Category: Spring/Grain Rains 穀雨 (4/20)
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The front yard is bursting in garden roses and wildflowers shooting up in the place where there used to be a persimmon tree, lost in the draught. The house seems to almost disappear in the lush green of early May In addition to the usual suspects–finches, lesser goldfinches, house sparrows, junkos, phoebes, mourning doves and…
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4/29 My morning alarm clock of loud beeping California Towhees (like a smoke alarm low battery signal) continues early, early in the mornings–the Bewick's Wren trilling to add interest. By six, we have cedar waxwings, house finches, house sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, acorn woodpeckers and mourning doves–in the distance are cooper's hawks, American crows and American…
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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…
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In the Japanese taxonomy of breezes, the perfumed winds (風薫る) blow just before the south-easterly winds of the rainy season, which arrive later in the month. Known as plum rains (梅雨)—so heavy, the downpours are said to knock the ripening plums right off their branches. When that happens, it is the yellow sparrow wind (黄雀風)…
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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. From early mornings into the afternoons the…
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In Tochigi, every year one of my tea friends would bring over dozens and dozens of poppies from her garden. I never visited her house, but I always imagined she must live on acres of land –how else could she grow so many flowers? We would use every last vase, bowl and most of our…
Dewdrop World 