Fall flowers are pretty too!

I grew up in a the almost season-less sub-tropical climate of Southern Florida. It was hot, humid & wet in the summer and cool (almost never cold) and dry in the winter, which resulted in a practically endless growing season. There was very little variation in the flowers and plants that grew, and flowers for the most part would bloom year round.

This is not the situation in Tokyo and most of Japan. Seasons seem to be very distinct with certain flowers only appearing briefly during certain seasons. The Higanbana (red spider lily), white spider lily and toad lily appear in early fall. I'm still not sure what the purple and white bloom is.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 400, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 400, 1/50 sec.

More Autumn Colors in Yoyogi Park

I have more photos from last fall and some from the winter and New Year that I have to share. Perhaps one day I'll catch up...

Here's shot from a autumn walk through Yoyogi Park. It's always refreshing to take a walk in the park!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 200,1/200 sec.

Yoyogi Koen Onion Family

One the way to the Okinawa Matsuri 2017 in Yoyogi Park, I spotted these unusual purple flowers and stopped to take a photo. Believe it or not, these flowers are in the onion family! Not sure if I got the exact type, but based on a quick google search they look like Allium 'Globus'.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Autumn colors comes to Yoyogi National Gymnasium and Yoyogi Koen

Still posting photos from my backlog while I've been laid up with my broken ankle. Tonight, I've made it to my photos from November.

Autumn colors came to Yoyogi National Gymnasium and Yoyogi Koen in early November. There will be more autumn colors from 2016 coming in future posts...

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f8.0, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f8.0, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Kakigōri (かき氷) or Cool Summer Treat at Little Nap

Little Nap is small coffee shop located a short walk from the Yoyogi-Kōen Station Exit 3 that makes a lovely kakigōri (かき氷) during the summer.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/160 sec.

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.

Spring Tulips in Yoyogi-Koen (Part 2)

I wasn't the only one enjoying the tulip garden on last Sunday's blustery weekend. A trio of longhair dachshunds were enjoying the afternoon sunshine while having their photo taken by their owers.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f8.0, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Spring Tulips in Yoyogi-Koen (Part 1)

The weather on Sunday evolved quickly. The morning was filled light spring showers. As the day wore on the wind brought clear skies with the sun, and the occasional wind gust. Anyway, I made out to take a few photos of the tulips in Yoyogi Park.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Golden Gingko Tree in Yoyogi Koen

Last week at the entrance to Yoyogi Koen, I spotted the first gingko turning yellow. Autumn colors on a gingko in Mid-October are not the norm here especially with the warm and pleasant autumn weather in Tokyo the last week or two. This specimen looked relatively young, so perhaps it was looking to get an early start on its elders?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Broken Wing and Orange Cosmos

I spotted this butterfly (perhaps a Painted Lady (or Vanessa Cardui)) fluttering through a favorite flower garden at Yoyogikoen. This butterfly seems to have seen better days and but was still making it's way through the world without part of a wing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.