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This is Page 3 of 4 - the best of April 2014!
posted: April 30th, 2014
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This page begins with April 17th, and Kazuya's 2nd trip by himself to the Takamizu 3 Mountains Area to check on the Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea - it was at its peak! Then we jump to April 19th and a trip to the Kawaguchi Lake area on a Violets hunting expedition.   Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin April 17th
  We showed you the first photo of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea back on Page 2, Row 9 - taken on April 12th. Then on the 13th Kazuya returned to its location and we showed you a few more photos of it on Page 2 in Rows 14 & 15. Now, on April 17th Kazuya returned to its location once again and it was at its peak of blooming, as you will see in the first 5 rows of this page. Sorry that there are so many photos, we hope that you can appreciate all of them with the knowledge that these are possibly the best photos you will ever see of this Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. In all of the years we've been coming to its location we have never seen it at such a peak of flowering. It does not even have flowers every year, we have come here in more than one year and found no flowers at all. So, anyway, enjoy!
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts023_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts023_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts010_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaCropRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts010_Viola
XTaradakensisVarEizalaceaCropRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts029_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts029_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC

  Here are 3 more of the best shots of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea.
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts031_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts031_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts032_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts032_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts041_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaCropRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts041_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaCropRC

  And here are 3 additional shots of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. The first photo has part of it "radial blurred" to prevent people from being able to see more of the background and possibly identify this location as more than merely the "Takamizu 3 Mountains Area". Notice all of the acorns in the photos for scale.
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts048_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts048_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts060_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts060_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts067_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts067_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC

  Two more shots of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea, the first one again partially "radial blurred" for the same reason as above.
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts069_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalacea_CropRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts069_Viola
XTaradakensisVarEizalacea_CropRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts093_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts093_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC

  Here are the final 2 shots of Viola x taradakensis var. eizalacea. The first shot is amazing. The 2nd image shows 2 separate flower photos which show that the flowers on one of the plants have hairy centers and the flowers on one of the other plants does not have hairy centers. These 2 plants are just a few centimeters apart.
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts098_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts098_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts098_ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC
TN_Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts010_081_
ViolaXTaradakensisVarEizalaceaRC.JPG

  On this date Kazuya also returned to the spot where we found the Viola x pseudo-makinoi f. concolor which we showed you on Page 2 in Rows 11 & 12. You can see that even more flowers are open now than there were back on April 12th.
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts159_ViolaXPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts159_Viola
XPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts162_ViolaXPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC
Apr17th_Takamizu3Mts162_Viola
XPseudo-makinoiFConcolorRC
End April 17th, Begin April 19th
  On April 19th we took a day trip all the way to Kawaguchi Lake and then took an hour long bus ride to the "Boundary Bus Stop" (the boundary between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures. We were specifically in search of Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet. We found it here back in 2012, but it was past its peak of flowering that year, so we came earlier this year with high hopes. As you can see in this row, we found Viola orientalis - a yellow violet. This is easy to find here in one specific annually burned-over field.
Apr19_03_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_orientalisRC
Apr19_03_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_orientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen001_ViolaOrientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
001_ViolaOrientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen005_ViolaOrientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
005_ViolaOrientalisRC

  Here are 2 more shots of Viola orientalis and a shot of the highway to show you what the weather was like. Rather foggy, but no rain, at least not yet!
Apr19_10_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_orientalisRC
Apr19_10_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_orientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen018_ViolaOrientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
018_ViolaOrientalisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen036RC
Apr19th_Asagiri
Kougen036RC

  The first shot here shows Kazuya actively hunting for violets. The 2nd shot shows the field we are searching. The 3rd shot shows a Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana f. variegata.
Apr19_20_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_orientalis_AreaRC
Apr19_20_BoundaryBusStop
_Viola_orientalis_AreaRC
Apr19_21_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_orientalis_AreaRC
Apr19_21_BoundaryBusStop
_Viola_orientalis_AreaRC
Apr19_22_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokubuchiana_var_takedana_f_variegataRC
Apr19_22_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_
tokubuchiana_var_takedana_f_variegataRC

  The first shot in this row is also a Viola tokubuchiana var. takedana f. variegata. After that are 2 shots of what we came here in search of - Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet. And, the flowers are perfect, unlike back in 2012 when they were past their peak.
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen063_ViolaTokubuchianaVarTakedanaFVariegataRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen063_Viola
TokubuchianaVarTakedanaFVariegataRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen068_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
068_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19_34_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_34_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_x_savatieriRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet. Seeing as this is the violet we came here in search of, you should expect to see several more photos of it. Note the photo numbers - the 3rd shot is already Kazuya's 90th photo of the day (90th one which he kept).
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen070_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
070_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen083_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
083_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen090_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
090_ViolaXSavatieriRC

  And 3 more shots of Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet. The first one is an overview shot. The center shot has been rather tightly cropped.
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen101_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
101_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen107_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
107_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen113_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
113_ViolaXSavatieriRC

  Here are an additional 3 shots and again the center one has been rather tightly cropped.
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen119_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
119_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen120_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
120_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19_44_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_44_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_x_savatieriRC

  And 3 more shots of Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet.
Apr19_52_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_52_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_50_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_50_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_55_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_x_savatieriRC
Apr19_55_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_x_savatieriRC

  Here are the final 2 shots of Viola x savatieri - The Okutama Violet for this year, and possibly for a couple more years as we don't make it out here every year. The 3rd shot was a new find for us. We had never seen this violet before - Viola tokaiensis. Kazuya is quite sure that he has seen the leaves of it before, but never with flowers. And, by the way, it's now raining on us, but only lightly.
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen179_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
179_ViolaXSavatieriRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen231RC
Apr19th_Asagiri
Kougen231RC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen193_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
193_ViolaTokaiensisRC

  Seeing as this Viola tokaiensis is a new addition to our Violets "Life List" you should also expect to see several photos if it. We only found a very few plants of it. This area is so incredibly diverse ecologically - there are oak trees, chestnut trees, magnolia trees, cedar trees, spruce trees, true fir trees and more in this area of Mt. Fuji Lava fields. This is quite an interesting area for its ecological diversity. We should visit here in mid-summer at some point to see it.
Apr19_58_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_58_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen194_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
194_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen202_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
202_ViolaTokaiensisRC

  We were amazed at how tiny this Viola tokaiensis is. In these 3 photos we have given you common objects which you can use for scale. In the 1st and 3rd photos is a common toothpick and in the center photo is a ¥1 coin, which is 20.3 mm (0.8 inches) in diameter. This photo is so cute because it shows that the entire plant is about the size of a ¥1 coin!
Apr19_62_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_62_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen206_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
206_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19_63_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_63_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC

  Here is another photo with a toothpick for scale and a different plant with a ¥1 coin for scale. In the 3rd photo you must use the forest litter for scale.
Apr19_64_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_64_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen211_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
211_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19_67_68_69_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERC
Apr19_67_68_69_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERC

  Here are 3 more images, but 4 photos of Viola tokaiensis. "Huh?" you ask? Well, the center image is a 3 shot Tone-mapped image (Photomatix Pro - Details Enhancer Option) and the 3rd photo (#75) is one of the photos which was used to create the center image.
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen223_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19th_AsagiriKougen
223_ViolaTokaiensisRC
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERC1
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERC1
Apr19_75_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_75_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC

  The first image in this row is the same as the center image of the previous row, but it has an addition. The center image is only the flower of Viola tokaiensis - full size from the photo. Of course this is not the actual size of the flower - you already saw a photo with a common toothpick for scale, so you know that you are being given a rare chance to see this flower here in MUCH bigger than life-size. The 3rd shot is another with a toothpick for scale.
We hope that you enjoyed this adventure as much as we did. Despite the not so nice weather we enjoyed ourselves because we were able to find both what we were searching for - and at its peak of blooming - plus a new addition to our life list! The first photo of the day was taken at 10:34 AM and the final one at 1:20 PM. The center photo in Row 15 was actually the final one of the day. We were able to get to the bus stop in time to catch the 1:59 PM bus and we were able to get a train at Kawaguchi Lake Station at 4:00 PM bound for home. We finally arrived home at about 7:00 PM.
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERCRC
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDERCRC
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensis_TMDE_FlowerOnlyRCRC
Apr19_73_74_75_BoundaryBusStop_Viola
_tokaiensis_TMDE_FlowerOnlyRCRC
Apr19_78_BoundaryBusStop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
Apr19_78_BoundaryBus
Stop_Viola_tokaiensisRC
End April 19th, End Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Please continue on to page 4 for the conclusion of this month's adventures and photos! Go To Page:


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