THE JAPANESE AND THEIR FLOWERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1870, 29 August 1918, Page 1

THE JAPANESE AND THEIR FLOWERS.

In the flower-loving In ml of Japan whale families will tramp for miles through snow or rain or smirching sun to indulge in the favourite pastime of flower viewing. In. the province of Shima there is a little village filled every spring with crowds of holiday-makers, who come to gaze in admiration at the mass of plum blossom which fills the whole valley. The trees grow for some miles along the hanks of the river, and here numbers of lea-stalls in soft, harmonious colouring, and bright with dainty paper lanterns, are arranged for the accommodation of those attending the llower feast. Later in the year the peaeli orchards near Tokio are visited by thousands. In the park at Kyoto the people gather again in the,cherry blossom time. Temporary teahouses are erected, and hung with curtains and lanterns, decorated with representations of this llower. With unerring taste ail the colouring is in harmony with the blossoms; no false notes detract from the stu'ronnding beauty. Even the cakes and sweetmeats are said to resemble, clurries. The dresses of the people, the tea-houses (hey sit in. and even the food they eat, harmonise with (lie flowering trees. Nothing is tolerated in dress, decoration, or garden, (hat is not in perfect agreement. In the month of June one garden winding along the banks of the river Sumida is crowded with sightseers paying the’! - annual homage to the iris (Kempheri). Nothing could be more artistic' than (his garden, which has been in (he possession of the same family for centuries. The colouring of (he little summer houses, the kimonos worn by the little maids, who serve tea to the guests, all harmonise with the colour of the (towers. The convolvulus, or morning glory, known to the Japanese as a sago, is a great favourite. In one garden, where thousands of wonderfully trained plants are to be seen, the people gather at 4 o’clock in (ho morning to see the (lowers at their best. Lovers of the lotus rise earlier still, for soon after midnight they set out for the lotas pool to hear and see the opening of the rosy buds at dawn. Mr Parsons, in his description of the lotus, says: “Every breath of wind disturbs the delicate balance of their leaves, and their glaucous surface reflects every passing phase of the sky.” In the month of May one of the most popular resorts is the garden attached to one of the temples in Tokio, where the world-famed Wistaria multijuga (Eugi-no-hana) trails over large trellises overhanging the lake filled with goldfish. Ancient pine trees are placed just where their trunks and brandies will harmonise with the mauve splendour of these fugi blossoms. In the month of May, also the azalea viewing takes place, but so dazzling is the colour that the little teahouses near are placed out of sight of the blossom. For close on 1,000 years garden parties have been held, in honour of (he chrysanthemum, which is the imperial, but not (he national, emblem of Japan. Chrysanthemums arc grown alike by rich and poor with exquisite taste and skill. Even the bowls that many are grown in are artistic, and they do not need to be hidden from the eye as our flower-pots do. The scarlet-leaved maple is often associated with the chrysanthemum, and near Tokio the little tea-booths erected in the valley where they grow again harmonise with them, and ton is served by little maids whoso dresses are decorated with red maple leaves. The soft crepe kimonos of the? geishas are bright with them, the cups in which the tea is served are painted with (hem, and oven the cakes are made to represent them at this last great flower feast of (lie vear.