FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: 2026

June 26, 2026

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kencho-ji

With its overflowing diversity of colors, the Ajisai garden captivates our hearts even under the gloomy skies of the rainy season. Mysteriously, Ajisai flowers lack the sweet scent of nectar that usually attracts pollinators. If they had a rich scent like that of roses, how enchanting would they be, together with the brilliant, ever-changing colors brought about by the chemistry of the rain water.

Flowers are reproductive organs designed for pollination. They are not meant to bring aesthetic pleasure to humans, but rather are equipped with various mechanisms to attract small pollinating insects.

Wild Ajisai plants grow originally in deep forests and along somber valleys, where the faint scent of nectar cannot spread widely and cannot be sensed by pollinators. If they had only small and inconspicuous flowers, they would not be easily discovered by pollinating insects.

Much of what we think of as petals—the blue, purple, and pink parts—are actually what are called "decorative flowers." Such decorative flowers are not petals at all, but are highly-developed conspicuous sepals that produce no seeds.

On the other hand, the small, inconspicuous flower in the center is a "hermaphroditic flower (true flower)" and this is the true organ where pollination takes place.

Ajisai spread large, eye-catching fake flowers to appear as a “cluster of flowers” in showy colors even from a distance and to guide insects to the small, true flowers in the center.

It is this magic trick for pollination that brings forth the colorful Ajisai flowers and presents us the joy of admiring them under the overcast sky in the rainy season.

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kencho-ji

Insect-pollinated flowers rely on insects to facilitate pollination for reproduction. The beautiful appearance of these flowers exists not for the joy of humans, but is arranged to suit the visual world of pollinating insects.

To ensure the survival of their offspring, such insect-pollinated flowers have evolved to display the colors and shapes that are easily detectable by pollinating insects.

They have adapted their forms to match insect vision and altered their shapes, colors, and ultraviolet reflection patterns (nectar marks) to display the seductive colors and shapes that are most easily found by insects.

Insect-pollinated flowers possess vividly colored petals and enchanting shapes to appeal to insect vision. Furthermore, they emit strong sweet scents to signal their presence to insects from a distance, secrete nectar as a reward to attract them, and provide nutrient-rich pollen.

Unlike wind-pollinated flowers, which rely on the fickle winds to disperse pollen, insect-pollinated flowers utilize the lively assistance of insects. This eliminates the waste involved in aimlessly scattering large amounts of pollen over long distances.

The color vision of insects has acted as the selective pressure that causes the evolution of flowers. Flowers have adopted the attractive colors and shapes for insects by elaborately altering their pigments and ultraviolet reflection patterns.

The colors, shapes, and scents of flowers, which we admire in every season, are the result of steady adaptations that enables trees and plants to survive in the lifelong struggle for existence and to sustain their prosperity of descendants.

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kencho-ji

Insects’ color vision is completely different from that of humans. It is said that they perceive the world primarily in ultraviolet (UV), blue, and green.

For example, honeybees’ color vision responds to these three colors—UV, blue, and green. Butterflies perceive colors ranging from UV to red. Flies have only poor color vision, but respond to UV. Moths can distinguish between white and pale yellow at night, and beetles respond to scent rather than color.

For humans, the color most commonly associated with flowers is red. However, it is said that to many insects, the color red appears almost entirely black. The colors that insects see most clearly are yellow, blue, purple, and white, and flowers are also equipped with ultraviolet patterns (nectar marks) that humans cannot perceive.

Flowers with these colors attract more insects, achieve greater pollination success, and, as a result, are more likely to produce offspring. The colorful appearances of flowers, which evoke a sense of fascinating beauty in humans, are essentially calculated survival strategies as living organisms and the result of wisdom refined over a long period of time.

Human-induced modification in the colors and shapes of flowers in selective breeding is based on this genetic adaptability of trees and plants, that has enabled them to survive in their harsh environment so long.

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kencho-ji

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Jochi-ji

Iwa-tabako (Conandron) flowers: Chojyu-ji

Along the shady path in the Yato valley, where vibrant flowers of Ajisai were in full bloom, I found little inflorescences of Iwatabako (Conandron ramondiodes) appearing out stealthily from the narrow cracks of the wet Kamakura-stone wall.

The violet star-shaped flowers were blooming as if to try to hide themselves in the shadow. They seemed to be inwardly whispering about the arrival of the quiet early summer peculiar to the Yato valleys of Kita-Kamakura.

The bustling sightseers, who were intoxicated with the flamboyant colors of Ajisai flowers, passed by the mossy stone wall with hasty steps, without noticing the presence of those hidden jewels of nature.

Hana-shobu (Japanese iris) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kita-kamakura Kominka-museum

I visited a small art museum in Kita-Kamakura and admired its beautiful hydrangea garden.

For more information about this art museum, please visit the following website.

Kitakamakura old private house Museam　

https://www.kominka-museum.com/

Ajisai (hydrangea) flowers: Kita-kamakura Kominka-museum

June 3, 2026

Rose garden: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

As if to announce the beginning of summer in all its splendor, the roses are brightly blooming in unison. Lured by their mystic beauty and enchanting fragrance, I wandered into this rose labyrinth again this year.

The history of rose cultivation is very ancient, believed to date back at least 5,000 years.

In ancient West Asia and Persia, rose cultivation flourished in the region that is now Iran. Rose flowers were used for perfumes and medicinal plants. They were beloved as the celestial flowers that adorned the gardens of Paradise.

In ancient Greece, the lady poet Sappho called the rose the “Queen of Flowers," and it was associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.

In Medieval Europe, the rose flower became a symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity and was cultivated in the gardens of monasteries for church decorations and religious ceremonies.

From the Renaissance onward, roses became symbols of beauty and love. They permeated court culture and were widely planted in palace gardens. Roses were frequently drawn in the works of painters such as Botticelli and Raphael, which further reinforced their symbolic significance.

In modern Europe, Chinese repeat-blooming varieties were introduced. Through crossbreeding with such Chinese roses, numerous varieties have been developed, and modern rose breeding saw dramatic advancements.

Web site

Ofuna Flower Center

Rose garden: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

In Japan, since the opening of Yokohama port in 1859, many western cultural goods and plants have been introduced from overseas. Western roses were among them, and it is believed that many western roses first arrived in Japan via Yokohama port shortly after this port opened.”

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), Yokohama Port was a major hub for the export of lilies and bulbs as the main export items next to silk and green tea. Through these trade routes, roses from Europe and America were imported and began to be cultivated in the gardens of the foreign settlements in Yokohama city. Eventually, such roses were spread to Japanese gardeners and growers, laying the foundation for modern rose-gardening in Japan.

Minato-no-Mieru Oka Park (Harbor View Park), that is renowned as the most famous rose-garden of Yokohama city, is also known as the site where British and French troops were stationed after the opening of Yokohama Port. Later, the site of the former French Consulate was incorporated into the park as “French Hill,” and the former residence of the British Consul General was opened to the public as the “British House.”

Yokohama has evolved from a mere import port into a center of rose culture. In 1989, the rose was designated as the official flower of Yokohama city. Currently, Japan is not a large-scale cut flower exporter like the Netherlands or Kenya. However, rose varieties bred in Japan are highly regarded overseas.

Rose garden: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

The great charm of a rose garden lies not only in the dazzling beauty of its countless flowers but also in being enveloped by the spellbinding aroma emitted by unnumbered blooms in the bright sunlight of the early summer.

It is said that the scent of roses has a “relaxing effect” that balances the autonomic nervous system and alleviates stress, as well as psychological benefits that enhance feelings of happiness and self-esteem. Furthermore, it promotes the secretion of female hormones, offering beauty benefits such as healthier skin and hair.

The history of the rose scent spans thousands of years, beginning in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt with the practice of infusing oils with its fragrance. In the ancient Middle East, royalty and nobility, including Cleopatra, favored rose baths and scented oils for their beauty and relaxation benefits.

In 10th- to 11th-century Persia, a Persian physician perfected the steam distillation method and succeeded in extracting the active ingredients of roses as high-purity essential oils and perfumes, giving rise to the manufacturing techniques for “rose water” and “rose oil” that continue to this day.

Through the Crusades and trade, the scent of Middle Eastern roses reached Europe, leading to the development of the perfume industry. Today the “Damask rose,” primarily cultivated in Bulgaria, is cherished worldwide as a premium ingredient in perfumery.

Rose garden: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

In China, Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) has been used as a medicinal herb since before the Common Era, and its roots were highly valued as the traditional Chinese medicine or “Shakuyaku” (powdered peony root).

In ancient China, the Chinese peony was recognized not merely as a medicinal herb, but also as a plant symbolizing “feminine beauty.” Eventually, it began to be cultivated as an ornamental plant, and the cultivation of ornamental varieties flourished particularly during the Song Dynasty (10th–13th centuries).

While the peony is called the “King of Flowers” in China, the peony was referred to as the “Premier of Flowers.” Although it may be less splendid than the peony, it has been admired as a flower embodying elegant and harmonious beauty.

Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

It is believed that Chinese peonies were introduced to Japan from China around the Heian period (794-1185). Initially, they were cultivated for medicinal purposes rather than for ornamental display. The dried root powder, known as the herbal medicine “Shakuyaku,” was used for pain relief and to relieve spasms.

It is said that the Chinese peony arrived in Japan from China as a medicinal plant before Botan (tree peony) did. Records of its cultivation already exist from the Muromachi period (1336-1573).

By the Edo period, a uniquely Japanese horticultural culture flourished as a worthy accomplishment of the samurai class, and Shakuyaku underwent extensive breeding and cultivation. The “Higo peony,” which developed particularly in Higo Province of the Kumamoto Domain, is especially renowned, and many Japanese varieties have been created.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Chinese peonies were introduced from China to Europe. Then extensive breeding and cultivation took place in France and England.

The Agricultural Experiment Station of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the same place, served as the predecessor of the Ofuna Flower Center. In that station, from the late Meiji period to the early Showa period, the Chinese peonies known as the “Ofuna strain” were cultivated and bred on a large scale for exporting them overseas.

Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) flower: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Shakuyaku (Chinese peony) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

May 4, 2026

Shidare-zakura (weeping cherry) flowers: Kencho-ji

Flowers are destined to bloom and soon fade away as the floral organs for pollination and reproduction. For humans, their fleeting beauty appears in this world only to vanish into the void as if nothing had ever happened.

The flowering season of Sakura has long since passed, and those delicate flowers that had once bloomed so splendidly have all fallen and disappeared completely, but their beautiful memories are remaining within me as unforgettable afterimages.

Spring transforms the appearance of life rapidly and beautifully, one change after another. Living things revive from their winter slumber, and the natural landscape transforms with astonishing speed. Spurred on by capricious spring breezes and bright sunlight, new varieties of flowers bloom one after another, and the fresh green foliage of various plants appears rapidly, flourishing as if to be conjured by a magic trick.

The birds that had been holding their breath in winter begin to chirp lively, and the insects that had been hiding somewhere begin to emerge one after another and take to the air.

This world keeps changing swiftly. All are born and disappear in a flash. In this vast universe, all things are impermanent and continue changing consistently. The rapid changes in the landscape of life in spring teach me this ultimate principle through the beautiful metaphor of living creatures.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Kencho-ji

As if to bless those entering the majestic San-gedatsu-mon Gate (the three gateways to enlightenment), the fresh flowers of the Somei-yoshino sakura trees, that are awaiting their full bloom days, are quietly shining in the bright spring sunlight.

The plaque displayed above the gate bears the characters for the temple’s official name, “Kencho Kokoku Zenji.” This name combines “Kencho” (the era name of its founding in 1253), “Kokoku” (prosperity of the nation through the spirit of Zen), and “Zenji” (the temple of the Rinzai school of Zen).

Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth Shikken (regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate, invited the Song Dynasty monk "Rankei Doryu" to Japan in hopes of bringing peace to the land and established this Zen temple.

The San-gedatsu-mon is the main gate representing Zen temples and symbolizes the three essential gateways of liberation (Gedatsu) that Zen monks must pass through to attain enlightenment, namely, Ku-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that all things are empty and intangible), Muso-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that everything is formless, transient, and interdependent), and Musaku-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that all things exist naturally as they are, letting go of the mind that vainly seeks fictitious enlightenment and artificial artifice, and intuitively realizing all things without thinking and word-splitting).

These three gateways of liberation represent the three fundamental paths to freeing oneself from the three fundamental afflictions (three poisons) in Buddhism—namely, burning desire, ill will, and ignorance—and reaching the state of ultimate enlightenment.

In accordance with the universal law of interdependency, every living thing endures harsh environmental burdens, living naturally without any artifice, and fades away just as they naturally do. These innocent Sakura flowers, blooming so beautifully, are no exception.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

In front of the vivid vermilion-lacquered Maiden (the stage for sacred dancing) situated at the foot of the grand stone-steps of this old shrine, pale pink flowers of Sakura are shining softly in the gentle, oblique sunlight like the elegant flower decoration that adorns this stage.