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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Greens

Hitachi Seaside Park is one of my favorite parks in Japan. Mainly because of its surreal landscapes all year-long. And as a photo enthusiast, I could not ask for more to see reality and fantasy merge before my eyes and my camera. The park is quite popular during spring and autumn, but not in summer. Maybe because it’s too green?

greenery




Shades of Green

in my world
both birth and death
are painted emerald

begins and ends
on a pool of moss
over sprouts and snags

the rainbow has seven
shades of green
sky sprinkles metallic jades

my mother, in a rocking chair
 hums a lullaby

all I see 
is green

am I color-blind?  

/totomai


This time, I took the bus from Tokyo station, a 2-hour ride. As expected, the bus was almost unoccupied and the park seems to be a different place when it is not overcrowded. It is indeed very green as there’s not much other flowers blooming anywhere except for the zinnias. Ibaraki, the prefecture where the park is situated, experienced a heavy beating from the recent typhoon. This could be one of the reasons why the park was somewhat empty. After the rain though, the sun was in full blast and the sky was perfectly blue.

green 16
set-upgreen 06
maze

Last autumn, I was here. The firebushes were burning red. I tried to replicate the photo I took last year but it was difficult to do so. I failed. Perhaps each shot should be considered unique after all.

The bush is famous for its autumn reds, which deepen as the plant's chlorophyll fades for the season. They are bright red through end of October, when the park closes. The park covers 153 hectacres, and is close to the Pacific coast. Visitors can walk the park through its hills, with the nearby ocean coming in and out of view.  more here

greens
stitched
bloomsville

As mentioned above, the easiest and cheapest way to go the park is via highway bus from Tokyo station (South Yaesu exit). Round trip costs 3,800 yen on weekdays and 4,200 yen on weekends and holidays.  Take note though that the bus from Tokyo only travel at 1030 am.  Last bus from the park to Tokyo is 1641 pm. Entrance fee is 410 yen.

green 27
blowingreen 25
green 28

You may ask why I keep on coming back to this park. It is because of the “Lonely Tree”. Though not publicized, I think it is the most photographed symbol of the park and I wanted to capture it for four seasons. So far, I have spring, summer and autumn already. I need to go back this winter. It seldom snows in Ibaraki so the winter landscape may not that interesting compared to the other three.


tree

Green against blue is a refreshing combination. For four hours, walking around the park, my eyes were not strained at all. Few more days and everything in the park will bloody red again. I am still contemplating whether to go or not. As you know, I am not really a fan of overcrowded places.

green 15green 14green 19

One thing is for sure though, I am coming back to the park to complete my “Lonely Tree” series. I really hope it will snow this year.

/totomai
2015/09/16

Photos taken with Nikon D7000, 
lenses used : 
     Nikkor 18-300mm 3.5f 
     Nikkor 10.5mm 2.8f 
     Tamron 11-16mm 2.8f

47 comments:

  1. I like how you show the seasons.. it takes persistence to get it all.

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  2. Can we ever have too much green? I love the contrast between the red and green...the flash of warmth and red illuminated the mother in the rocking chair all safe and wrapped up in green..nothing wrong with being colour blind when the colours are so bright!

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    1. thanks Jae but too much green will kill me haha :)

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  3. Love your poem...and the pictures.

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  4. whew...everything is poetry here...the park, the photos, the lonely tree and of course the lines...."the rainbow has seven / shades of green"...so much green is soothing for eyes.....

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    1. Thanks Sumana - I guess I am lucky to have known the park - a great source of inspiration

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  5. so easy to get lost, it's like coming to another planet ;)

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    1. especially during spring and autumn, one can easily get lost. Thanks Natasa

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  6. Green is color that seems to be proof of life which is its enchantment because it is so alive.

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    1. Could be of death too, Robin. Well, just my imagination - what if's..

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  7. Oh, the lonely tree. I rather like that - especially the one when it is in pinks. I thought I recognized this park as well from some of your previous postings. Maybe it was last year after the color change.Green is usually associated with life. It is interesting to think of green as a color of death.

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    1. Yes - I guess it was on one of my earliest posts in Poets United. Thanks for remembering, X.

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  8. Totomai, your series is stunning. You are so creative with your photography. Really it makes me want to do the same kind of thing....take photos of the same place in different seasons! I love the same tree photographed with green, red, and then a tinge of white background. And your poem set off the photos beautifully. No, you are not color blind. (smiles) I think we have to remember that even under the snow or under the red exists the 'green' which is life itself.

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    1. Please do a series of four seasons to Mary. I think i have other ideas. Would love to make this is a book but that would be a big challenge haha

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  9. Such beautiful poem and such wonderful pics. It was such a delight to stop by your blog. Keep up the good work :)

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  10. Beautiful, Totomai. I assume all those small bushes were intentionally planted and not simply native to the hillsides? They are very cool, reminding me of the bog trails on the west coast where winter winds have created small bonsai. I always enjoy my visits to your blog. So happy to see something of the world through your lens.

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    1. Yes, Sherry, the bushes blooms from July to October only. They plant other flowers during other seasons

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  11. Green against blue intersperses with other colors. Smoothes the unsettling feel of the human spirit! And to be there must have been most refreshing!

    Hank

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    1. This is the first time I visited the park that the sky was blue. My previous two visits were raining a bit. Thanks Hank

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  12. Such is Arcadia--containing both life and death, multiples and solitudes. I love the rainbow of greens
    and the ideas that seeing so much vitality is a kind of colorblindness, that jade could be be deadly metallic rain. Can we see beyond color, holding all parts of the year cycle together? Your photographs do that. I never saw green so false as in Oz, never saw it so eerie as here.

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    1. Too much green will kill us all :) Thanks Susan

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  13. Such wonderful pictures!! I loved the opening lines.. indeed the color green represents both growth and decay. Beautifully penned!

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  14. Everything is beautiful... and green :-)
    ZQ

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  15. Your photos capture such beauty whether it be a path filled with greenery or splashed with pinks and reds. I think it would be amazing to walk in that park and feel the moment.

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    1. Especially if it's not that crowded, Truedessa :)

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  16. The poem is lovely – and then the follow-up with all the photos was most intriguing. I love your lonely tree and look forward to seeing the winter version.

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    1. Hoping it will snow this year, thanks Rosemary

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  17. Green in all its shades means so much to me...lovely words and oh these images. What a splendid park. I look forward to the winter Lonely Tree image. All I could think when I saw the shrubs was,'who trims these hedges and how often as there are thousands'. What a stunning spot.

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    1. Come visit Japan, Donna. Lots of place to take photos

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  18. I love your green poem. And I can see how you were inspired. What a lovely park. Green is such a soothing color but the reds, blues and hues are spectacular too. I hope you get a wonderful winter photo.

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    1. I can only hope, Myrna. I really want to complete the series

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  19. Love your greens! Poem kind of humorous, but contrast of greens and red - just magical!

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  20. amazing place, i can see why you want to return to it.
    i see the "lonely tree" photo in its 3 shades of seasons. can't wait to see the winter scene. :)
    btw, interesting poem to go with the photos.

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    1. Thanks dsnake. If it will snow, I will go to the park immediately

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  21. Lovely photos. The poem is quite humerous.

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  22. Green is a favourite colour of mine, so I enjoyed the reading and viewing experience very much.

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  23. Love your words and photos, so lush with colors and feelings,

    Elizabeth

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  24. Thanks Lore. I am hoping I'll have the chance to take winter photo (with snow)

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any thoughts to distill?

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