Yoyogi Park Hydrangea Paniculata

Been very busy the last few months, and have neglected my blog. Summer is almost over and I haven't posted since mid-June. So I've got plenty of catching up to do. I'll start with something from earlier in June and will work my way through photos in July and August. This beautiful ajisai or hydrangea paniculata was spotted during one of my many walks through Yoyogi Park.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 100,1/80 sec.

Rainy season is coming or the ajisai" are blooming

The hydrangea (or ajisai) in Tokyo are coming into full bloom. This is usually one of the first signs rainy season approaching. This fine specimen was spotted in Arisugawa Miya Kinen Kōen.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f8.0, ISO 100, 1/40 sec.

Paniculata Hydrangeas in Azabu Juban

In early June I came across these beautiful white Paniculata Hydrangeas (or PeeGee) in Azabu Juban.  I wasn't really sure if they were in fact hydrangea because of the cone shaped bloom.  Most hydrangea that I am familiar have blooms that are ball shaped. 

Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 32 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/320 sec.

Tokyo Midtown Cricket

This father's day I had a walk in Tokyo Midtown's Garden with my daughter. She was looking for bugs to catch in a bottle, but wasn't too successful. She caught a couple dango mushi (or rolly polies) that were under the bushes. I found a cricket sitting on a blue hydrangea.

There was also this beautiful fresh fern growing in the garden.