Otto's blog

Cotton Plant

Nov

2

Earlier this year, I went with my family to The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in Nagoya:

http://jp.bloguru.com/otto/232181/toyota-technology-museum

We listened to a talk about cotton & we were given some free cotton seeds. When we got home, we planted (植えた) them. I watered (水をやった) them often. They grew quite well, & finally produced fluffy ( フワフワ ) white cotton. I was pleased & my kids were excited. What a cool plant!

Now I`m researching how to spin the cotton so I can use it.

Vocabulary:
- plant (名詞) = 植物 plant (動詞) = 植える
- water (名詞) =　水 water (動詞) = 水をやる

#園芸 #花

Thelesperma filifolium

May

26

Now these yellow flowers are blooming by the roadside on my way to work. They`re very colourful & pretty to look at, don`t you think?

However, I think they are an invasive species [がいらいせいぶつ] called Thelesperma filifolium, from America. Once I saw on Japanese TV a group of volunteers pulling them out & putting them in garbage [ごみ] bags. I`m pretty sure it was this kind of flower.

That`s good - I won`t feel bad when I pull some out one day (to put in a vase, not a garbage bag though!)

#園芸 #花

Challenge!

Apr

15

This a tree near a friend`s house. What is interesting about it? Can you guess...?

UPDATE:

Answers are in comments!

#動物 #園芸 #花

Kasamatsu Minato Park Cherry Blossoms

Apr

10

On Sunday I joined some friends in Gifu Park for a Cherry Blossom Viewing [Hanami] party. The weather was really nice, and there were a lot of people there. Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves, especially the guys who ended up in the pond...

The next day I took my wife, kids and hangover to look at the cherry blossoms at Kasamatsu Minato Park, which you can see in this picture.

Have you been to see the cherry blossoms yet?

#園芸 #花

Higanbana - Red Spider Lily

Oct

10

This time every year you can see this flower blooming around Japan, especially beside rivers. The color is almost always bright red, but I was surprised to recently spot a yellow version, and a white version too. Have you ever seen these colors?

In the Japanese name, `higan` is a Buddhist term for the period of seven days around the Spring or Autumn equinox (bana/hana means flower).

Of course you`re thinking, "Wow - it`s pretty. But can I eat it?" Unfortunately the answer is no; they`re poisonous to eat.

#園芸 #花

Looks berry delicious!

Jun

11

Recently my student Makie gave me a blackberry plant. I put it in a pot outside Ichinomiya Teragoya school, and watered it sometimes. Now some blackberries have appeared - cool! One is black, so I think I can eat it soon. The others are still red, so I have to wait...

I feel happy and positive when my plants get fruit and flowers - my students seem friendlier, classes are more fun, my wife looks more beautiful, and I expect Australia to do well in the World Cup.

I recommend keeping a plant!

Thanks Makie!

UPDATE: I ate the ripe blackberry today. Yum - it was perfect!

#園芸