Hydrangeas along the roadside

The rainy season has set in here so the hydrangeas are in bloom now.
I think the soil and the moisture here is very  suitable for the flowers.
The florist said that the alkaline soil  may color them rather red  and the acid one  may do them blue..
When I stayed in London during the last summer for 1 month,I saw the hydrangeas in the neighbourhood of my daughter's house but did not think they were the same kind of flowers as their colour was too pale.
In Karamara,there is a temple named 'The Hydrangeas Temple',as it has so many flowers in the precinct and also in the garden.

                                           

      3.6..2012                                  

                                     

                                         

                                         

                                             7.6.2012

                                       

16.6..2012

                       

                                           17.6..2012

                                                             

Hokokuji Temple in Kamakura

The Hokokuji Temple is one of the Zen temples which belong to Kenchoji  Temple  of  Rinzai Sect.
It was built by Shogun, Ietoki Ashikaga in  the year 1334.
This temple is famous for its lovely bamboo garden behind the main temple.

We  can have a  walk on the alley among the 1000 bamboo trees  and also rest  to have powdered green tea and Japanese sweets at the tea house  in the very garden . It was very hot this Sunday, but we felt cool as it was  breezing...It's a 10 minutes bus  trip from JR  Kamakura station .

                                                            belfry

                                                          caves to accommodate tombs of Ashikagas

old sakura tree

Buddhist Temples in Kamakura （鎌倉）

’Kamakura',Home of the Samurai is about 50 km southwest of Tokyo.From the end of the 12th century till the 14th century, it was the seat of the bakufu of feudal military government.It consists of the moutainous area characterized by defensive topograpy .The city has many historical and cultural sites, incduding 11shinto shrines and Buddhist temples that were built at the foot of the mountain and the velly beds, along with Kyoto and Nara which draws visitors from all over the world.

Engakuji Temple（円覚寺） is just 1 minitue walk from JR Kita(north)- Kamakura station. It was built to mourn for the victims who died during the invasion by Mongolians without distingushing friends and enemies.Together with Kenchoji Temple （建長寺）,it played a big role in the establishment of the Zen Buddhism in Japan.

Kenchoji Temple is the first ashram dedicated to the Zen Buddhism in Japan .It was built , receiving a Chinese high Buddhist priest,Rankei Doryu (蘭渓道隆）.It made a great contribution as the largest facility for the introduction of Chinese culture to the the establishment and development of the Samurai culture.

You may experience Zazen(座禅）,Zen meditation and Shakyo(写経）, hand -copying of the sutra in the temples,carving (kamakura bori 鎌倉彫)and also hiking there!
Kamakura has a possibility to be a World Heritage .

Engakuji Temple

Engakuji Temple

Kenchoji Temple

Kenchoji Temple

Tokeiji Temple

Tokeiji Temple

The hydrangeas  haven't  started to bloom in this temple.

The Sakura leaves- now

Now the leaves of  Sakura have become big and dark green in color..
The leaves of the double Sakura have a special aroma after they are salted.
We can use it for preparing for the  Japanese traditional dessert of  Sakura mochi in this season.
We wrap boiled sticky rice stuffed with red bean paste with the Sakura leaves.
They are a bit salty but  other part is sweet so,they have a  very good combination.
During our life in Singapore for more than 5 years,I prepared Sakura mochies around 500-600 pieces  by myself  as the most popular dessert for my husband's company parties.

                                                       The nearby park in May.

                                                     The leaves of the normal Sakura

                                                  The leaves of double Sakura

                                                                   
                                                   Sakura Mochi