Summer white clouds: Kaizo-ji

Like a colossus of snow-white marble, the gigantic columns of summer clouds are soaring high in the untainted blue sky to display the intense force of life that the scorching sun provides.

By the blessing of the blazing sun, every plant continues growing vigorously to fulfill its own seasonal mission silently.

The height of summer appears to stay here forever and it is hard to believe that this robust and brilliant season is sure to end before long.

Sacred lotus flower; Eisho-ji

Trees and plants are eagerly absorbing the parching heat of high summer to flourish hurriedly against the rapid transition of seasons.

Because other flowers have almost disappeared in the harsh sunlight, these precious flowers of summer delight my eyes deeply with their graceful forms and colors.

Garden of summer: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flowers: Kaizo-ji

Sacred lotus flower: Kencho-ji

Summer white clouds: Yuigahama-beach (Kamakura)

Lotus seeds: Kaizo-ji

Sarusuberi (Crape myrtle) flowers: Eisho-ji

Summer white clouds: Yuigahama-beach (Kamakura)

Sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

In the intensive sunlight from the blinding midsummer sky, the graceful flowers of sacred lotus are coming into bloom magnificently above the pond surface covered with deep-green lotus leaves.

An unstained white flower of sacred lotus appears in a dignified manner from the depth of dirty mud water and, therefore, is referred to as the divine flower symbolizing the great wisdom and mercy of Buddha.

In Buddhist culture, there is a tradition that such a pure-white lotus flower blooms in Nirvana (Pure Land) and Amithaba (Amida Nyorai) is seated on it.

The blooming period of a lotus flower is about four days and its silky petals silently fall apart in the calm hot wind at last.

Sacred lotus flowers: Kencho-ji

The seasons continue circling around and, once again, high summer has arrived here to present this marvelous composition of the lotus flowers and the golden floral decoration of the gate.

The strong sun is brightening up the pitch-black wooden gate on which the various gilded ornaments are finely attached.

The half-opening flowers of sacred lotus and the deep-green leaves are placidly vying with this gate in splendor and beauty.

Sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Kencho-ji

Sacred lotus flower: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Sacred lotus flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu