat, if you brought your own complete lunch it's still okay to sit here and eat it. Of course, they probably hope that you will purchase a beer, a can of Coca-Cola, an orange or something! I bought a delicious bowl of Nameko (a type of mushroom) soup to eat with the lunch I took with me. The Nameko soup is a favorite of ours.
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 Apr13_76_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_grypocerasRC |
 Apr13_79_Hikage_Kobotoke_ SummitRestaurantRC |
And, now I'm going back down the mountain, via a different trail. The first shot in this row is a nice Viola phalacrocarpa or maybe a Viola phalacrocarpa f. glaberrima - I can't see if the flower stems are hairy or smooth. And, the final shot for today is a nice one of Viola bissetii.
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 Apr13_83_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_phalacrocarpaRC |
 Apr13_04_Hikage_Kobotoke _Viola_bissetiiRC |
| End April 13th, 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 of this month's adventures. |
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