#annabelle hydrangea

[japan-minka]

Today's Ikebana - Flowers From The Garden

Enjoying the large white blooms of this year's Annabelle smooth leaf hydrangea with a splash of colour from one of our purple lace caps and mophead hydrangeas. Paired with a Shido Shouzan kokeshi.

[mostlythemarsh]

Annabelle

[kotolunokystys]

“The Cloud of Gratitude”

I was born inside a warm lunch pouch.

Normally, we’re supposed to hatch beneath leaves or in tiny patches of shade—

but the very first warmth I knew in this world was the kindness of a boy.

He tucked us away—us, still unborn in our egg case—

deep in the bottom of his lunch pouch,

whispering every day,

“This is the warmest place, just for you.”

And one day, at last,

we were given life—

tiny, pale-green mantises.

His mother was startled and scolded him.

Even so, with tear-streaked hands,

the boy opened the window wide.

Some of us walked along the walls,

some were carried away on a gust of wind—

and I, too, rode the wind.

Now I’ve grown so much,

and at last I’ve arrived at the hill of Annabelle hydrangeas.

Standing atop a bloom of white,

I saw a sky stretching endlessly, all the way to the boy.

I raised my little mantis arms high and made a wish:

May this feeling reach him.

And that feeling became a cloud of gratitude,

drifting up into his sky.

[continent-of-wild-endeavor]

My boss insisted I "go look at Annabelle" before a storm rolled through. He was right, and I'm glad I did!

[wtf-fun-factss]

Hydrangeas are native to Asia, except for one type. Click to read the full fact.

[gon-iii]

夕日のアナベル

2018年、幸手権現堂。春は桜と菜の花、夏は紫陽花、秋は彼岸花、冬は水仙と通年で四季を楽しめる幸手権現堂。以前に桜と彼岸花を見に行ったので3度目か。

ちなみに、もたもた出かけて現地に着いたのが15:00ごろ。3度目iなので勝手知ったる権現堂なのだが、さすがに夕日になるのが早過ぎた。やはりチョット到着が遅かったかと……（チョットじゃないかw）。

そんなこんなで久々のApertureをご利用。

[infinitesismall]

hydrangea arborescens ‘annabelle’

[mostlythemarsh]

Deep Forbidden