May 30, 2016

Chetwynd, Canada (May 30th)

We stayed at a rest area a little north from Prince George last night and left there at 6:15 a.m.
Now we are stopping by at the information center of Chetwynd.
Soon we start to move toward Alaskan highway.



May 29, 2016

Williams Lake, Canada (May 29th)

We drove from Oregon via Washington and now arrived at Williams Lake, Canada.
We are heading to Alaska and it's still long way to go.

オレゴン州で車を手に入れた後、ワシントン州の友人宅に滞在して、昨日、カナダに入りました。
アラスカ州のスキャグウェイを目指してひたすら車を走らせています。

May 17, 2016

The Last Day in Tokyo (May 18th)

Today is the day when we are leaving Japan for the U. S.
So, this will be the last entry of my blog here in Tokyo, and also in Japan.
I've been living in Tokyo since I entered the university and now it is time to move on!
We are going to Oregon first, and then heading north to our place by car.
I'll upload some pictures on the way if possible.

May 11, 2016

The Trip to My Hometown, Yamagata (May 1st - 5th)

The double-petal cherry blossoms at the entrance of Oinari-san 
(a kind of shrine where we keep a sacred fox god) in my family's yard.
実家の庭にあるお稲荷さんの前の八重桜。
満開でした!

It has been a while since I uploaded the pictures on this blog last time again.
I was busy with preparing to leave Japan.
So, I went back to my hometown to see my mother and brother's family during the Golden Week.
I will write the details of each photo soon.

Lysichiton camtschatcense (Mizu Bashou) in my family's farm.
The farm has its own fresh water spring.

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).

Tulips and cherries were blooming at my family's farm.
After my father passed away, my mother is taking care of it
and she grows some flowers there.

Viola vaginata (Sumire Saishin).

Viola vaginata (Sumire Saishin).
The spur is short and stout.

Viola vaginata (Sumire Saishin).

Viola vaginata (Sumire Saishin).

Viola vaginata (Sumire Saishin).
We found a few of pink ones.

Erythronium japonicum (Katakuri).

Erythronium japonicum (Katakuri).

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).
The flower has a unique long spur.

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).
The spur is white.

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola violacea var. makinoi (Makino Sumire).

Viola violacea var. makinoi (Makino Sumire).
This one has a white line in the center of the leaves.

Viola violacea var. makinoi (Makino Sumire).

Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura). 
It looked like a bunch of green medals glittering in summer wind.

Cherry blossoms and soft greens.

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).
We found a couple of white ones.

Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire).
Here is the shot from above the plant.

Viola faurieana (Teriha Tachitsubo Sumire).

Viola faurieana (Teriha Tachitsubo Sumire).
The leaves are thicker and shiny.

Cherry blossoms were still blooming at Sabaneyama.

Mt. Hayama on the left and
Mt. Gassan on the right.

Mt. Gassan from Sabaneyama.

Mt. Hayama and the Mogami river.

Viola violacea var. makinoi (Makino Sumire).

Viola faurieana (Teriha Tachitsubo Sumire).

Viola faurieana (Teriha Tachitsubo Sumire).

Schizocodon soldanelloides var. magnus (Oo Iwa Kagami).

Schizocodon soldanelloides var. magnus (Oo Iwa Kagami).

Viburnum furcatum (Mushikari or Oo Kame-no-ki).

Mt. Choukai from Sabaneyama.

Mt. Choukai.

Omphalodes krameri (Ruri-sou).

Omphalodes krameri (Ruri-sou).

Epimedium koreanum (Kibana Ikari-sou).

Viola violacea var. makinoi (Makino Sumire).

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).
This one is really beautiful.
The flower has a pattern like a net.

The Oguni river from the Ichinoseki Oohashi bridge
on the way to Funagata Wakaayu Hot Spring.

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).

Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).

The Oguni river at a road station in Mogami town.
The greens were so bright!

This might be the hybrid of  
Viola rostrata var. japonica (Nagahashi Sumire) 
and Viola kusanoana (Oo Tachitsubo Sumire).
I found this at one of my family's land in a forest.