Lotus Flower 古代荷花開了

 

Ten days ago, I saw a lotus flower was opening for the first time this year.

This pink kind is called Oga-hasu, which you can see at many places. Some seeds were excavated in the ruins of an ancient village more than two thousand years ago. Prof. Oga succeeded in germination and flowering. The ancient lotus has been divided its roots for replanting.

It's nice to enjoy the flavor as people of those days did.

Gion Festival 祇園祭

 

July is the month to perform Gion (or called Yasaka) Festival all over this country. People in my city also did the festival. The main event of the festival is to carry this palanquin and circulate around the city.

The origin of the festival is in Kyoto. In the 9th century, Kyoto (the then capital of Japan) suffered a terrible pandemic. The national government thought an evil god of pestilence was very angry and spreading his power over Kyoto. They performed a ritual carrying the dreadful god out of Yasaka shrine to appease his anger and pray for an end of the pandemic.

This is the beginning of Kyoto Gion Festival. For more than 1000 years, people in Kyoto carried three palanquins installing this god and his family and circulated in the city to prevent pandemics. When you come to see it today, you will be astonished at the gorgeous Yamahoko float procession. But Yamahoko floats are not the core of the festival. They have a role of preceding the three palanquins.

This ritual spread throughout the whole nation. Gion festival is not so religious today. The festival seems to have a new important role of strengthening bonds of a local community.

In the Growth of Trees

 

I feel a little bit cooler under trees, though the air is very wet.

Mushroom No. 1     

This has the beautiful pleats. What is a role of them?

Mushroom No. 2

                   Don't you think this is elegant? 

Mushroom No.3

This looks sweet and creamy. 

                    I am sure this is not edible!

I met this small dragonfly. I like to watch their eyes.