Flower Photo: Red Spider Lily AKA Hurricane Lily

Higanbana (ヒガンバナ) in Japan

An autumn equinox flower, botanists call this plant Lycoris radiata.

One source tells us if, you meet someone you will never see again, these flowers will pop up.

A trail of them will sprout behind you !

Over at About.com they call this a Surprise Lily or, Naked Lady. 

Flower Pictures Organization shows a few other varieties of the plants and flowers. 

The bulbs, shouldn't be eaten (poisonous) according to NC State University. 

Learn more about the plants and, order them at Southern Living. 

There's even a gal named Spiderlily over on Facebook so, I liked her 'cuz she's an artist !

What the Heck Is a Teru Teru Bōzu?

Spooky Looking Things

 

 

Somewhere in the past, I've run across these things hanging from trees.

Now, I can't remember if it was in a museum photo, a magazine or, online somewhere.

With Halloween approaching, I've been meaning to hunt one of them down.

And, after doing some research, give you a story about the little rag dolls.

It all came together this morning, when I saw one on Facebook.

Teru Teru Bōzu ( 照る照る坊主) are Japanese dolls, you can make from cloth or paper.

In Japan, kids are taught to make and hang them, the day before a special event.

It is believed, the next day, the sun will shine and, there will be no rain. 

This One Was Made from Two Tissue Papers

 

 

The instructions were found at Japan Reference and, I made my own in 5 minutes.

You can probably do it a lot faster; there wasn't any string in my office.

A pipe-cleaner, I found in my desk was an alright substitute.

Not certain there's any scientific evidence, to back me up but, so far, it hasn't rained all day.

We'll have to wait and see, how things turn out tomorrow and, I can hardly wait.

It's Only a Nursery Rhyme 

But, if it rains tomorrow, I get to cut doll's head off !

Hopefully, the people over at Japan Reference won't mind me sharing this translation:

"Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

Like the sky in a dream sometime

If it’s sunny I’ll give you a golden bell.

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

If you make my wish come true

We’ll drink lots of sweet sake.


Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

but if it’s cloudy and I find you crying (i.e. it’s raining)

Then I shall snip your head off."

 

 

More at Japanese Mythology and Folklore

Many Times I Take a Photo of a Photo

Or Make an Image of a Sign

 

 

There's a method to this madness and, it usually involves research.

Today, I'll show you just this one black and white, framed picture found in a museum.

Of course, before snapping the shutter, permission was granted.

 What you are looking at is a ritual conducted in the far north of Okinawa island.

This month, hopefully, a few of us foreigners, will be attending the event.

This photo helps me get the conversations going, trying to learn the details of what takes place.

Documenting stuff like this, at least five questions have to be asked.

That would be the Who, What, Where, When and Why, all writers have to know about.

The first four, I pretty much have the answers, figured out.

It's a bunch of guys wearing traditional clothing, carrying a wooden tub.

And, it happens on a certain month of the lunar calendar.

Why, is the part, I haven't got the answers to, yet.

Do you suppose, they might have another bunch of folks, coming with another wooden tub ?

Like, a crowd of women, carrying a gal, to meet the guy in this wooden tub ?

What would a guy have to do, to get to ride in the tub from this part of town ?

Anyway, the research goes on.

Early September: A Firey Sunrise

We don't get the bright colors of Autumn foliage on this island.

Year round, things are mostly green.

If you're out before sunrise, you may catch scenes like this, looking out towards the horizon.

Something told me, to get outside early today and, I'm glad that I did.

This photo was taken three minutes before sunrise.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 92mm

Exposure:  f/11   1/10   ISO 100

Location: Kin Bridge, Okukubi River, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  SEP 2 2015   6:04AM

Travel Photo: Mangrove Reflections

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 155mm

Exposure:  f/16   1/2sec   ISO 100

Location:  Okukubi River, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  AUG 30 2015  6:27PM

A Few Facts About Mangrove Forests

 

 

Mangrove trees only grow in tropical and subtropical coastal areas.

They become flooded and drained, twice each day, with the movement of the tides.

Mangrove trees survive in levels of salt which would kill most plants.

They are home to many snakes, amphibians, fish, crustaceans and birds.

The roots provide protection from predators for many young fish and crabs.

They  help stop coastal erosion along many shorelines around the world. 

You May Also Like:

Down in the Mangroves

In the Mangroves of Okinawa

Flower and Seed (Photos) The Mangrove Tree of Okinawa

REFERENCES:

National Geographic

National Ocean Service

Mangrove Forests: Ecosystems

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History