“Spring cicada”

May. Walking through a wooded area by the highway, I heard the sound of insects from the pine tree tops. There were that of spring cicadas. Their numbers are declining on the peninsula and I have heard them for the first time in the last five years. I kept stopping and listening the sound of the wind through the woods, the bird and them. [MAY 2024]

Yezoterpnosia vacua

ハルゼミは新美南吉も好んだセミで４月下旬から５月に鳴きます。「松蝉」とも呼ばれ、春を代表する昆虫ですが、松林が身近な環境から減ったことで、生息場所を減らしています。松の木の高いところで鳴いているので、なかなか姿は見えません。このときは、羽化したばかりと思われるハルゼミが、林床に落ちていました。

“Dead fern submerged in water”

Winter on the wetland. Some plants remained dead. The landscape is silent. Ferns that are heavily invaded. One leaf, withered and submerged in water, caught my eye.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

“Persian speedwell”

A reservoir where cormorants have established colonies. At the end of the woods beside it, there is a rice field. When I visited on a sunny day, I found Persian speedwell in full bloom. They were glistening blue.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

クワガタソウ属のオオイヌノフグリ。田畑の畦や野道で、春の晴天のもと、青く輝いているのを見かけます。

“White giraffe head”

Giraffe heads are found in bloom even in winter. I parked the car, got out and saw some white giraffe heads at my feet. After a light snow, there were water drops on the flowers.  [JANUARY 2022]

ホトケノザは赤紫色の花を咲かせる野草。野でも街でも、季節を問わず見かけます。白い花のホトケノザは、あまり見かけることがありません。

“Two red berries”

In the woods. A small tree with red berries was growing at the base of a cedar tree. The yabukozhi is a tree of good luck. They lit up the winter woods with bright colours.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

ヤブコウジは十両とも呼ばれる縁起の良い木です。冬場、地面近くで明るい赤色を灯します。

“Frog’s egg”

February. The day after it rained, there were eggs of red frogs in the rice field. The season of life begins with the appearance of the red frog egg.  [FEBRUARY 2022]

アカガエルは２月、雨の夜に水のきれいな田んぼの止水などで産卵します。翌日のたまごは透き通っていますが、すぐに土埃をかぶって土に紛れます。

“Cricket moves quickly”

There was a cricket on fallen leaves. When it noticed me, it quickly ducked under the leaves. Then it hid and didn’t move.  [SEPTEMBER 2021]

Loxoblemmus campestris

ハラオカメコオロギは街でも林の中でもよく見かけるコオロギです。コオロギの仲間は、こちらに気づくと素早く落ち葉の下に隠れます。

“Goji berry”

I was walking along the beach in autumn. The colors of the early summer beach plants were no more. There were Goji berries on a thin branch at my feet. It was shining brightly on the cold beach.  [October 2021]

Lycium chinense

クコの実は夏から秋に実を付ける印象ですが、夏場は目にせず、秋も深まりはじめた時期に結実していました。

“Red berries rustling in the wind”

The edge of the woods. There was a thin tree with green leaves. Red berries that grow from the same base as the leaves. Its leaves and berries are distinctive and pretty.  [November 2021]

Ilex pedunculosa

晩秋から冬にかけて赤い実を付けるソヨゴ。縮れた葉の葉柄と、実の果軸は同じところから出ています。