Japan: Outing To "Shiki No Sato" Garden

During our stay in Moriya from early June to mid June, there were only two days with abundant sunlight. The first sunny day was a Sunday, Ah Yu brought all of us to Mount Tsukuba. The other day fell on a weekday. As Ah Yu had gone to work, Emi drove the rest of us to "Shiki no Sato" garden.

We had bought our breakfast from a bakery on the way, so we had a picnic under the shelter.

Behind it was a windmill

which circulated on a stream.

The water flowed to the lake inside the garden,

which created a beautiful landscape.

After our arrival, more visitors came in.

Most of them were golden-aged Japanese who had ample time to spend in appreciating the nature,

capturing it with colour pencils.

or telling old stories at a quiet corner.

Compared to those people, this abandoned boat looked more lonely.

This place is so famous for its irises that the Iris Festival is held there annually in the middle of the year.

It was a pity that we would have left Japan. Nevertheless, it was already a blessing that we were able to enjoy flowers in full bloom, especially those who reminded me of my trip to France during the same season last year:

the hortensias

and the irises.

This time, I had another thing to remember: Yuri in his blue T-shirt and pants could have turned into a flower and merged into the garden.