The Season it is A-changing

At the southernmost part of our trip, the sakura blossoms are gone, and the temperatures are what I would call summer, in the low 20s Celsius. Japan is oriented north-south, just like Chile, and Italy, so spring is short-lived. Add in that the main island is at the 35 degree latitude, as is (more or less) Los Angeles (I live shy of the 49th degree), so darkness comes to the evenings earlier, but daytimes are hotter. And so the foliage is changing too. 

Trees have leafed out, and maples are lime green, emerald, and ruby red. Vegetable gardens are being prepared, with winter onions and cabbages starting to look tired. Brown empty fields will soon be flooded for rice growing, and flowers of stronger hues are evident: iris, peony, anemone. My favourite is seeing swathes of purple wisteria growing wild in forests, draping itself over bamboo and tall trees, and I grow a little homesick for my garden, which is at its peak in late spring. I know it's been cold and wet at home and I am sorry for everyone there but I can't help hoping things in the garden are coming out a little later there than usual so that I will get to be part of them.