Japanese Flowering Plums

[KyushuCalanthe]

Things are calming down here seismically (thankfully), so I thought I'd upload another video. This one is 1080p, shot last February. Enjoy!

Japanese Flowering Plums

 

[Ozpaph]

magnificent

 

[MaryPientka]

Inspiring!

 

[Linus_Cello]

I wish I had full sun for these at the new house. I had to leave my one tree at the old house.

What is growing in the ume trees? Ferns? Grasses?
I presume the plants in the ponds are kaempferi ensata iris?

 

[Lanmark]

Fantastic!

 

[naoki]

Wonderful image and very informative as usual! Thank you. I learn new things about Japanese culture (in addition to plants) when I watch your video! I've been to Dazaifu quite a few times (as you mentioned, for the wishes to pass entrance exams as a school trip etc.). Quite a few forgotten memory came back to me! Some sweet and some sour (just like umeboshi).

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

What is growing in the ume trees? Ferns? Grasses?
I presume the plants in the ponds are kaempferi ensata iris?

That is mostly Lepisorus, most likely L. thunbergii, but in a few shots you can see Pyrrosia linearifolia, much rarer fern. There also is tons of Lemmaphyllum microphyllum on the property (very common), as well as Pyrrosia lingua. Two orchids can be see as well - a Cymbidium (sinense, I think, and you see it in the vid), and Taeniophyllum aphyllum, a tiny leafless species. The iris are indeed I. enstata - they bloom in June.

Wonderful image and very informative as usual! Thank you. I learn new things about Japanese culture (in addition to plants) when I watch your video! I've been to Dazaifu quite a few times (as you mentioned, for the wishes to pass entrance exams as a school trip etc.). Quite a few forgotten memory came back to me! Some sweet and some sour (just like umeboshi).

It is funny to teach Japanese people about their culture. This was the very short version, you could go very deep indeed. Every element of a shrine or temple has significance, and a lot is rather obscure. What is even more interesting is how the native religion and Buddhism have become mixed to the point where it is hard to look at them separately anymore. Generally speaking Shrines are Shinto based, but Buddhist ideas and imagery is everywhere at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

 

[SlipperFan]

Wow -- gorgeous.

 

[naoki]

It is funny to teach Japanese people about their culture. This was the very short version, you could go very deep indeed. Every element of a shrine or temple has significance, and a lot is rather obscure. What is even more interesting is how the native religion and Buddhism have become mixed to the point where it is hard to look at them separately anymore. Generally speaking Shrines are Shinto based, but Buddhist ideas and imagery is everywhere at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

I guess that if you are in it, you can't see it (movie, Matrix-like)! You are right about Dazaifu. After I went home, I remembered about the song, Tobiume, by Masashi Sada. So I was listening to it. The song starts with the 3 bridges you mentioned in the video. After googling around about this song, I understood what you said here. The 3 bridge things (past, current, and future) is the concept derived from Buddhism. There are lots of religious fusion in Japan, and it is a good thing in my opinion. I might get into trouble by saying this, but some people don't realize that religion can be considered as a tool, and if it doesn't fit well, it can be modified to serve the better purpose.

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

I might get into trouble by saying this, but some people don't realize that religion can be considered as a tool, and if it doesn't fit well, it can be modified to serve the better purpose.

To quote Homer Simpson after eating an old pancake that was stuck to the kitchen ceiling, "Sacralicious!" :rollhappy: