TsukuBlog
Wisteria Hysteria- a PURPLE HAZE Over Tsukuba (and most of the rest of Japan)
15 April, 2021
Wisteria at Matsushiro Park
Under a wistaria trellis, thick with the smell of its nectar and a buzz with the droning of bees
By Avi Landau
From my old house in Konda, Tsukuba, I had a clear view of the Woods. I spend some time each day gazing out over these last remaining wilds of Tsukuba, trying to savor their beauty as often as I could before the bulldozers showed up and cleared them all away. From my window I used to able to observe how , what were at first small patches of light violet, would almost completely take over the thickly foliated forest canopy, which seemed to be enshrouded in a purple haze. This morning, having some time to spare, I took a 3 hour hike in the some of the last remaining Konda woods, those on the site of the ruins of the old Konda Castle ,and most of the time, whether I looked up towards the sky or down on the gro
TsukuBlog
Gray Heron Stalks a Kingfisher at Tsukuba’s Akatsuka Koen Park – making for a tense wildlife drama!
29 January, 2021
This photo was taken and sent to me by Junko Kaneko – along with this message: I take an early-morning walk everyday and usually do some bird-watching along the way. I especially enjoy the kingfishers! The other day, I went to Akatsuka park, and when I reached the pond, I noticed this gray heron stealthily preparing to snatch the kingfisher perched on the rock. Worried that the kingfisher would get eaten, I quickly moved in closer so I could give warning. Fortunately, it flew away in time. I was very relieved that it got away! Gray herons are graceful in appearance, but they are actually very ferocious birds. I have seen them eating frogs and even decorative carp on several occasions. So I’m very happy that everything turned out ok. I am hoping to see that kingfisher many times again in the future!