Colors of My Heart

In June, Hibiya Park enters a particularly beautiful season, when it is adorned with a rich variety of flowers under the gentle, soft light characteristic of early summer. The first to catch the eye are the roses, with numerous varieties reaching their peak bloom mainly in the First Flower Garden. Their vibrant colors—red, pink, and white—along with their delightful fragrance, offer great enjoyment to visitors. Hydrangeas, which are indispensable to the rainy season landscape, bloom gracefully along the pathways and in shaded areas. Their blue and purple blossoms become even more vivid when touched by the rain, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere of the park. In addition, agapanthus, bearing refreshing bluish-purple flowers atop slender, upright stems, come into full bloom in the latter half of June, adding a cool and elegant touch to the early summer scenery. Furthermore, flowers resembling lilies, such as Hemerocallis (commonly known as daylilies), can also be seen. These are character...

Agapanthus is a perennial plant classified in the lily family, bearing cool-toned blue or white blossoms from early summer through mid-summer. At the tips of its slender stems, clusters of small flowers spread out in a spherical shape, combining the brilliance and delicacy of a fireworks display.  White agapanthus is a perennial plant that gives a pure and elegant impression, producing refreshing blooms in early summer. Compared to blue varieties, it has a softer and more graceful atmosphere.  These graceful blooms add a gentle touch of color to gardens and parks, and their resilience and ease of cultivation have made them widely beloved throughout Japan. Agapanthus bathed in the glow of the setting sun reveals a different expression from that seen during the day. Illuminated by the evening light, the pale blue and white petals take on a subtle orange hue, while their translucent surfaces softly filter the warm rays and shimmer delicately. In the quiet atmosphere of the park, ...

While tidying up my moving stuffs, I found my old camera! It is a Nikon D40x, a model that was released in 2007 (Actually purchased on 23rd June 2007). The camera features a 10.2-megapixel sensor, a 3-point focus area, and an ISO maximum of 1600. Compared to the latest models, it may seem somewhat underwhelming, but it is a camera that holds many precious memories, as I gifted it to my wife as the first her DSLR. Today, for the first time in 15 years, I decided to give it a try pairing with an 18-140mm VR lens. It was difficult to take pictures with the old camera, but it felt like I was taking pictures carefully one by one with film in the old days, and it was a lot of fun. I plan to continue cherishing this camera as my go-to tool for leisurely walks in the future. The flower photos were taken in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. Nikon D40x / AF-S DX 18-140mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR / 1/125s / F5.6 / ISO800 / 0.0 Nikon D40x / AF-S DX 18-140mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR / 1/60s / F5.6 / ISO800 / 0.0 Nikon ...