“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。

“Berries of the Hiyodori-jogo”

In the middle of autumn, berries of various colors are noticeable. I saw bright red berry on a vine. That’s “Hiyodori-jogo.” Hiyodori means the Brown-eared Bulbul. That berries can be seen even in the winter, and look brilliant in the dead fields.   [November 2021]

Solanum lyratum

ヒヨドリジョウゴは白い花を咲かせた後、秋から冬にかけて赤い実をつけます。冬場、草が枯れたあとでも実が残っていることがあり、よく目立ちます。

“Stag beetles gathering in tree sap”

In the woods after the rain. The surface of the oak tree was covered with sap in places. A few stag beetles were visiting. Same species, but with different  shapes. They walked around on the trunk. Nearby, a beetle nuzzled its face into the sap and didn’t move an inch.  [AUGUST 2021]

Prosopocoilus inclinatus

樹液を出す木を訪れる、クワガタの仲間。ノコギリクワガタは大小の個体があり、大あごの形も大きさによって異なります。

“Dragonfly with a straw yellow color”

As I walked around the rice fields, I saw a dragonfly perched on a sasa. It was a female common skimmer. It is also known “Mugiwara-tombo.” Mugiwara means straw, and the color of its body is its origin. The common skimmer is very friendly and will sometime perch on a bag slung over your shoulder. They have always been very close to people.  [AUGUST 2021]

Orthetrum albistylum speciosum

田んぼの周りや街中など多くの身近な場所にあらわれる、シオカラトンボ。メスは麦わら色をした身体から、ムギワラトンボとも呼ばれます。人懐っこく鞄などにとまることもあります。

“White flowers with red lips”

The white flowers were tinged with lipstick red. It’s a vine that thrives in many place, in the field and in the city.  It has strong odor when scratched. In the fall, it bears brown berries.  [JULY 2021]

Paederia scandens

野でも街でも、旺盛に繁茂している様子を見かけるヘクソカズラ。白い花と口紅をさしたような赤が特徴的です。秋になると褐色の実をつけます。