At Yohena Garden Today
Up north, went to check the hydrangea (ajisai for Japanese) blossoms.
Things were looking sort of grim. The parking area was empty; our first clue.
When we walked to the booth, where you pay to enter, it was abandoned, too.
Going up the hill, there were a few scraggly-looking flowers, partially blooming.
There's no sense, driving all that way, with cameras and lenses, to come home empty handed.
So, a decision was made, to go all the way to the top of the hill, to visit Mrs. Yohena.
If, my calculations are correct, she'll be 100 years old, this year.
Up at the little cafe, I met her son. He remembers me from years gone by.
Doc Graff and I, chatted with him and found out the real deal. Flowers are late this year.
He says, full bloom for hydrangeas will be around the middle of next month.
The gardens will be crawling with flower fanatics from June 1st until the 15th or 20th.
Bee and Yellow Flower
They seemed like worthwhile subjects so, I flipped the Pentax on to rapid fire.
The name of the blossom, escapes me at the moment but, I'll get it later.
Climbing that hill, gets old dudes tired. I went all the way up, almost.
Some gals from Hong Kong were the only other visitors and, they were taking pictures, too.
Neither Doc nor, I speak Chinese but, some of those girls spoke English.
So, you can probably guess, what I did. Got permission and, shot them, too.
It's a good idea if, you're shy (like me) to just start talking to strangers.
Lots of people get scared, when they see me coming but, I know what to do.
Especially girls, just blow them kisses, wave or say, "Merry Christmas."
That's what I do. And usually if, they don't run away, it's easy to talk to them.
Bees and flowers well, occasionally I get caught, talking to them, too.
