Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers: Chojyu-ji

The summer rainy season has just set in. Along the uphill road beside the modest temple, the ajisai flowers of various colors and shapes are finely blooming against the overcast sky.

The subtle coloring and ceaseless metamorphosis of these flowers are brought about by the abundant moisture and minerals absorbed from the rain and soil.

Under the threatening sky peculiar to this season, ajisai flowers closely wait for the rain to keep blooming exquisitely and their quiet beauty soaks into my mind deeply like a gentle rain.

Gaku-ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Gaku-ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) flowers: Engaku-ji

The small ultramarine-blue flowers are blooming in the interior of the flower head. These flowers and the flower-buds are ornamented with the frame of snowy petal-like calyxes.

Gaku-ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers: Kita-kamakura

Bamboo grove: Jochi-ji

Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers: Kita-kamakura

Bamboo grove: Jyochi-ji

Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers: Chojyu-ji

Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers: Jyufuku-ji

Gaku-ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) flowers: Kita-kamakura

Suiren (water lily) flowers: Ofuna botanical garden (Kamakura)

The thick foliage and the bright sunlight of early summer are calmly reflected on the slight ripples of this water-lily pond.

The graceful flowers and circular leaves are inlaid over the quiet water surface and are in harmony with the impressive atmosphere of flickering light and colors.

The gentle breezes are sweeping over the pond to transform the reflected picture of light and colors ceaselessly.

(as an homage to Claude Monet)

Hanashobu (iris) flowers: Ofuna botanical garden (Kamakura)

Basking in the bright early-summer sun, the fragile silken flowers of iris are blooming stunningly to the utmost.

The wet and warm atmosphere just before the rainy season gives birth to the precious gradations of violet colors and the exquisite figures of these flowers. Each flower blooms only for three days and becomes withered up too soon.

(From these violet iris flowers, I remember the beautiful painting titled "The Iris Garden At Giverny" by Claude Monet.)

Iwatabako (Conandron ramondioides) flowers: Tokei-ji

In Kita-kamakura, the tiny violet flower of Iwatabako is a notable symbol of the summer rainy season.

Together with colorful hydrangea flowers, Iwatabako flowers let us know that summer has come around and the rainy days of June will begin soon again.

Hanashobu (iris) flowers: Kaizo-ji