FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: March 2021

March 19, 2021

Shidare-ume (Prunus mume f. pendula) flowers: Kaizo-ji

In the midst of the fresh greenery that is reviving quietly from winter rest, the countless double flowers of the Shidare-ume (weeping apricot tree) are blooming to the fullest extent of their lives and are bathing in the soft sunlight as if to gently chant the praises of this season of renewal and growth.

In this height of spring, the view of the garden changes at a dizzying pace. Different kinds of colorful flowers hurriedly appear and vanish one after another.

All sorts of small living things, that have been silently holding their breath during winter, have begun to show themselves rapidly so as to compete with one another for rebirth and regrowth.

Shidare-ume (Prunus mume f. pendula) flowers: Kaizo-ji

In the gentle sunlight of mid-spring, by virtue of the subtle interconnectedness of all living things in nature, various colorful flowers bloom one after another, plants and trees begin to sprout new green buds, insects show themselves and fly around in search of nectar, and various birds begin to lively twitter again for breeding.

The monotonous and gloomy green of winter has already disappeared completely. The tender greenery and colorfulness of various tones and gradations are emerging swiftly altogether, which makes me feel deep admiration for the wonder of life on the earth.

Shidare-ume (Prunus mume f. pendula) flowers: Kaizo-ji

Haku-mokuren (Magnolia denudata) flowers: Kita-kamakura

Under the gray cloudy sky, the large white flowers of Haku-mokuren (white magnolia tree) are blooming lively with all their might as if to be about to soar high up into the air.

A Haku-mokuren tree grows to a height of 10 to 15 meters, and in spring, before the new leaves appear, it bears many, white, and lotus-shaped flowers that bloom towards the sky. These flowers emit a strong fragrance when in full bloom.

After blooming for a couple of days, they fade rapidly and scatter in unison without any hesitation in the gentle spring breeze.

Haku-mokuren (Magnolia denudata) flowers: Engaku-ji

Again this year, the pearl white flowers of "Yulan of Lu Xun" are magnificently blooming high in the bright sky to unveil the true height of springtime.

"Yulan" means "jade orchid" in Chinese and corresponds to Japanese name of "Haku-mokuren."

According to the explanation board added to this old Haku-mokuren tree, it was presented by Lu Xun to Engaku-ji in 1933 as a token of friendship, and since then it has been living here for almost 90 years while bearing plenty of white fragrant flowers every spring.

Lu Xun is one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century and carried out his creative activities in Shanghai. The white flower of Haku-mokuren is the city flower of Shanghai, which decorates the spring of this old city with its splendor and fragrance.