Plant Lovers: A Fox Face Plant (Photos) with Some Udder Names

Here's what caught my eye today Fox Face (Solanum mammosum) at a DIY store in Okinawa, Japan

So you could get a good look at them, I shot photos from different angles.

Nobody walking through the Lawn and Garden Center knew what kind of plant it was when I asked them.  

So, I decided to ahem, ahum, reposition the price tag which had a name on it.

That wasn't exactly a good composition for a photo so, I decided to reposition it, again.

My plan, after I took this photo with the Japanese name, Fox Face on the plant, was to put the sticker back where I originally found it.  Sometimes, plans just don't happen.

  This was one of those times.

I GOT CAUGHT TAKING PHOTOS WHERE PHOTOGRAPHY ISN'T ALLOWED !

You'd think I was some sort of criminal, or someone doing industrial espionage.  Groan. 

Why me ?

So, thinking real fast while I was shaking in my flip flops, I showed the guy my camera and said "Watch.  I'll DELETE, Gomenasai ( I'm sorry )" and a buncha other stuff.

It worked.  I got out of there, photos and all.  Next time, I'll ask, first.  Or, I could bring the little Canon G12, and don't get caught.  Hmm.

Anyway, while the camera was downloading, I did my research on Fox Face.

An Anthropoligist named Jared Braiterman has a website called

TOKYO GREEN SPACE

He talks about the plant and says people decorate their homes with them.

Sure enough, he has a photo of the plant and it looks like my photos.

They call the plant Fox Face because somebody decided that's what the fruits look like.

Well, there wasn't a scientific name for the plant on the Tokyo site so, I dug a bit further.

WIKIPEDIA TELLS ME THIS:

In Japan, Solanum mammosum is called Fox Face.

In China, it's called Five Fingered Eggplant.

But, whackos in other places around the world call the plant:

Nipplefruit, Titty Fruit, Apple of Sodom and  Cow's Udder.

Udder than that, I have nothing more to tell you about the Solanum mammosum except, if I ever decide to photograph them again at the DIY store, I might ask for permission first !

UNESCO Shuri Castle at Night: Ten More Photos

Last Sunday's batch of photos from Shuri Castle in Naha Okinawa, Japan has finally been developed. 

Based upon the responses I got from the Moon Viewing post I decided I'll share more of the night scenery at the castle.  Normally, after these type events, I would try to delete two out of every three photos because there will always be motion blur, somebody tripping over my tripod or walking through the scene when I'm attempting a long exposure.

But, some of the photos I shot this time, I composed to avoid people.

They may not be award-winning compositions but, I got a chance to take my time shooting them.

There's plenty of sky above this shot if sombody wants to advertise castles, or red-tile roofs.

That's Naha City and the port down below.

I shot this scene about ten times using a ten second shutter speed.  See the ghost going through the second doorway?  That's motion blur.  Stuff happens, sometimes.

This girl and her shadow, I let slide just because.  Heck, I don't know why.

The moon never shined the way I wanted it to but, it will sometime and I'll be ready.

One of these days, there will be a great big pizza pie moon shining right here and I'll be waiting with a wide angle lens.  I'm gonna nail that sucker.  It's only a matter of time.

Probably, maybe, I'll get permission or something.  We'll see.

A couple of years ago, Doc and I were taking photos at Shuri Castle.

WE GOT BUSTED !

The same security guy who escorted us was there at the Moon Viewing Festival, Sunday.

Just as I was going to snap a mug shot of him to give Doc as a souvenir,

HE LOOKED RIGHT AT ME !

So, I drifted away among the crowd, real quick.

Seemed like he was a little guy, a few years ago but, he looks a lot meaner, now.

This time, he made the ground growl under my feet.  Maybe he has karate chops for breakfast !

Life has taught me.  Don't mess with karate dudes.

The only martial art I ever gained much skill in has been collecting ex-wives.

If I go back to shoot the full moon at Shuri Castle again, ahem, ahum..

Do You Think It Would Be A Good Idea To Get Permission ?

VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Miss Uruma City

MISS URUMA LAST NIGHT

IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT FLIP-FLOPS YESTERDAY

ABOUT 6:30 THE SUN WAS SLIDING DOWN BEHIND THE HILLS

IT WAS TIME TO SWITCH BATTERIES, SD CARDS AND ISO'S

BUT, WAIT

SNEAK A SHOT OF A PRETTY GIRL IN WESTERN ATTIRE

I ZOOMED IN

I COMPOSED A SHOT WITHOUT ASKING PERMISSION

NO PRETTY GIRL IN HER RIGHT MIND

WOULD LET A SWEATY OLD MAN WITH A CAMERA

TAKE HER PICTURE IF HE ASKED

SO, I DIDN'T ASK

I WAITED FOR HER TO TURN HER EYES

TO JUST THE RIGHT POSITION

CLICK

GOT HER

SHE HEARD THE CLICK

SHE TOLD THE BOSS

SOME SWEATY OLD MAN

SNAPPED A PHOTO

WITHOUT ASKING FOR PERMISSION

To be continued.....