Ohara’s Four Seasons of Flowers
Ohara is an attractive destination for the enjoyment of seasonal flowers. In January and February, the flowers of Japanese allspice (Chimonanthus praecox) signal the imminent arrival of spring. In March, white and red plum blossoms color the landscape. Cherry trees and camellias (Camillia japonica) bloom in April. Hanajiri-no-Mori, in particular, is famous for its camellia flowers.
As April comes to a close, rhododendrons, forsythia, meadowsweet, and magnolias come into bloom. In May, peonies, azaleas, and tsutsuji and indicum rhododendrons are added to mix. As spring leads into summer, garden moss and a variety of trees fill the mountains with green. Purple Japanese wisteria blossoms appear briefly, and fields turn yellow with Japanese kerria (yamabuki) flowers. During the rainy season, French hydrangeas bloom in white, blue, purple, and pink. Then, in July, crepe myrtle and oleander burst into life. In August, the summer pygmy water lilies blossom all at once, dotting the temple ponds with color.
As summer turns to fall, red spider lilies (higanbana) bloom in September, followed by the onset of chrysanthemum season. In the meadows, visitors can enjoy wild greenery such as yellow patrinia and fragrant eupatorium. October brings bush clover blossoms. Ohara’s changing fall leaves are celebrated every fall.
In November, when the cold starts to set in, the fall leaves scatter over the mossy grounds of temples and shrines. As winter approaches, snow begins to cover the mountains and villages alike. Even in December there are winter flowers, such as cold-weather peonies and sasanqua camellias.
No matter the season or the reason for your visit, flowers are sure to welcome you to Ohara.
