A green blind made of the bitter gourds

This morning,the weather forecast has announced that today the temperature is going up just like in summer in Tokyo area.Yesterday,it was raining here and so  the maximum temperature was14.3 degrees but it will be 25  degrees today though the average is 18.4 degrees !!There will be a difference of more than 10 degrees.

We are very worried about this summer season without sufficient electricity as electric supply will be cut around 15% of consumption of  last year.
In 2011 the highest temperature was 39.8c and 39.4c in Saitama prefecture(near
to Tokyo).
The areas of having lasted the temperature over 35c were Gunma for
30 days, Gifu 27days, Gunma , Saitama and Yamanashi for 26days.
I am afraid lots of  people will suffer especially the old and the invalids.
The government said the big demand must save 25% so it will affect
 working people and the industry.

I am sure many houses and the public offices will have green blinds made of bitter gourds to cut the sunlight this year more.
Actually last year,I attended to a lecture organized by the ward office to learn  how to grow bitter gourds at home. They gave me 4 seedings in May and I really enjoyed watering and taking care of them.
Unfortunately  I stayed in UK for 1 month during the summer  , so they withered as my husband was too busy at that time..
However,  it was also very  lucky as I could eacape from the hottest  summer in Japan !!!

                                                            
                                                                           

                                                                            

                                                                                    
                                           
                                        (2012 April 24  )       For the beginners, the bitter gourds are good.
                                                         The students  tried to grow them at the primary school last summer.
                                                      
                                              http://nanapi.jp/26371/ (explanation of how to grow them)