15 Flower Photos for Wordless Wednesday

Beginning of Plum and Cherry Blossom Season in Okinawa

Flowering Trees and What We Learned Today

Plum Blossom Report #2

 

 

Wintertime depression was sneaking up on me because, I need sunshine.

Unfortunately, it's been cold and raining every day this week.

Stuck in the office, all day, I wasn't in any mood for blogging last night.  So, I didn't.

It was raining this morning but, Map It Okinawa came by and, off to the hills, we went.

  

The plan:  Go back to  Oshittai (オーシッタイ) and see how the plum blossoms were doing.

These images were taken, to give flower lovers an idea, what to expect.

That narrow road, wasn't really made for high speed, two way traffic.

On weekdays, there isn't hardly any traffic so, it's fairly safe for flower viewing.

But, on weekends, it can get crowded with nature nuts and photographers.

The slight drizzle of rain, would come and go so, I didn't mind it, too much.

As long as it's not windy, you can shoot some interesting photos. 

If no water drops get on the lens, you may catch some drops on the flowers and stems.

Wet vegetation can yield some interesting colors and compositions.

The bees seemed to be hiding somewhere dry and, didn't bother me much today.

With no wind, shaking everything, I used slow shutter speeds to capture the flower colors.

And, it was easy to move around, without worrying about traffic, coming down the road.

Just imagine, somebody spraying some sort of honey mist in the outdoor air,

Then maybe, you'll have an idea, what the place smells like.

Anybody, who has seen my profile picture, can probably tell, I ain't no flower dude !

There'll more than likely, be more women than, bees up there this weekend.

They should wait another week if, they want to see those trees in full bloom.

Today was the first time, I took a close look at the bark on those plum trees.

And, I noticed these spikes, sticking out of the branches and tree trunks.

It would be a good idea, not to climb on of those trees, to try and snatch some flowers.

Those thorns or, whatever you call them, look like roofing nails, to me !

If you are one of those folks, who snitch other people's flowers, find a low branch.

Or, bring along a step ladder so, you can reach up high. Just don't climb the tree.

Luckily, nobody heard me, when I discovered, a plum tree bit me !

Taking a wild guess, the plum blossoms are only about 20% of the way into full bloom.

My prediction:  The next two weekends -- You will find traffic jams in those hills.

SEE MORE IN PLUM BLOSSOM REPORT #1

FOR DIRECTIONS: VISIT THE MAP IT LINK ABOVE

Plum Blossoms in Oshittai (オーシッタイ) Okinawa

Bloom Report # 1 for 2016

 

 

Weeks ago, we began visiting to check on the plum trees.

But, I didn't bother taking many pictures because, there weren't any flowers.

Well, we got a little surprise, going up there today; the things are starting to sprout. 

Before you go hopping in the family wagon, to drive up there, let me tell you:

These photos were taken with 420MM of lens on the end of the camera.

Most of the trees, don't have as many flowers, as you see, in this photo.

Remember, photographers, do tricky stuff, to make travelers, want to visit.

So, I'm kind of selective, in the subjects I decide to waste my digital film on.

The things, I look for are colors, contrast and light that will make the flowers pop.

Sometimes, my body gets all contorted and, I block traffic coming down the roads.

The 85% of the trees that are barren and bare, don't catch my attention.

Sometimes, I fill the photo frame and make it look like a thousand flowers are on every tree.

It's just a little teaser, that might inspire you to go see them. Hah !

 A real good writer, would give a description of the flowers smell.

To me, they smell sweet but, I don't know how to describe it so, go find out for yourself.

Er, I could say, "They smelled like a lady, wearing too damn much perfume!"

Bees are attracted to the blossoms and, there are beehives nearby.

So, if you have an allergy, you might want to wear some protection; like a beekeeper's suit.

The road, these trees line, is pretty narrow and, two cars can barely pass each other.

By the time local media visit and report, the flowers are in full bloom, it gets crazy.

That's why, I like to go shoot photos, early in the season.

Maybe, I'll head up that way again, tomorrow to do some more shooting.

But, there's no way, I'll visit when the trees are in full bloom.

So many folks drive up there, it can take two hours, just getting in and out of the place.

Not very good at giving directions, here's what I did for those who want to visit.

The image above, you will see if, you are driving north along the east coast of the island.

The white sign says, "Oshitta 4Km to the left."  And, I Geo-tagged the image.

If you are one of those Geo-type people, you can see the stuff on Google Plus, I think.

Coming from the north of Okinawa, along the east coast, you'd see this sign.

Oshitta, would be a right hand turn of the coastal highway. And, that's where the trees are.

Latitude: 26.589

Longitude: 128.096

That's the best directions, I can give for now. I have an idea for tomorrow, though.

Maybe, I'll count all the coffee machines, along the way.

Then, I could give everybody some proper, redneck-style directions.

For example:  There must be 3,792 coffee machines between here and Naha Airport.

And, that's just counting the ones, one the left side of the road !

Trying to Capture the Four Chinese Gentlemen in Okinawa

Here's a Goal for the New Year

 

 

In my never ending search, to learn everything on the internet, I discovered this.

Centuries ago, the Chinese came up with something called the Four Noble Plants.

Nowadays, in the art world, they are called the Four Gentlemen.

Plum Blossoms

Orchids

Bamboo

Chrysanthemums

Well, I got three out of the four, in my photo collection, already.

The first photo is one of some plum blossoms taken a little late in the season.

So, I need to get back out and find some fresh ones and shoot a bit more artistically.

Orchids, they will have plenty of them in Motobu, next week.

February is the month of Okinawa's International Orchid Show.

Bamboo, I can find plenty of places on this island to shoot images of, any day of the week.

Chrysanthemums, are driving me crazy.

Do you know, they have about 150,000 different kinds of Mums ?

After about six hours of looking at them online, I gave up.

There must have been 75,000 images of them, I saw today and I still don't know if I ever shot one.

Maybe, I'm just not a flower type kind of guy.

But, I learned a lot about those flowers while searching. 

The circular symbol, on the tiled roof, behind those cherry blossoms, is a chrysanthemum.

The symbol of a chrysanthemum is popular in Japan.

 I may have to visit a flower shop, because I wouldn't know a mum, in the wild if I tripped over one.

Before 2014 comes to an end, I plan on shooting those Four Gentlemen the right way.

If anybody has a field of mums, growing by their house, give me a holler.

And, if it's a nice sunny day, we'll getterdun.

5 Flower Photos From Okinawa, Japan

IRIS

Cosmos

Orchids

Cherry Blossoms

Plum Blossoms

These are just 5 of the flowers I have come to know in Okinawa, Japan over the few years I have been running this blog and travelling around the island taking photos.

The title to each photo is a link to one of the posts concerning the flower.

There are more flowers, ferns and trees to be found in FESTIVALS OF OKINAWA and SIGHTS OF OKINAWA.

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY