Rhapsody in Blue under the State of Emergency: Spring Ephemeral in Yokohama

Whatever COVID-19 says, spring has come to Yokohama. I happen to live near the North Forests of Yokohama, including Niiharu 新治市民の森. We’re still allowed to stroll in our neighborhood nature during weekends. So, I’m enjoying spring of our nearby forests these days. Above our head is the shower of falling cherry blossoms, which itself is gorgeous. Around our feet, it’s flowers of spring ephemeral. Air is warm. It’s a nice season in Yokohama, despite of the corona viruses, of course. I’m keeping 2m radius of social distancing … On April 7^th, Kanagawa Prefecture is put under the state of emergency due to the pandemic.

Cute pinks of henbits competing non-native Red deadnettle. Bishops hats were already ending in early April. I know several spots for Rubus hirsutus. They are in full-bloom now. Can I collect enough fruits of them for homemade jam this year? Is it Ixeris stolonifera or debilis? Petite white flowers of chickweed tell us the power of numbers. Blue dots of cucumber herb smile us with its cute tiny baby blue. Wind flower has also started flower now. Their dense new leaves cover a patch of ground and white flowers of five petals come out here and there. In order to flower, they need such density, perhaps. Oh, their white “petals” are actually calyxes, do you know? Aucuba japonica has their flowers now. Their male flower comes out first, then females appear, at least a month later when it is still damned cold. The other day, we forest instructors wondered why male flowers must emerge that early. It might be stamens of Aucuba japonica need time to mature in freezing air. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger … Once upon a time in Japan, the leaves of Aucuba japonica were used as antiseptic for external wounds. No wonder Robert Fortune visited Japan to collect male specimen of it, which was absent in Europe although female was introduced in the 18^th century.

Red deadnettle

Henbits

Bishops hats

Rubus hirsutus

Youngia japonica

Ixeris stolonifera

Potentilla freyniana

Chickweed

Cucumber herb

Wind flower

Female flower of Aucuba japonica

They are male.

Chloranthus japonicus poke their brushy flowers. Its Japanese name is “Hitori Shizuka.” “Hitori” = alone. Shizuka 静 is the name of a lover of Japanese historical hero, Minamoto no Yoshitsune 源義経. Shizuka was the most beautiful dancer in Kyoto at the end of the 12^th century. Yoshitsune was defeated in politics against his brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝, the first Samurai Shogun. According to the 14^th century historical document called Azuma-kagami 吾妻鏡, when Yoshitsune and his troops became the fugitive, Shizuka was caught by the army of Yoritomo and brought to Kamakura 鎌倉 for inquiry. The wife of Yoritomo, Hojo Masako 北条政子, asked Shizuka the “famous dance in Kyoto” in Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine 鶴岡八幡宮 of Kamakura. Shizuka gave a stunning performance, alone on the stage. And so, the name came for this flower of spring ephemeral. Though, it always flowers in colonies … I personally call it “Party Shizuka.” They don’t have to keep social distancing …  *sigh*

Chloranthus japonicus

Euphorbia helioscopia

Euphorbia sieboldiana

Spring in my neighborhood is also a time for purplish small flowers. Ajuga decumbens are actually very common, although they flower silently below the leaves of other taller grasses. In Japan, people used entire Ajuga decumbens, or Kiranso in Japanese, for antiseptic purposes. Its another Japanese name is the “Lid for Devil’s Pan in Hell.” Standard explanation of this nickname is the grass spreads over the ground in round rosettes. But I’m more convinced of another reasoning. They must have been popular as disinfectant for common people. It maybe the time to try its power against COVID-19 … Another purplish small flower for Yokohama’s spring is alefoof. This also is ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, but Japanese authority prohibits drinking alefoof tea or any product of them especially for those patients with seizure disorders. More study is really needed, I guess.

Ajuga decumbens

Alefoof

If you find a problem in Yokohama’s North Forests, please make a contact with

Office for the Park Greeneries in the North 北部公園緑地事務所

Yokohama Municipal Government Creative Environment Policy Bureau 横浜市環境創造局

Phone: 045-311-2016

FAX: 045-316-8420

If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with 

Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター
657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323 

You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/

Solomon’s seal