The Grain Rains 穀雨 mark the end of cold weather and rising temperatures. It is a time for farmers to prepare their fields and paddies for planting. The name of the season is reflected in an old saying from China that said, "Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains." In some parts of East Asia, this season coincides with the start of the rains, though it is a bit early for rain in Tokyo. In Tochigi, late April marked the time when yellow sands and dust began to blow east from the deserts of western China, getting everywhere. It was also a good time to buy “new” green tea.
More than anything, it was time for visiting the nearby Ashikaga Flower Park, where every year the world became a purple wonderland under the blossoming wisteria trees. Then, just as the purple flowers began to fade, the peonies in my tea teacher's garden would bloom!
Here in Southern California, birds would need to be put back! I would tentatively describe this time of year as “birds loudly singing in the predawn morning,” “lemon, orange and grapefruit blossoms scattering in the wind like snow,” and “birds, rats and squirrels gorging at the birdfeeders!”
In a superbloom year, it could also mark the end of wildflowers.
China
- First pentad: 萍始生, 'Duckweed begins to sprout'.[2]
- Second pentad: 鳴鳩拂其羽, 'Cuckoo shakes off wings'.[2]
- Last pentad: 戴勝降于桑, 'Hoopoe perches in mulberry trees'.[2]
Japan
- First pentad: Ashi hajimete shōzu (葭始生), 'Reed begins to bud'.[3]
- Second pentad: Shimo yamite nae izuru (霜止出苗), 'Frost ends and rice seedlings to grow'.[3]
- Last pentad: Botan hanasaku (牡丹華), 'Peony blooms'.[3]
Substack:
- The ground is carpeted in scattered blossoms in the backyard–grapefruit, orange and lemon has flowered and scattered, fruits ripe on the branches. There is fallen fruit everywhere, with large rats, chasing squirrels and birds living the life! Birds eating a bag of birdseed a day $$$$
- Every morning starting around 4am the California Towhee starts chirping chirping very loudly–only to be outdone by a few lingering peacocks shrieks (by Easter their shrieking is mainly at night) with the Bewick's Wren chiming in beautifully. This trio is EXTREMELY loud waking us each morning around 4am. Who needs an alarm clock??
- From early mornings into the afternoons the entire neighborhood is vibrating with the rattling trilling of the Orange Crowned Warblers (I did manage to capture a sight in our backyard using callback)
- At feeders, there is is nonstop traffic: Junkos, House Sparrows, California Towhees, House Finches, and the occasional woodpecker. Squirrels, rats, and doves on pickup on ground. Hummers are the two usual suspects.
Local Ephemera
Dewdrop World 
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