Let's wake up early and meet the morning flower

I know most of my readers knows me by now that I am in love with flowers. I remembered when I was young, I couldn't resist not picking flower whenever I see one. I would one flower to put behind one of my ears and another one for the other ear. When the flowers wilted, I will pick another one. Yes, that action, sometimes got me into trouble. Well, that was all good memories for me ^^ Not so much to those I caused the distress to...  m(_ _)m

So, talking about flowers, I am off to another special exhibition of morning glory plants in the Hibiya Park organized by the Tokyo Morning Glory Research Association. The association has 40 years history in researching, propagating and creating new morning glory hybrids and at the same time, preserving the mutated seed of morning glories. This is their 64th exhibition - yea!

When you reach Hibiya Park, you will see this poster (I forgot about taking a photo of this year's poster so I used my last year's photo).

Similar exhibition can also be seen at the Yasukuni Jinja but this one is better! I will tell you why, but first, a bit on the history of the cultivation of morning glory plants in Japan (I found new information and wanted to share it although it may be boring stuff to you - sumimasen).

The cultivation started in the late Edo period when these cultivators experimented on the natural mutation of the morning glory seed and found new ways to create new types of leaves and flowers in the morning glory plants. And after that, the morning glory plant experienced a boost in its popularity well into the Meiji-Taisho period until after that, the morning glory plant of natural mutation gave way to the cultivated hybrids of large-blossomed morning glory plant. Due to the loss of interest, much knowledge of these plants been lost. 

However, due to the efforts of a small group of enthusiastic cultivators, some of the earlier naturally mutated plants managed to survive. From them, we now know how the cultivators back in those days grew the naturally mutated hybrids of the morning glory plant. Now, these techniques and the cultivation using a selected mutation of morning glory are maintained with an adaptation of a more advanced method of cultivation and the knowledge of our present-day genetics. 

Thanks to the efforts of these small growers, today, we can see these naturally mutated hybrids and the large-blossomed morning glories here in this annual exhibition at the Hibiya Park. This is why this exhibition is better than the one in Yasukuni Shrine. 

Poor morning glory out in the sun

Among the differences you will notice between the two kinds of Japanese morning glories, is the size and colour in the blooms. The latter cultivation of the Japanese morning glory plants has resulted in bigger blooms with a variety of colours. The blooms of a Japanese morning glory span between 15sm wide, but some can have larger blooms than others and some have frilly blooms. 

The blooms have also cool physic-referenced names such as "speckled" (blooms with dots on them), "rayed" (blooms with a line of white trim on the edges of a bloom) and "blizzard" (blooms with two swirling colours). The colour of the morning glories ranges from the muddy rose colour to the dark blue colour. 

Where else, the blooms of the naturally mutated hybrids are usually small, and some plants don't even look like anything close to a morning glory plant. Some plants are so unique that you swear you have never seen a morning glory before until these.

Yes, this is a morning glory

This one too

I think this one is called falling star

These all looked like ikebana to me

After the blooms, the next difference you may notice is their distinctive foliage. The cultivation of the leaves of the Japanese morning glory plants has resulted in various leaf forms. One of the more popular leaf forms in both kinds is called the "tonbo-ba" (トンボ葉) and it is supposedly resembled a dragonfly spreading its wings (Sorry, I didn't get any photos for the "tonbo-ba"). A dragonfly is called "tonbo" in Japanese. 

There are also other leaf forms in the naturally mutated kind too, such as the Maple leaf, the willow leaf (Yanagi-ba), the Bamboo leaf and these are just some leaf forms that I learned from the cultivators. The leaves also come in coloured variegated types too, usually a green variegated leaf (Ao-Fuiri-ba) or a yellow variegated leaf (Ki-Fuiri-ba).

The green variegated leaves kind

The yellow variegated leaves morning glory

Well, you can see both kinds of the morning glories at this exhibition. It will be on display in the area near the tennis court.

This exhibition is not only to display new hybrid of morning glories, it is also a competition for its association members to show off their prize-winning plant. You can meet with the morning glory creator, talk to them, learn about the morning glory plant and even buy the plant from them.

The exhibition starts from 8am till 11am from now until 3rd Aug 2014.

Access: Hibiya Station accessible by the Metro Chiyoda line, Metro Hibiya line or Toei Mita lines. The nearest exits are Exit A10 or Exit A14.

I think this exhibition is a good opportunity for me to wake up early. How about you?

Riddle of Tokyo's Sunflower Maze

When I was a kid, I love to play with word puzzles, picture puzzles and maze games. I have this boy-friend (he is a boy and he is my good friend) used to do our own puzzle games for each other. But unfortunately, he was being teased terribly at school by other boys for hanging out with a girl and her friends. Kids can be so mean at times. But we didn't care because we shared something in common, solving puzzles and creating maze games.

Because I had a good time with my friend, I grew up fascinated about being in an actual maze. Whenever I read the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, I feel like I can transport myself in the maze, feeling the excitement and as well as the fear of being in a maze. So, it has been a long-time dream for me to go and visit one. Some of the famous maze gardens I want to visit are the hedge maze of Hampton Court (I miss my chance of visiting this one and I am still regretting it years after, sob!), the yew tree maze of Longleat, and the one I really, really want to go to is the maze at Reignac-sur-Indre in France. Hopefully, all of them before I am too old and creaky.

So, when I heard that there is a sunflower field maze in Nishi-Tokyo, I knew I had to go and take a look. Since it is not open during the weekend and Monday (too?), I had to go on a weekday which is not a bad thing because it will definitely have lesser people.

It was a very hot afternoon and I nearly didn't make it to the door to go out and see this maze. But once you reach the sunflower field, you forgot about how hot day is.

The sunflower maze was created on 1,000sqm land. They planted a total of 3,000 sunflowers in this plot of land to create this maze. The creation of the sunflower maze is an idea of the Institute for Sustainable Agro-ecosystem Services, an institute affiliated with the University of Tokyo. They created it for their 'Sunflower Project DE OIL 2014', a project that focuses on learning about food and sustainable farming practices.

The staffs are really friendly. They quickly approach me when they saw me coming and encourage me to try out their maze. They also handed me their little maze map so that in case, you are lost, you can draw your way out. 

The sunflower towers around 2 meters and while in the maze, you could see just enough through the sunflowers to other areas of the maze and perhaps to make out silhouettes of other people who are there at the same time, but not entirely. It is also easy to find yourself hopelessly lost in that sunflower maze, although it wasn't that big of a maze.

Back to the sunflower maze, so, the maze itself is not very big, but once you are inside, it definitely feels far bigger. Like I-have-shrunk-to-an-ant-size magic. I feel that this maze has just that enough level of fun and confusion, especially for a first-timer! It was awesome. It is easy to get lost, but you can also easily find your way back on the interconnecting paths.

These girls went for several rounds in the sunflower maze.
I am sure they already know their way around with their eyes closed.

Okay, which way to go - left or right?

I am almost there! But that wasn't the way.

Finally, found it!

I was told that the maze route changes every year, so you can return year after year to try out their different maze route creation. I also heard that last year's maze route was harder than this year's. But still, I had good fun! The sunflower maze didn't disappoint me at all.

I definitely encourage you to go there with a friend and try it out yourself. I can assure you that you will enjoy getting lost in the sunflower maze. And don't forget your sunscreen and hat. And always drink enough liquid.

Well, if you are lost, you will still be in the company of the sunny sunflowers!

How to get there

There are two ways to get to the main gate of the Institute.

The easiest way is an 8-mins walk from the North exit (北口) of Tanashi station 田無駅) on the Seibu Shinjuku Line (西武新宿線). See map below.

The other way is to take a bus from the South exit (南口) of Hibarigaoka station (ひばりヶ丘駅) on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (西武池袋線).

Go to the bus stop of the South exit (南口バス停, Minami-guchi Basu-tei) and look for bus boarding stop No.2 「2番のりば」. Look out for the Seibu Bus (西武バス).

From bus boarding stop No.2  (2番のりば, Ni-Ban Noriba), take the bus Kyo No. 04（境04) which goes to Danchi Musashi Sakai-eki Yuki (団地経由武蔵境駅行) or Ta No.43 (田43) which is going to Danchi Keiyu Tanashi-eki Yuki (団地経由田無駅行). The journey on the bus should be roughly around 15mins. Get off at the Kami-Juku Jyutaku (上宿住宅) bus stop and walk 3mins.

Address and website

Institute for Sustainable Agro-ecosystem Services

1 Chome-1-1 Midorichō, Nishitōkyō-shi, Tōkyō-to 〒188-0003, Japan

〒188-0002　東京都西東京市緑町一丁目1番1号

http://www.isas.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/detail/index.php?id=116

Best visit between: 13th - 29th Aug

Opening hours: 09:30hrs to 16:00hrs (last entrance is at 15:50hrs)

Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (and also on rainy days or a thunderstorm or typhoon)

The admission is free.

Tanashi station (north exit)

Just walk straight for 550m!

Blue, blue sky...

Further up, there's a traffic light stop, just cross and walk straight ahead

You can see the sunflower maze from the opposite side of the street

A close-up

After this little sunflower maze, I am even more determined to make it to the other mazes that I have been dreaming about. Will you go and experience this amazing maze of the sunflower?

My favourite photo

Summer Cherry Blossom in Kamakura

Last week, I took a trip to Kamakura as it has been a while for me to visit Kamakura. I remember the first time I visited Kamakura, the town feels old and venerable. Kamakura has always been a tourist town, but it manages to feel otherwise.

Over the years, Kamakura has changed a lot. Although, I appreciate the changes that have been done in this city (it has definitely made the town look more interesting and beautiful), but I am not sure if I enjoy the experience of being in Kamakura anymore. It seems to me that more people are flocking to this city, making the streets crowded, not to mention, turning this place into an even more tourist town than before. 

Anyway, I am back to Kamakura to view a special flower which I like to call, the summer cherry blossom. They are not actually the famous Japanese cherry blossom, but every summer, this plant will produce brilliant clusters of red, purple, pink, lavender and white, wrinkly and crinkly-edged flowers. These flowers seem to fill the trees till it reaches an overflowing point. This plant I am talking about is known as a crepe myrtle plant. The plant produces crinkled, crepe-like textured  flowers, and perhaps, that's how it gets its name. 

In Japanese, these flowers are known as sarusuberi (サルスベリ). Almost sounded like strawberry if you are not listening properly. Maybe I should have called them strawberry flower instead because its deep pink colour.

It loves the sun (just like the sunflower) and that's why it flowers in summer. When these flowers bloom, they put up quite a show. Like puffs of heavy clouds, they cluster together in vibrant colours of deep pink, bright red, purple, white and light pink.  

The name given for these flowers by the cultivators also reflected their fatal attraction to them. These flowers have mind-blowing names such as 'Dynamite' for the red-coloured, 'Pink Velour' for the deep pink and 'Twilight' for the purple-coloured flowers. 

The flower is not the only thing that is interesting about this plant. Its bark is quite attractive, marked with blotches of various colours. As the older layers peel off in the early summer, it reveals colours from pale cream to dark cinnamon. It has an interesting whip-like branches that makes it look old and wise. And its leaf turns colours too from red in the spring, dark green foliage in the summer and a remarkable burgundy colour in fall. Its vase-shaped canopy provides shade like a banyan tree. Both are my perfect choice of shade for the summer.

The best places in Kamakura to view crepe myrtle flowers are Gokurakuji temple (極楽寺), Hongakuji temple (本覚寺) and the Hasedera temple (長谷寺).

How to get there

If you arrived at JR Kamakura station (JR鎌倉駅, JR Kamakura-eki), then, Hongakuji temple should be your first stop. The Hongakuji temple is about 5mins walk from the JR Kamakura station. The admission is free.

After that, you can make your way to the Hasedera temple to view more crepe myrtle flower. The walk from Hase station (長谷駅, Hase-eki) on the Enoden Line (江ノ電) is about 10 minutes or if you choose to walk from Kamakura station, it is about 30 minutes. There is an entrance fee to the Hasedera temple in case you didn't know, but it costs only 300yen. 

And from Hasedera, you can either walk for 20mins or use the Enoden line to Gokurakuji temple. If you are taking the train, then, stop at the Gokurakuji station (極楽寺駅, Gokurakuji-eki) and walk up the road till you get to the bridge. Turn left and you will see the temple. It is less than a minute's walk. The admission is free for Gokurakuji temple.

Address and website

Hongakuji Temple 本覚寺 

Address: 12-12 Komachi 1-chome Kamakura

Hours: During daylight hours

Admission: Free

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Hasedera 長谷寺 

Address: 11-2 Hase 3-chome Kamakura

Hours: 8:00-17:00 (Until 16:30 from October to February) 

Admission: 300yen

URL: http://www.hasedera.jp/words/english/e1.html

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Gokurakuji Temple 極楽寺 

Address: 6-7 Gokurakuji 3-chome Kamakura

Hours: 9:00-16:30

Admission: Free

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The crepe myrtle plant has one of the longest flowering periods with these colourful blooms lasting from 60 to 120 days. In a way, they seem to bloom all summer long, so catch them this summer if you are in Kamakura. I know for sure that the flowers will fascinates you with their eye-catching display.