In all seasons except Winter, Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is a wonderland of gorgeous seasonal flowers including one of the largest wisteria that blooms for a few weeks in the Spring. But in Winter, the park must transform itself into a carnival of lights, over 3.5 million in 2016, to become one of…
Tag: flower
Japanese Beetle
Shiny as emeralds and completely harmless to humans and pets, it would be easy to dismiss Japanese beetles as just another cute Japanese export. But these little devils are incredibly destructive to plants of all sorts, here devastating a huge field of Iceland poppies in a Tokyo park. Japanese Beetles snuck into North America in…
Ajisai
Ajisai, or what is known in the West as Hydrangea, are a traditional symbol of Summer in Japan. Many species of ajisai are native to Japan and they come in many shapes and colors, from pure white to vibrant pinks and purples. Though hydrangea are known to blossom from early Spring to late Autumn in…
Ikebana 生け花
Ikebana, like tea ceremony, is more than art, but an integral part of Japanese culture. It is a discipline, taking years to master, yet practiced by millions who would attempt it. Unlike the more Western styles of floral design which focus more on color, ikebana focuses more on arrangement. Arrangements range from extremely minimal to…
365 JAPAN 