Tag Archives: flower

Flower Journal 2025

Art, Diary, Journal, , , ,

This is a progressive port. I will be adding new photos as the year unfolds.
Flowers are photographed in my neighborhood in Pacific Central-North, Japan.

Very small pink flowers resting on a person's fingers.
22Sep25: Mizuhiki/ Persicaria filiformisPhotographed September 21 at 16:54, published 22nd at 02:20.

Fallen Cotton Rose flowers.
13Sep25: Fuyou/ Cotton Rose/ Hibiscus mutabilisSummer fading out but not these pretties. Bloom for one day then the whole bud falls as seen in the picture. Fibers of this plant have been used for weaving in some parts of Japan. Photographed September 11 at 11:52, edited on 13th, published also 13th at 12:28.

Petals of white lily blossom.
15Aug25: Takasago Yuri / Lilium formosanumJust started to bloom, the name of the bella is approximated to best of my ability. 80 years on since the end of WWII. The white lily of late summer is my little tribute to our Collective Un/Conscious. Photographed August 12 at 15:58, published August 15 at 12 noon.

Purple-striped six petaled flower of summer.
14Aug25: Giboushi /HostaMedicinal and edible. I may try soon, in such case will report. Photographed today at 11:23, published at 20.23.

White flowers in bloom.
03Aug25: Rucola /Eruca vesicariaEarlier this year I planted a scrap (root) to see what happens. Photographed May 01 at 10:33, published on August 03 at 21:12.

Pink daisies with yellow center in full bloom.
01Aug25: Haru jion /Erigeron philadelphicusPhotographed April 26 at 14:06, published on August 01 at 20:10.

A pink blossom and green grass.
29Jul25: Yu Gesyou/ Oenothera rosea/ Pink Evening PrimroseColors of the blossom are a bit exaggerated. Photographed June 5 at 17:49, edited and published on July 29 at 19:37.

Blooming Pink flowers in detail.
28Jul25: Imo Katabami/ Oxalis articulata…and I sing, “You Are So Beautiful to me~~~”. Photographed June 7 at 14:36, edited and published on July 28 at 19:00.

An Asiatic Dayflower bud in detail.
12Jul25: Tsuyu Kusa /Asiatic Dayflower /Commelina communisMedicinal. Blooms for one day in the morn. A tiny blue flower enveloped inside the green shell; in the photo withering petals peeking out. Its variant (Ao Bana/blue flower) used as ink for fabric dyeing – perfect for tracing designs as the color fades in time. Posted first version on 04Jul25, the above is the revised ver.2, photographed 11Jul25 at 15:40, published on 12th at 22:06.

A Gardenia Bud in detail.
03Jul25: GardeniaQueen of the scented returned about a week ago, full on blossoming as of today. Do you talk to plants? Because, well, I do. In fact I was just telling her, “I wish I smell like you do.” Photographed today at 14:48, published 19:50.

White triangle-shaped flowers.
14Jun25: Tradescantia fluminensis/ Tokiwa Tsuyukusa/ River SpiderwartConsidered officially “invasive” here in Japan, that is according to the internet. I, personally, don’t think have ever seen the plant until the day I snapped this photo, which can mean a number of things. Photographed 27May25 at 14:34, edited at night of 12Jun25, published 14Jun25 at 20:28. By the way, recent inactivity here has been due to issues with the computer, which is currently resolving.

Dandelion seeds caught on a plant stem.
29Apr25: Dandelion SeedsPhotographed on 26Apr25 at 14:38, published 19:00.

Spanish Bluebell flowers in full bloom.
27Apr25: Spanish Bluebell/ Tsurigane Suisen/ Hyacinthoides hispanicaFull force blooming lately. They are scented, faint and delicate. Photographed on 26Apr25 at 15:04, published 27th at 21:33.

A purple aster buds in close detail.
24Apr25: Miyako Wasure/ Aster savatieriPhotographed 10:17, published 21:06.”Crack of Dawn” edit.

Forget Me Nots, a flower and buds.
22Apr25: Forget Me Nots/ Wasure Nagusa /Myosotis scorpioidesPhotographed 16:21, published 21:51.

Bluebell blossom buds.
20Apr25: Spanish Bluebell/ Tsurigane Suisen/ Hyacinthoides hispanicaAs seen this afternoon at 15:52, published 21:04.

Geometric pattern of an Iris flower.
15Apr25: IrisMost probably the variety called Dutch Iris /Iris tingitana, started blooming since yesterday in my garden. The red dot, in case it bothers you, is a Camelia petal on the ground. Photo taken 10:55 published 21:25.

A white, five-petaled blossom.
14Apr25: Kaji Ichigo /Rubus trifidusAccording to the internet, the plant belongs to the family of Blackberries/Raspberries. In a month or two, there will be edible berries, which I may sample. Photo taken 17:53 published 21:02.

Calla lily bud and leaves.
09Apr25: Calla LilyOne of the first few buds spotted in the garden today. Photo taken 15:31 published 20:25

Muscari flowers in close detail.
07Apr25: MuscariPhoto taken 15:29 published 20:24.

Bell-shaped small flowers.
06Apr25: Asebi/ Pieris japonicaJapanese native, evergreen and poisonous. According to Wiki, farmers used the infused solution as insecticide back when we did things ourselves. Currently blooming, feels dry and surprisingly light to the touch, that is according to myself. Photo taken 05Apr25 at 15:45, published 06Apr at 21:22.

Cherry blossom buds in close detail.
06Apr25: Cherry Blossom BudsCurrently half bloomed. Photo taken 16:11 published 19:32.

Purple flower buds with rain drops.
30Mar25: Hana Nira /Ipheion uniflorum /Spring Star Internet: “Leaves scented like chives but, NOT edible, can get you siiiick”. Photo taken 16:20 published 20:41

A camellia flower bud in detail.
24Mar25: CamelliaA study in details. Photo taken 14:51 published 18:32.

Close view of purple hyacinth blossom.
23Mar25: HyacinthStart of the scented blossom season, also the hazy-pretty sunset season. Photographed 16:02 and published 19:15.

Close detail of Ume flower buds.
19Feb25: Prunus Mume / UmeWelcoming back the Ume buds. Cute as buttons, tough like diamonds. Seen them bloom like they don’t even notice snow/ice piling up on them little blossoms. Photo taken on 16Feb25 at sundown.Published on 19Feb25 at 16:08

A small blue flower blooming in dry grasses.
17Feb25: Veronica Persica / StarryEyesOne of the first signs of spring. The belle in question here, probably is blue because someone decided to name her “O Inu No Fuguri” meaning, large dog’s testicles, successfully insulting both the plant and the entire population of good boys. “Starry Eyes” – Hoshi no Hitomi – eyes like stars – is said to be one of the alternate names, somehow way less commonly known.Photographed in late afternoon, 16Feb2025, published on 17Feb25 at 16:35.
Additional note on 18Feb25l I realized I talked about this last year(‘s Flower Journal) as well, well folks I am that baffled, please pardon me for repeating myself publicly.

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Photo A Day, November 2023

Art, Diary, Journal, photo a day, , , , , , , , , ,

This is an experiment with “progressive” style posting: relying completely-clumsily on my hunch and letting the story unfold.
Photos are taken / edited / mostly posted on the day.
Photo title-caption is in image URL / embeds.
You are invited to tag along (and let Your story unfold), also to leave comments.

A bird nest on a bed of yellow ginkgo leaves.
Moon rise over sea horizon captured in bold geometry,
Clouds, sun ray shone through with two gulls in flight.
Surface of a forming wave at dusk.
Ginkgo leaves, a holly blossom, a shell and a sea-worn roof tile,
Ginko leaves in the sun and wind.
A kite eagle in part cloudy blue sky.
Abstract line drawing of a flower petal in detail.
Sea shells, a salt-worn leaf on sand ripples in mid day sun.
Daisy lit up by the mid day sun light.
A white feather, a white shell arranged with a smart phone out of service.
Blue sky, ginkgo leaves and a white cloud.
A pair of worn tennis shoes, a red leaf, a mug cup on beach sand.
Abstract traces of city lights in monochrome.
A mug cup, a fine branch, a person's foot on beach sand.
Preparing a holiday wreath with an origami rabbit and a crane.
A dragon fly perched on a person's hand.
Sea-worn shells, rocks, leaves and a pair of worn-out paint brushes.
Abstract art work lit with filtered lighting in studio.
A dog toy tennis ball and a rusted mini shovel on a large rock.
Japanese Aster blossoms.
Ocean wave with sunlight reflections.
Silver grasses and golden rod blossoms in afternoon sun light.
An artwork in detail with a white sea shell.
A driftwood at a sea shore.
Journal books, a sea shell, a cell phone.
Sea surface with sunlight reflections.
A white lily in bloom.
2 birds soaring in blue sky.
A small canvas purse and a broken sea shell on a chair-shaped driftwood on the beach.

Afterword

As noted in the beginning of this post, I spent my month of November 2023 posting one photo a day. While searching for the image I focused only on what feels right within. To the sea or make a tea; each step of the way I consciously consulted with my innermost self.

Inspiration is a whisper and my thoughts oft in doubting of it. The pressure to “get a shot” daily was an exciting challenge I gave myself, also was laced with creative tension.

Throughout the month Creativity wove a continuous tale mostly of personal significance. Images ‘coincided’ over and again in ways I could no way have coordinated*. The tale unfolded guided me to the greater degree of trust in Benevolent Unseen.

Collaborating with The Creativity Itself has been my greatest ambition since long. Spent decades up to this date, clearing from within myself what counters my such aim, I’d like to think now the battle is over in most part. I noticed however, during the month’s experiment the fear, a certain kind of nervousness, was still present. It’s an impulse to hesitate, to recoil from the Dynamic Creative Current, although no longer a paralyzing dread**.

But that is alright, for I’ve come to suspect, it is the tension, in longing for and fearing of Creativity I find what compels me to dare, to make my minuscule version of The Ultimate Beauty.

*I decided against giving examples, for too often what’s awe-striking in this manner is so very personal, and detailing it becomes like explaining a joke. Instead, I will let you, the visiter, experience something if it’s there for you.
**When I talk about “creative block”, basically this is what I am talking about.

History:
Published on 03Nov23 at 09:11
Turned private on 03Nov23 at 13:25
Gone public / published again on 10Nov23
Added “Afterword” on 05Dec23 at 21:27

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Ume Sentiment

Art, Journal, Process, , , , , , , ,

Ume = Japanese Apricot / Plum. Pictured in photo #1 and #3.

Image of sea shore at sunset layered over Japanese apricot blossoms and hand writing.

“Demure, delicate, their fragrance so faint, their buds mature during the coldest time of the year, petals push open against late winter chill.
Soft yet Strong, they flower to signal the end of the Winter, and quietly retreat as Spring triumphs and flourishes in magnificent varieties of shapes and shades.”

Abstract line drawing of a lily petal layered over hand written letters.
Image of sunset sea horizon layered over Japanese apricot blossoms and hand written letters.

The middle photo is a casual iPhone snap of the piece “Spider Lily Red – Flare 2” I’ve been working on, taken on February 28, 2023 at 16:29. Turned it into monochrome and part soft/off-focused to simulate a hand-held blur using Lightroom phone app, then applied vsco A5 filter, then, taken into Photoshop on computer and layered with a ocean/gull pic and the scribbles I’ve been using for sometime. In short, over processed some. It’s an experiment.

What I think is so wonderful about subtlety is that, it brings out a hunter, a seeker in a person, the opposite of things that explain themselves so loud they put you in a position of a mere consumer. If creativity is about connecting dots in new ways, it then naturally asks you to be the initiator.
Initiate, but not overbear. Intend, yet keep it open-ended. Candid, without making it all about me. I think about all this while remembering the fortunate times when I found myself encased in an elegantly subtle Ume scent cloud*.

Decorative text in the middle:
I have audacity to quote (in fancy font!) my own post from May 2021 called “Subtle. Sincere.”.

References:
Link to all the posts about the project “Spider Lily Red” since 2012.Or,
its creative process in one post: “Process Is The Destination!!”.

*Ume scent travels on breeze, like a cloud, you’d be hit with it even when you are away from the actual Ume tree(s).

Published on March 11, 2023 at 22:06 JST.
Edits:
Added the “*” (no that’s not a face) on March 12, 2023 at 16:13 JST.

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Abstract drawing of a spider lily petal.
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Untitled.

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2022: a year in review.

A gardenia blossom with dew drops.
Rain drops bouncing on sea surface.
A Harujion daisy blossom petals in macro capture.
Room decoration with found objects.

“He put his hand in the air and waved at Preston across the dark expanse. It was a crazy kind of wave – done with the whole arm, his hand swinging at the end of it, full of childish exuberance. And as he watched, Preston raised his own arm and waved back.”

Sea shells, sakura blossoms and sea-worn rocks.
Artist's Studio with Spider Lily Bouquet.

Last December. We had 19 more days left in the year. Short walk to the beach I watched a leaf circling in breeze drawing an endless geometric pattern.

“Leaves generate Energy that way.” Suddenly I was not alone. And everything, surrounded, came alive with wings of its own.

The leaf, the movement, the way I felt that day. Stayed with me the whole year. On my mind. In my heart.

A dress with dyed abstract petal by the shore under the moon.
Abstract Line Drawing of a Spider Lily Petal.
A Swan on river In Movement.
Photo of Ume blossoms layered over sea horizon at sunset.

Images above best represent my 2022, photographed mostly this year, a few in recent years, except for one, forth from top back in 2005.
The hand-written letters in the pic are typed out just beneath, from Kem Nunn “Tapping The Source” (1984, p.77, No Exit Press).

Just how, a snapshot of my then apartment from 17yrs ago, and an unforgettable paragraph from a book a friend shoved in my hand saying, “you read this.” in as early as 1984, like pieces of the puzzle finding their places in the picture of my life, years later.

Sixth and eighth, of a piece Spider Lily Red – Flare 2, in process, as of September 2022. Flare 1 is completed.

I took a grande break from posting Journals for a year to focus on other things. (Except for these ones: link to UPDATES page)

Wishing you Very Happy Holidays…

Compiled: December 12-19, 2022.

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Dry branches and moon.
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Because It Rained.

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A year in review.

Gardenia Blossom details with a dew drop.

Everything that stood between us

Turned into a Pearl.

Gardenia Young Bud geometry.
Geometrical Gardenia Blossom in rain.

The plant wasn’t doing too well the previous few years. It was down to only one flower in 2020. Gardenia. The tree my height managed to produce one perfect blossom that year.

A year before that, May 2019, I suddenly noticed the power meter looking rather different. Turned out, the power company, TEPCO of Fukushima Plant fame, walked into and across the property I live on, all the way to the other side of the gate and replaced the meter to its ‘smart’ equivalent without ever telling anyone about it. That was in May 2017. No notice, before nor after the switch. The Gardenia plant, situated right next to it, had no choice but to be in the way of, according to TEPCO, “low grade” therefore ”safe” radio transmission every 30 minutes throughout the day since, for two full years until in May ’19 I brought them back in to have them remove the radio part to un-smart the meter.

Every time I thought of that one 2020 blossom, my heart sunk deeper than the bed of Mariana trench. The plant was already under LED street light, which I voted against on basis that, if our phones have “night shift” mode turned on at 10pm default why plants do not deserve the same consideration. My such solitary quest only resulted in forced nightly LED blue beam with a “nut” diagnose on my name assigned by some self-appointed psychiatrists, which I somehow felt deserving of it.

How much beating a plant can take before it loses its chi to bloom but one single belle?
Although there is no way for me to be certain what the causes of its unthriving were, the timeline of the events I felt was rather peculiar and I discovered, there is a special kind of heartache associated with a situation as this one, the ache I didn’t know how to soothe.

Someone else had an idea however.

One day in mid June, 2021, I noticed a bud on a branch of my dear Gardenia. Cream, sculpted, ready to flower. Looked closely I found plenty more green buds on standby, 30 plus then I lost count, full of chi, full of Life.

How overjoyed I was revealed to me how badly I felt for a whole year. About the kind of environmental hazard we had become steamrollering the ones that cannot relocate nor object. The ones that create the oxygen we breathe.

The plant flourished exuberantly this summer. Perfect flowers unfolded one by one like the world’s most elegant fireworks. It was the best year of blossoming since I’ve known the plant, the most abundant, fragrant, spirited.
As if untouched, dear Gardenia sprung back and quietly asserted its Resilience. The tree my height produced easily 100+ flowers this year, their organically interactive, scented like a dream, stirring, sincere perfection sang its song throughout the flowering season and I was there, a teary audience, taking every bit in with all my senses.

Two Gardenia Blossoms in rain.
Dried Gardenia Blossom details.

Quote in decorative letters is from my 2014 poem “Spring Song”.
The photos of the plant, I named her Bella Resiliente, do not do justice to the Aliveness the Bella radiated during this year’s flowering season. She was “lit up” with Life.

Unscientific claim? Perhaps. As little as I know tho, what science can cover is only a small portion of the Whole.

A few “scientific” articles I checked for this post suggested plants are more than alright with LED.
This uneducated nobody thinks the claim is of a narrow scope.
Force tweak one part and something else gets off balanced, may not be right away, may not be what you’re looking at, but the Whole is bigger, more intricate, than us mortals could comprehend.
Lighting up the streets (and the sea, as large fishing boats sailing out at night geared up with those that I had mistaken them more than once for apocalypse) with tons of beaming blue lights we humans are recommended not to gaze at before bedtime, is akin to robbing the natural environment of the night, and the ways to sense the shifting cycle of the moon.
I don’t think we have the right, or the enough wisdom, to do so.

Regarding the claim that possibly, smart meters affecting plants are easy to find online. Example search words: Wireless Smart Meter Kills Plant.

My wish for the coming years is that somehow, someway, we bring our “heart” back to our operation here on Earth, for that is the portal to Creative Flow that leads us to the Wisdom of the Whole, and the Never Ceasing Resiliency we can draw the true strength from.
Until then I will not lose hope, that, like the poppies in California desert after rain, we will find a way to Super Bloom into our fullest potential, both collectively, and individually.

Edits:
February 02, 2022 – simplified to “apocalypse”.
January 01, 2022 – added “the poppies” – hard to gauge how much to say.

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Gardenia blossom with a sea surface image layered.
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Stir.

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“Do you notice how people hurt each other nowadays?”

abstract artwork with a lily and a shell.

how
the river knows

It was meant for me.

A lily bouquet with a tea cup and tanned toes.
A lily bouquet in an artist studio.
Close view of a spider lily petal on a sea shell.
Abstract line drawing of a spider lily petal.

Monkey wrenches flying across a rocky slope substitute made of stained concrete while all I’m saying is:

let’s get out of the zoo.

A wild spider lily blossom lit by sunset.
Spider lily blossoms, tanned toes and a sea shell.

“Who say everything’s been said.”

Text at the top in “”:
Ray Bradbury “Fahrenheit 451”
Haiku in decorative italic:
Series “messing with other people’s poems”. Deconstructed this time, Nick Drake “River Man”.
Text at the bottom in “”:
Nick Drake “Things behind the sun”

Drawing / painting are by me, the cup, the spoon, the rug, hat, vase and the gadget are store-bought, all the magnificent rest (including my toes) by The Ultimate Artist.
Yes my toes are magnificent, so are yours. Own it.
The second from top photo taken with a vintage iPhone 3GS, no edits.
The rest of the pictures are minimally edited to match the look of the above-mentioned.

The artwork in photos are all part of a two-piece series called “Spider Lily Red – Flare” I have been working on since autumn of 2012.
Took time to develop the style, as I aimed at doing something I haven’t seen anyone do before, that is authentically my own. 9 years on I no longer know what I am doing, I hear that is actually a very good sign that you/r art is getting somewhere.

References:
Making of the series in one post: “Process is the destination” (2019)
The whole process for “Spider Lily Red” since 2012 in descending order.
Spider Lily Red – Flare 1, completed 2017, with “artist statement”.

Last Edited:
October 03, 2021 – corrected minor grammatical errors.

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Subtle. Sincere.

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Magnolia Blossom, detail.
Abstract line drawing of a lily petal.

deceit
disguise
concealed tales
many sordid years

fly
far from your talons
this day
time to return

Abstract line drawing of a lily petal.
Magnolia Blossoms in full bloom.

The season of scented blossoms begins with Ume (Japanese Apricot) in late January.
Demure, delicate, their fragrance so faint, their buds mature during the coldest time of the year, petals push open against late winter chill.
Soft yet Strong, they flower to signal the end of the Winter, and quietly retreat as Spring triumphs and flourishes in magnificent varieties of shapes and shades.

Photos from top:
– Magnolia Kobus, close view. March 18, 2021, at 15:24.
– In praise of my favorite blossoms and the World they reside in – Spider Lily Red-Flare 2, acid dye on silk, as of May 11, 2021, 15:56. (Flare 1 is completed.)
– Same as above, at 15:55. In painting process since May 05, 2019, gradually coming together.
– Magnolia Blossoms in real nice morning light, full bloom. March 27, 2021, at 4:26.

Text in the middle:
Messing with other people’s poems again – Portishead “Cowboys”, deconstructed / restructured.

Last Edited: May 13, 2021.

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True North

Art, Current, Journal, Process, , , , , ,


Red Spider Lily blossoms, sea shells and paint brushes.
Art studio with a spider lily bouquet.

I was a child

of the sounding sea

love, that was stronger by far

in a kingdom by the sea

wind, blew out of the night
envying of the angels
never dissever my soul from
a love that was more than love

the moon beams, the stars rise
all the night-tide, the sounding sea –
bringing me dreams
of love, that was stronger than they.

Red spider lilies in a ray of light.

Pictures: Red spider lilies – how my muse looked this autumn. “We returned to vivify you.”
Work in progress: “Spider Lily Red – Flare 2”. Referential links to: Flare 1, Making of the Flare 1 in one post, and all the posts documenting the process since 2012.
Text: Poe “Annabel Lee” deconstructed/restructured.

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A Japanese Fishing Cormorant.
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