Shin and Mei-Shun purchased three 粽=chimaki, artifacts made of straw with purification ritual at 函谷鉾=Kanko-Hoko, 鶏鉾=Niwatori-Hoko and 菊水鉾=Kikusui-Hoko. It might not be right to buy so many, said to cause struggle between saints, yet they are too attractive to choose one. Interestingly, Kyoto residents look proud of hanging the most popular 粽 from 長刀鉾=Naginata-Hoko.
Shin and Mei-Shun enjoyed on Saturday 宵々山=yoi-yoi-yama, floats exhibition held two nights before 山鉾巡行=yama-hoko-junko, march of these portable shrines of Kyoto Gi-On Festival. Here is their favorite 舟鉾=Fune-Hoko, ship-shaped one. It reminds them of their first Gi-On experience more than 20 years ago, when they met Mei-Shun’s father by chance on the way to Kyoto.
We are so happy to see you two in the garden. And it was lucky for Mei-Shun who found you standing straight up in green before Shin used the lawn mower. Ah, that might be why she often saw butterfly couples these days. They were messengers sent by you to let us know today’s festival, weren’t they? All right, let’s wish 織姫 and 彦星 would be able to meet tonight crossing a bridge made by magpies over the galaxy.
That seems why hydrangeas are said to carry messages like “whim” and “arrogance”. On the other hand, blue flowers have “patient love” while “humbleness” with lace caps. Mei-Shun has to thank to the Ys, because they let us enjoy not only the last one in violet but also pink gradation. And she is happy to do so to mom, who really represents sky-blue following below in her garden. Dad, you loved it so much as well.
We have many hydrangeas around here. One of Mei-Shun’s favorite is this in pale pink at the Ys. They are kind enough to leave two hydrangeas and one camellia in backyard, let us enjoy them from the beginning of blossom. Oh, Ms. Lespedeza, why you are so hasty? Your beauty would culminate in autumn. Please do not compete with a flower of rainy season.
Eight years have passed since Mei-Shun’s beloved father started his longest journey. A bit busy in daytime, she made a phone call to her mother living alone in the evening. Yes, mom, it rained 涙雨 during his funeral, left us full of tears before seeing clear sunlight. Oh, look at that 十五夜 moon. She might kindly come up to soothe our mind in spite of rainy season.
He is a thoroughbred guy in shining white coat. His tail is so beautiful — long, blonde and straight, cut neatly at the bottom. Gentle-touch and friendly in mind, he has a lot of fans including Mei-Shun of course. However, she had to postpone reservation of his time for a lesson today, since Mr. Shin will come back from the U. S. She is too busy to go out, with his birthday party planned at night.
乙戸沼 Park also features irises right now. They have a lot of banners stand along flower field. On the other hand, 小石川後楽園 simply hangs a poster on the front gate. A wide pond with lotuses floating on surface helps commodious sight of the former while the latter is served by a unique looks of Tokyo Dome roof. Oh, we can see the moon in daylight between artificial and natural whites in the sky.
Dumplings rather than flowers? Not for Mei-Shun and Professor S. They met at 飯田橋 Station at noon, strolled toward an Italian restaurant to enjoy good salads, pizzas and pastas. After lunch, they planned to walk down 神楽坂 slope to reach 小石川後楽園 yet shared an taxi under severe sunlight. Pretty irises and hydrangeas were at the beginning of blossom. This nicely cared garden made them almost forget time.
Mei-Shun loves 橘寺. Shin prefers 飛鳥寺. In detail, the former admires 六臂如意輪観音 while the latter 飛鳥大仏. Thanks to heavy rainfall on Saturday, air was washed up for clear Sunday. Starting from 石舞台, they enjoyed cycling with rental bicycles assisted by electric motors. Oh, we can see pretty 蓮華, Astragalus sinicus still left on rice paddy ready to be watered.
