#Fuyu-botan

[love1kimono]

Winter Peony 1930s

Special winter-blooming peonies are cultivated in Japan, including Kan-botan (寒牡丹) and Fuyu-botan (���牡丹), these peonies are protected by straw enclosures, called yuki-gakoi (雪囲い).

[landofanimes]

The Apothecary Diaries

Maomao and Jinshi + plants 🍃🌸🪻🌼

❄️ JAN: Winter Peony (Fuyu-botan or Kan-botan)

❄️ FEB: Plum Blossom

🌸 MAR: Nanohana

🌸 APR: Cherry Blossom

🌸 MAY: Wisteria

☀️ JUN: Hydrangea

[f1zzyberry]

My KNY AU Lovechildren Names

Giyuu x Sanemi

Masachika (the 2nd) Tomioka-Shinazugawa

Sumi (the 2nd) Tomioka-Shinazugawa

Shuya (the 2nd) Tomioka-Shinazugawa

Koto (the 2nd) Tomioka-Shinazugawa

Mitsuri x Obanai

Mitsuki Kanroji

Mistua Kanroji

Mitsuka Kanroji

Mitsura Kanroji

Obasa Kanroji

Kyojuro x Tengen x Makio x Hinatsuru x Suma

Akiko Uzui

Bento Uzui

Cijira Uzui

Desura Uzui

Ejiro Uzui

Fuyuumi Uzui

Gota Uzui

Hatsume Uzui

Ira Uzui

Junko Uzui

Kuusuke Uzui

Leke Uzui

Koinatsu x Gyomei

Gohan Himejima

Mugen Himejima

Iroha Himejima

Minori Himejima

Gaara Himejima

Goten Himejima

Tsutako x Kanae

Makomo Tomioka-Kocho

Nana Tomioka-Kocho

Nene Tomioka-Kocho

Saburo x Sakonji

Genju Urokodaki

Genya x Muichiro (Sort of)

Wuichiro Shinazugawa-Tokito

Tamayo & Yushiro (not 'Tamayo x Yushiro')

Moshi Yamamoto

Neko Yamamoto

(Future) Yuichiro x Senjuro

Suichiro Rengoku-Tokito

Ruichiro Rengoku-Tokito

(Future) Tanjiro x Noguchi

Botan Kamado

Mera Kamado

Fumiko Kamado

(Future) Aoi x Inosuke

Mahiro Kanzaki

Hanae Kanzaki

Kotoha x Douma (Before he ate her)

Inosuke Hashibira

Ouri Hashibira

Goto x Murata

Noriko Sato

Chiyo Sato

Taro Sato

Shinobu x Ozaki

Kana Kocho

(Kimetsu Academy + Future) Sabito x Zenitsu

Yuri Agatsuma

Rei Agatsuma

Gyutaro x Kaigaku

Noboru Shabana-Inadama

(Kimetsu Academy) Masachika x Kyogai

Kazutaka Kumeno

Nozomi Kumeno

Hantengu Clones (Kind of)

Hoshiko (Greed)

Sengen (Envy)

Aiko (Love)

Wakumi (Confusion)

Hakuji x Koyuki

Yukihime Soyama

Touki Soyama

Samui Soyama

Fuyu Soyama

Shimo Soyama

Koori Soyama

Muzan x Himself

Waru Kibutsuji

Kanamori x Hotaru

Hikari Haganezuka

Asahi Haganezuka

Spider Mum (Kumiko) x Ume (Kimetsu Academy + Future)

Sayori Shabana

Nori Shabana

[konjaku]

山茶花[Sazanka] Camellia sasanqua

Sazanka and 椿[Tsubaki](C. japonica) are related species and very similar. To distinguish between the two, Sazanka blooms in winter and scatters its petals in pieces; Tsubaki, as its name "木(Tree) + 春(Spring)" implies, blooms in spring and falls intact.

However, in the book 花のいろいろ[Hana no iroiro](Various kinds of flowers), Novelist 幸田 露伴[Kōda Rohan] writes an essay of which the title 山茶花 is read as tsubaki, even though the kanji 椿 has been around for a long time. The following is its beginning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kōda_Rohan

山茶花 つばきはもと冬の花なり。爛紅火の如く雪󠄁中に開く、と東坡の云ひけんはまことの風情󠄁なるべし。我邦にては、はやくより咲󠄁くもあれど、春に至りて美しく咲󠄁きこぼるゝを多しとす。

[Tsubaki Tsubaki wa moto fuyu no hana nari. Rankō hi no gotoku setchū ni hiraku, to tōha no iiken wa makoto no fuzei naru beshi. Wa ga kuni nite wa, hayaku yori saku mo aredo, haru ni itarite utsukushiku saki koboruru wo ooshi to su.] Tsubaki is essentially a winter flower. "The deep crimson (flowers) open like fire in the snow", said Tōha(Su Shi), and this must be the real taste (of them). In our country, although there are some types that bloom early, most of them bloom beautifully in spring. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Shi Source: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1227060/1/111

It seems that he does not separate the two. The rest of the essay describes Tsubaki(C. japonica).

By the way, the genus Camellia is called 山茶 in China, and the botanical name for 寒椿[Kantsubaki](lit. Tsubaki that blooms in the cold season), which blooms in winter, is C. sasanqua ‘Shishigashira’.

[celticbotanart]

new post~

[Also on Kofi!]

[beatnikmag]

Reseñas City Game Pop

Lamp - Ichiya no Pathos (Dusk to Dawn) [Botanical House]

Escucha el disco en Spotify

Cinco años han tardado Lamp en volver a deleitarnos con un nuevo disco, justo el que conmemora el vigésimo aniversario del primer lanzamiento del trío. Y lo han hecho con una colección que incluye veinte temas inéditos, cifra que, viendo la efeméride, no parece elegida al azar. La verdad es que es curioso lo que mueve el grupo en occidente viendo diversos datos como pueden ser los oyentes mensuales en Spotify, por lo que está claro que estamos ante un grupo que tiene ese “algo” que hace que la gente les ponga en un pedestal como a tantos otros artistas que igual en Japón no despiertan tanto interés fuera de círculos nicho, sobretodo porque se adscriben a cierto sonido retro que interesa. Digo esto porque justamente, aunque me guste Lamp en general, siempre me ha parecido una formación donde parece que te tengas que sentir forzado a que te guste. En otras palabras, no considero al grupo como una especie de ente al que hay que seguir a ciegas, cosa que en principio pensaba que me iba a complicar bastante el hacer esta reseña al pretender no caer así en el hype. Pero la verdad es que este nuevo trabajo me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba.

Aunque con matices que iré mencionando, me he encontrado con un disco más relajado que otros de la formación, quizá solamente Hachigatsu no Calendar/August Calendar es la más animada de la veintena de temas debido a que suena al Shibuya-kei sofisticado de la vertiente bossa-nova de otros discos anteriores. Pero dejando atrás esto, mi sensación es que estamos ante un disco que está dividido en dos partes, donde las primeras diez canciones me han parecido que tienen un componente más alegre, como ese Misty Town que, por cierto, tiene un toque Taeko Onuki que es lo que suele gustar a los fans occidentales del trío. Y Weekend tiene elementos que me han recordado a temas como Kimi wa Tennen Shoku de Eiichi Ohtaki, lo cual deja claro la sensación que desprende. Dejando de lado este tipo de reminiscencias, la sensación de estar ante una primera parte con un sentimiento más feliz se refuerza en temas como Kaeri michi/Cold Way Home, o Shinya-bin/Late Night Train donde en este último tema Yusuke y Saori cantan sobre una pareja que está recordando un viaje en tren de madrugada con una complicidad buscada que quizá en otras porciones posteriores del disco no están tan presentes. Pero este sentimiento solamente en es apariencia, porque las letras de la mayoría de pistas siguen un esquema muy nostálgico, donde rememorar eventos pasados que nunca volverán es la norma.

Personalmente me ha gustado mucho la segunda mitad del disco, con un sonido más intimista y “nocturno” que casa mejor con esas letras amargas. Quizá esto es porque a veces me he encontrado con algunas canciones que suenan a Ichiko Aoba o Kahimi Karie, como Bedroom no gogo wa/Bedroom Afternoon. Y la nostálgica Fuyu no hi/Winter Day (El viento, las palabras/Todo se ha ido/La estrella azul, la ciudad donde vives/Sólo en mis recuerdos) por alguna razón me ha hecho retrotraerme a la época del primer disco en solitario de Etsuko Yakushimaru. Un tema que, aunque no lo parezca, musicalmente es bastante peculiar dentro del grupo debido a que suena más eléctrico de lo normal (como también pasa en Furui Note/Old Notebook), con un sencillo solo de guitarra de por medio pero que, a la vez, sigue las dos estructuras principales de este disco: nexos de unión basados en transiciones imperceptibles y pasajes que varían mucho entre sí en una misma canción.

Quizá donde más se nota esto es en Asamoya no naka wo/Amidst the Morning Fog y Heya no Hitori/Alone in my room siendo estos dos temas unidos por un oboe donde este tipo de estructura es mucho más evidente. Y es que estos ejemplos, lo mismo pasamos de un tema donde una guitarra con reverb está presente durante los primeros dos minutos, para pasar inmediatamente a una canción folk con toques espaciales que a su vez se transforma en un acompañamiento de cuerdas algo estremecedoras al principio, hasta que todo vuelve a la serenidad en la parte final. Y con el cierre más de lo mismo, una pieza intimista donde Yusuke y Kaori despiden el disco solamente con el verso “En algún lugar distante en el universo, tu tiempo estaba marcado” y que supone el final del sublime catálogo de emociones que ha resultado ser la fiesta de celebración que ha supuesto Ichiya no Pathos, del que quizá su única pega es su larga duración.

Reseña correspondiente al número #110 de City Game Pop

[nagaino]

[ask-the-shorty-squad]

A-Are you both okay meow...?

Y-Yea...I thought I saw something and Scared hiyoko...

I'm guessing your here to help find the Flashback lights for Gin here.

Y-Yep!...where should we start first???

Let's start from the Basement. And work our way to the 3rd floor.

Sounds good! But this school is quite big...Lets get Into groups of 2

I'll go with Miss. Kimono Woof! I wanna get to know more people Meow!

I'LL GO WITH KAIII!!! HES MY KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR!!

I'll take Jataro. Komaru you take Masaru. Nagisa, go with whoever.

I guess I'll go with Hiyoko and Gin.

*Then It's Settled. The groups are:

Kai and Kotoko.

Maki and Jataro.

Komaru and Masaru.

Hiyoko, Gin and Nagisa.*

*The groups all head to the Basement.*

Well I guess I'm on my own then. Maybe I'll go check and Papa Teru and Papa Fuyu. Just to make sure that their alright.

*She leaves to the botanical garden.*

[marineceleste]

Winter Botan | 冬牡丹

Shishiro Botan 獅白ぼたん 

The flowers pictured on her kimono and in the background are of a special variety called ‘winter peonies,’ or fuyu-botan 冬牡丹 in Japan.

MAZEL (art)

[utagoe]

IDOLiSH7: Labyrinth Lyrics

Kanji, romaji and English translation for Labyrinth by Isumi Haruka

(kanji source)

本気で投げた言葉も夜風に 紛れてしまったrays of light 時計の針は10時を示して 儚さ知らせる まるでチャイム(ここから出して) 鏡に写っている(ここから出してよ) あの日の自分があまりに無力で

それでも(ここから出して) 消えない掠れた声(ここから出してよ) 嘆きのようなメロディを奏でてるよ

断ち切るしかないんだろう 注いだ冬は心のLabyrinth 後戻りなんて出来ないから やりきるしかないんだろう 黒い気持ちと手を繋いだって構わない 抱きしめたっていい

疑うことを知らない瞳に 戻れたらなんといいか 時計の針は日付を変えてく 虚しさ絡まる地味なジョーク(ここにいるんだ) 見つけてほしいと思う(ここにいるんだよ) 怒りも痛みも全て受け止めて

今なら(ここにいるんだ) もう一度願えるかな(ここにいるんだよ) 信じるもの見つめて 歌えることを

極めるしかないんだろう かけ違えてたボタンも何もかも 元通りなんて出来ないけど 証明して見せるんだ 強い気持ちで立ち続けることだけが 自分でいられると

断ち切るしかないんだろう 注いだ冬は心のLabyrinth 後戻りなんて出来ないから やりきるしかないんだろう 黒い気持ちと手を繋いだって構わない ほら

極めるしかないんだろう かけ違えてたボタンも何もかも 元通りなんて出来ないけど 証明して見せるんだ 強い気持ちで立ち続けることだけが 未来へ繋がると

Romaji

honki de nageta kotoba mo yokaze ni magirete shimatta rays of light tokei no hari wa juuji wo shimeshite hakanasa shiraseru maru de chaimu (koko kara dashite) kagami ni utsutteiru (koko kara dashiteyo) ano hi no jibun ga amari ni muryoku de

sore demo (koko kara dashite) kienai kasureta koe (koko kara dashiteyo) nageki no you na merodi wo kanadeteruyo

tachikiru shika nain darou sosoida fuyu wa kokoro no Labyrinth atomodori nante dekinai kara yarikiru shika nain darou kuroi kimochi to te wo tsunaidatte kamawanai dakishimetatte ii

utagau koto wo shiranai hitomi ni modoretara nan to iika tokei no hari wa hizuke wo kaeteku munashisa karamaru jimi na jooku (koko ni irun da) mitsukete hoshii to omou (koko ni irun dayo) ikari mo itami mo subete uketomete

ima nara (koko ni irun da) mou ichido negaeru kana (koko ni irun dayo) shinjiru mono mitsumete utaeru koto wo

kiwameru shika nain darou kakechigaeteta botan mo nanimokamo motodoori nante dekinai kedo shoumei shite miserun da tsuyoi kimochi de tachi tsuzukeru koto dake ga jibun de irareru to

tachikiru shika nain darou sosoida fuyu wa kokoro no Labyrinth atomodori nante dekinai kara yarikiru shika nain darou kuroi kimochi to te wo tsunaidatte kamawanai hora

kiwameru shika nain darou kakechigaeteta botan mo nanimokamo motodoori nante dekinai kedo shoumei shite miserun da tsuyoi kimochi de tachi tsuzukeru koto dake ga mirai e tsunagaru to

English

The words I've seriously thrown, too, were diverted In the night wind, rays of light The hands of the clock show 10 o'clock They inform me of transience like a chime (Take me from here) Myself from that day (Take me from here) Who's reflected in the mirror, is way too powerless

Nevertheless (Take me from here) My nonvanishing cracking voice (Take me from here) Is playing a melody that sounds like lamentation

I have no choice but to break it off, do I? The falling winter is my heart's labyrinth I can't backtrack, so I have no choice but to go the full distance, do I? Even if I hold hands with these dark feelings, I don't mind I can even hold them close

How great would it be if I could Go back to when my eyes didn't know distrust The hands of the clock change the date A plain joke entwined with emptiness (I'm right here) I think I want you to find me (I'm right here) Accept all of my anger and pain

Now (I'm right here) Could I wish once again? (I'm right here) For looking at what I believe in And being able to sing

I have no choice but to go to the end, do I? I can't undo everything that I Did wrong from the start But I'll prove it to you That I'll keep standing with these strong feelings And that I can be myself

I have no choice but to break it off, do I? The falling winter is my heart's labyrinth I can't backtrack, so I have no choice but to go the full distance, do I? Even if I hold hands with these dark feelings, I don't mind Look

I have no choice but to go to the end, do I? I can't undo everything that I Did wrong from the start But I'll prove it to you That I'll keep standing with these strong feelings This will be connected to my future

[elleofakind]

Ueno Toshogu shrine is one of the few places in Tokyo to maintain a peony garden both in spring and winter! This variety of peony is called fuyu botan and you'll recognise them from the straw shield that protects the flowers from cold and ice. I was so happy to visit, as peonies are my favourite flower! To know more about winter peonies, check my latest blog linked in bio. #uenotoshogu #uenotoshogupeonygarden #uenotoshogushrine #上野東照宮 #上野東照宮ぼたん苑 #上野東照宮冬ぼたん #上野東照宮牡丹園 #冬ぼたん #冬牡丹 #ぼたん #牡丹 #peonyseason #peonygarden #peonyaddict #peonylover #winterpeonies #winterpeony #whattodointokyo #whattodoinjapan #神社と四季 #神社フォトコンわたしと神社 (presso Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coo6UjHv9ww/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shadowandardentaquarium]

Winter Peony 1930s by Blue Ruin 1 Via Flickr: Special winter-blooming peonies are cultivated in Japan, including Kan-botan (寒牡丹) and Fuyu-botan (冬牡丹), these peonies are protected by straw enclosures, called yuki-gakoi (雪囲い).

[myth-and-mischief]

Shuichi skins: common - “Haru”, “Natsu”, “Aki”, and “Fuyu”

Like other Overwatch characters, Shuichi’s common skins would be recolorings of the default skin.  The major exceptions would be the flower/hair pin would be different depending on the skin, as well as the trail of flowers.

Note:  The colors for each season mostly follow the specific seasonal colors Japan has for kimonos, with some exceptions.  The colors also echo Shuichi’s sibling in charge of that season.  Between the flower trail, the hair pin, and the pattern on the kimono / hakama, the flowers also follow a seasonal pattern.  Shuichi also still wields a naginata in these skins and the shaft color changes to match the skin; I just wanted to save space in the artwork.

Haru (Spring)

The skin for Shuichi’s own season, being the dragon of spring.  The skin has a strong connection to the sakura (cherry), being found in the hair pin, the pattern on the kimono, and the small sakura sprouts / petals that trail after Shuichi moving around the map.  Fuji (wisteria), another spring blossom, decorates the hakama.

Natsu (Summer)

The skin for summer, the season under Shuichi’s sister Ai (Hanzo’s other dragon).  The butterfly is one motif, seen in the hair pin, and the pattern in both the kimono and hakama.  Asagao (morning glory) decorate the kimono along the chest lines.  Finally, ayame (iris) decorate the hakama as well as the trail of flowers.  

Aki (Autumn)

The skin for autumn, the season under Shuichi’s oldest sister Tori.  Higanbana (spider lily) would be tucked in the hair.  Three different kiku (chrysanthemum) motifs decorate the kimono.  Finally, kaede (maple leaves) decorate the hakama.  Hagi (bush clover) would bloom behind Shuichi moving over the map.

Fuyu (Winter)

The skin for winter, the season under Shuichi’s eldest sibling Rin.  The winter botan (a winter peony bred by the Japanese) would be tucked in the hair, as well as trail after Shuichi moving over the map. Ume (Japanese plum/apricot), traditionally a motif of winter looking forward to spring, pattern the kimono top.  Tsubaki (camellia), another winter looking forward to spring motif, decorate the hakama.  

[konjaku]

姫冬牡丹[Himefuyubotan] Helleborus orientalis

姫[Hime] : Small or adorable person or thing; young lady of noble birth

冬[Fuyu] : Winter

牡丹[Botan] : Peony

Native to around the Balkans and Turkey, it and was introduced in the Meiji period(1868-1912). The ones in the photo were growing in tiny clusters under the shade of trees in a garden. The grass was about from forty to sixty centimeters tall, and almost all the flowers were facing down.

The name in the header is an alias, and the original Japanese name is ハルザキクリスマスローズ[Haruzakikurisumasurōzu]. ハルザキ is 春咲き, or blooming in spring, and クリスマスローズ is Cristmas rose. It also has another name 雪起こし[Yukiokoshi], which means lifting snow (from below). There is another name, レンテンローズ[Rentenrōzu], which is just the English name Lenten rose in katakana. There is also ヘレボルス・オリエンタリス[Hereborusu orientarisu], which is just a katakana reading of its botanical name. This time, I used the name with kanji.

Incidentally, aliases for the closely related species H. niger are 冬牡丹, クリスマスローズ and ヘレボルス・ニゲル[-nigeru]. They are complex because they have multiple aliases and very similar flowers.

These species are said to be highly poisonous. Many spacies in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, are highly poisonous, so they need to be handled with care and grown in the right place. Cases of poisonous plants unexpectedly being mixed in with vegetables, causing poisoning in people who eat them, occur every year. At present I have not seen any deviations of these species.

[goddessgardener]

Gratitude in the Dirt

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, Novelist

Pumpkins, gourds, and scarecrows decorate our yards. Thanksgiving has arrived and we give thanks for our safety, the bounty on our tables, the flora in our curated gardens, our wide-open spaces, community camaraderie, and the benevolence of family and friends. Despite the electrical blackouts, evacuations, and fires, for the most part, we have been spared despair and tragedy. As a gardener, I find solace, grace, and gratitude while toiling in the dirt. I encourage you to discover happiness and joy in nature. Pay attention to the details. Walk around your home and journey into the garden to observe how your world is colored.

Begin by practicing gratitude for the simple things you take for granted: the bright red hues on the Boston Ivy, the intricate patterns on a coleus plant, the varied textures of a mosaic of palms, redwoods, and liquid ambers swaying in the wind, a thick blanket of leaves fallen from the Japanese maple. What about being grateful that in normal times, we have electricity at the flick of a switch or warm running water by turning on a spigot? As frustrated as we are with our power company, we still luxuriate with more conveniences than people in many countries. We can’t become numb to the delights and challenges of living.

The increased popularity of foraging has resulted in a stream of articles in magazines recently. Although I do advocate adding a variety of wild weeds to our diets, it is also important to caution the inexperienced about the dangers of picking plants that are unfamiliar. Whilst purslane, dandelions, amaranth, and lambsquarters are highly nutritious, there are many botanicals that can trigger major allergies or even be deadly when consumed. Hemlock, which resembles wild carrots or Queen Anne’s lace and oleander will kill humans and animals. Until you are knowledgeable about what you are gathering for your next supper, it’s best to purchase your “exotic” greens from a Farmer’s market or local vegetable bin.

Persimmons appear like shiny orange ornaments hanging from tree limbs and will add a festive feeling to your holiday décor. Pick them now before the squirrels and birds add them to their autumn menu. Persimmons will ripen on the counter. Keep in mind that astringent Hachiya persimmons must be soft before eating, while the Fuyus are most delicious and perfect for lunch snacks or sliced into salads when hard and crunchy like apples.

November is usually the optimum month to plant trees, bulbs, transplants, and seedlings, however, without any rain this autumn thus far, I am recommending waiting until we have at least a day of consistent moisture. Even though I watered boxwoods and annuals purchased earlier in the month, these plants are struggling and will probably have to be replaced.

As we celebrate November, we prepare for the dormant season ahead. Hopefully, we’ll experience much-needed rainfall soon.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for End of November

∞CLEAN UP any leaves or weeds remaining from annuals and vegetables. Compost your healthy debris. Cleaning up now will prevent the population of snails, earwigs, and sowbugs from expanding. ∞WATER ornamentals and perennials that have withered from the dry winds. ∞PRUNE shrubs before new flower bulbs form. As soon as crape myrtles lose their leaves, shape your trees. Prune fig trees to a size to keep the fruit within reach. ∞CUT back leggy geraniums and pelargoniums. New growth with an abundance of flowers will re-emerge by spring. ∞FORAGE only for plants that you can positively identify. ∞FERTILIZE your hedges with fertilizers high in nitrogen. Lawns need their second feeding application now. Water deeply. ∞RAKE fallen leaves to add to the compost pile. ∞CLEAN rain gutters of leaves and add to your compost pile. ∞SPRAY deciduous fruit trees with dormant oil. Pears, peaches, plums, and apricots will benefit from three rounds of spraying, usually towards the end of November, December, and January. ∞PERUSE nurseries for perennials such as columbine, carnations, coral bells, and chrysanthemums which can be planted from six-packs as soon as it rains. ∞DEADHEAD your roses regularly to maintain blossoms and fragrance until January. If you prefer, allow the rose hips to grace your bushes with their vibrant red and orange color. Pick the hips to add vitamin C to your tea. ∞DIVIDE perennials and separate overgrown clumps. Plant elsewhere or share extras with a friend. ∞COLLECT dried grasses, pods, willows, branches, and other natural materials for a cornucopia of autumn arrangements. ∞HOLLOW out a pumpkin or gourd and plant with succulents for an appealing Thanksgiving display. ∞CREATE glorious fall hued floral arrangements with the firecracker colors of roses, gerbera, berries, and reeds. ∞VEGETABLES such as broccoli, beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, turnips, and spinach can be planted by seed when carefully watered. ∞HARVEST your pumpkins, gourds, squash, apples, walnuts, persimmons, and tangerines. Create a basket of edibles as festive holiday décor. ∞ENJOY the fall foliage and views of the changing tree colors from a hilltop location. ∞BE grateful for your garden. Whether your plot is large, medium, or small, or even if you only showcase a potted plant in the window, you are a gardener. Keep digging. Grace and gratitude are buried in the dirt. Everyone grows with nature.

Take time to give thanks for the little things every day, not just once a year. Be grateful for what you have. Having an attitude of gratitude makes every moment shine brightly.

Each day is Thanksgiving Day when you live, learn, laugh, love, and appreciate what you have. Share the abundance.

Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, and delicious Turkey Day!

Happy gardening. Happy growing. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” Doris Day

Photos and more: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1320/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian-Grace-and-gratitude-in-the-dirt.html

  Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com

. Buy a copy of her books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.StarStyleStore.net

Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

[againderek]

Fruit Hunter

Identify the market you explored, and the reasons why you went there:

For this blog I had decided to explore the St. Lawrence Market.

One of the reasons I had chosen this market was because of its convenience as it is just few minutes away from my college. Secondly, since time I came to Canada I have heard a lot of my friends and relatives talk about this market and I was always curious about what this place really was.

    Explain your choice, why you made it and how you went about selecting your fruit.

  The fruit I chose to study about was Japanese Persimmon. At first, I went around the St. Lawrence market searching for something new and something which I had never seen before. Eventually all the fruits being sold there were ones which I had already known about or had seen before. Until I came across a fruit stall where I saw a bunch of tomatoes kept among the fruits. Curiously I went and asked the vendor that why had he kept tomatoes in his stall when it was supposed to be a fruit stall. The vendor laughed and said that those weren’t tomatoes and were actually fruits called Japanese Persimmons. Hearing this amazed me and made me curious to know more about this unusual fruit.

    A brief summary of the history, geographical location(s), botanical family, market pricing and seasonality.

  The history behind the origin of the fruit is quite controversial. Many botanists in the past have argued that these fruits had originated from China. But then eventually geologists found out that at some point in the past ancient times the land boundary of Japan was untied to the Asian continent and it is actually a fruit from Japan. Information source ( https://www.tytyga.com/History-of-Persimmon-Trees-a/374.htm).

  Persimmons trees are majorly grown in areas of Eastern Asia or the eastern regions of the United States. Along with Florida and southern Connecticut, these fruits are also found in places like Texas and Kansas. Information source (https://www.gardenguides.com/77559-persimmon-trees.html).

  Currently the largest cultivation of Persimmon trees in the United States is done in California.

  The Persimmon is a fruit which basically belongs to the species of the Ebenaceae family. One of its most popular botanical name is Diospyros Kaki.

The current market price of the Persimmon fruit at St. Lawrence market was $ 2.99 for each. To compare the market prices I went to a supermarket near by my place. Initially I was amazed on finding out that the supermarket was actually selling packaged persimmons for $ 1.69 for a pound. At first, I felt that most probably the vendor at St. Lawrence was charging too much for the fruit. But later on investigating more about it I discovered that the sizes of the fruit affects the quality and taste of it as well. Even though the one I bought from St. Lawrence was more expensive but since it was bigger it was much more sweeter to taste than the ones at the supermarket which were comparably smaller in size.

  The seasonality of the fruit varies depending on when it ripens. Different types of persimmons ripen at different seasons.

Matsumoto Early Fuyu are early-season cultivars which ripen three weeks earlier than Fuyu, Tanenashi, Okame and Zengi. Mid-season cultivars are Hachiya, Triumph and Hyakume. And finally, the late-season cultivars are Costata, Ormond and Tsuru.

  Perform a sensory evaluation (SEE WEEK 3)

 Visually the fruit looks exactly like a tomato. It is orange or red in color. Round and plump with a short stem.

On holding it was quite firm. Usually when many fruits are ripe they tend to be softer than their unripe form. But the persimmon is one of the few fruits which is actually quite firm even in its ripe form.

Taste wise it was very sweet. It tasted almost like a papaya.

Texture wise after the first bite it felt like a plum. Although it was firm from the outside but after eating it the texture was juicy and tender in the inside.

  Discuss: if you were to cook this fruit, what cooking method would you use? Support your answer and provide a recipe. 

  Usually with any fruit the first thing which comes to peoples mind is to make a jam out of it. But if I were to cook the fruit I would try to use it in an unconventional way and make a sauce out of it. Which I could later use to make dishes of chicken or pork by coating them in the persimmon sauce.

For example, Stir fired chicken in persimmon sauce.

  Ingredients:

  Persimmon fruit – 400 grams

Water – 3 litres

Vegetable or canola oil – 10 milliliters

Shallots (finely chopped) – 20 grams

Chicken breast boneless (sliced into 3-4 cm slices) – 200 grams

Salt – ½ teaspoon

Cilantro(finely chopped) – 2-3 sprigs

    Method:

  Blanch the chicken in 1 liter of water and keep aside.

Add 2 liters of water in a pot.

Remove the stem, cut the persimmon fruit into half, put them into the pot of water and boil for at least 15-20 mins or till persimmons are completely cooked.

Pour the persimmon along with the water into a blender and blend until it reaches a smooth saucy consistency.

Pour the sauce through a mesh/fine strainer in order to get perfectly smooth sauce.

Heat the oil in a pan.

Add shallots and cook till they turn translucent.

Add the persimmon sauce.

Add salt.

Once the sauce is hot and reaches boiling point, add the chicken and toss over high flame.

Once done serve with a garnish of finely chopped cilantro.

    Reflect on what you learned from this experience.

  This experience helped me to learn a lot about different fruits which I have never heard of before. It has also taught me that the world of agriculture and cultivation has evolved a lot. Cultivation is no more limited to any particular region or environment anymore. Fruits like the persimmon which are basically fruits which belong to regions of eastern Asia such as Japan, China and Korea are now easily available and cultivated on a large scale in many parts of the United States.