June Scenery (Osaka Dialect Version)

Ariel-san started this project based on an article I wrote last month where I introduced the local plants and trees using my dialect.

So many people have participated, and it really made me realize once again just how wonderful the dialects from all over Japan are!

There are so many different expressions depending on the place, and it made me realize that even though Japan has a small land area, it feels like a collection of diverse peoples, and I was struck by how vast the country is in a deeper sense.

Ariel-san's project has come to a temporary close, but
I don't want to end it here, so I would like to occasionally write articles reporting on my recent status in my own dialect, Osaka-ben, on an irregular basis.

To Ariel-san,
Thank you for the great project. You did a great job.

Thoughts on Hydrangeas

Just the other day I was saying, 'The cherry blossoms are in full bloom!' or 'Look at the fresh green leaves!',
but before I knew it, June had arrived in the blink of an eye, and hydrangeas were blooming without me even noticing.

The seasons have moved on again, creating a different landscape.

Hydrangeas have gorgeous and magnificent flowers, but their leaves are also incredibly impressive!
Don't you think they look so lively and crisp, with each leaf making its own statement, to the point where you wonder if they're artificial?

Everything about them seems so full of energy.

That energetic feeling makes me feel like they're giving me the strength to get through the upcoming rainy season and the harsh summer.

The Original Species of Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are generally known for their 'temari' (ball-shaped) blooms, but apparently, the 'lacecap hydrangea' is the original species that grew wild in Japan.

That's right. The round ones are gorgeous and nice, but the lacecap hydrangea, which only blooms around the edges, has a simple, rustic charm, doesn't it?

Wait, no.
The parts that look like flowers are actually 'sepals,' and the small things in the middle are the real flowers.

Hydrangeas grow wild on their own, but since their shape and color change depending on the components and properties of the soil, they are prone to producing variants, and they have been actively improved through selective breeding since long ago.

Since hydrangeas have been appearing in literature since around the Nara period, it means they have been in Japan and loved for at least 1,200 years.

They have evolved to suit the Japanese climate since such a long time ago, and have been delighting us.

That means, then,
hydrangeas must also have an unbroken lineage passed down through generations.

They are depicted in paintings and waka poetry, and are a flower that feels like a symbol of Japanese culture,
and they are an important Japanese flower that tells us early summer has arrived.

Hydrangeas do not take up water well.

I've failed a few times myself, but don't hydrangeas wilt right away when you arrange them?

Usually, as soon as I cut them for a vase, they wilt, and I've been disappointed many times.

They're the kind that really need to absorb a lot of water.

Hydrangeas are a type of deciduous shrub, so the stems that were initially a beautiful green become woody and hard.

When that happens, you have to carefully peel away the woody part with a cutter before arranging them.

Tips for arranging hydrangeas
・Make a cross-shaped cut vertically at the end of the stem
・Arrange them in deep water
・Trim the stems frequently

In short, you have to make sure they can always absorb plenty of water from the stem.

Well, even then there were times I failed, but I don't know why.
So, I'll give up on arranging hydrangeas and focus on enjoying them growing in the wild.

Anyway, even if I decorated the house with them, it's just men here, and nobody would even notice, so it would be a waste and the hydrangeas would feel sorry for themselves, right?

June Scenery

While I was at it, I took a walk around the garden and saw that the white flowers of the 'nanten' (nandina) are just about to be in full bloom.

It's amazing how these white flowers turn into bright red berries after they fall, isn't it?
This one is a pure Japanese native, too.

They say it has a warding-off-evil effect, you know, like how it's used in flower arrangements for the auspicious New Year season.
Back in the Edo period, people believed it could also prevent fires, so many houses planted them right by their front doors.

Look, everything else is growing so vigorously, flowers and leaves alike!
Plants get exhausted in the middle of summer just like people do, so they need to store up plenty of nutrients from the |sun| and the soil now, or they won't make it through the summer.

Do your best!

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[References]
・LOVEGREEN 　・Hydrangea Information Center