亀清旅館の貸切露天「しなの風呂」の庭に節分草が起きてきました。雪が解けて来て、外の風は少しでも春の温かさが乗って来ました。

戸倉上山田温泉の周辺の皆が森地区「あんずの里」の杏の花が咲くのを楽しみにしています。市からの最新情報では４月６日当たりから咲き始まる予報です。特にこの冬が寒くて長く感じましたのでその杏の花が咲く季節がどれだけ嬉しい事！

しかし、信州の花は杏だけではない。この節分草から初めて、杏、さくら、桃、りんごの木が次から次へ咲き、水芭蕉やツツジ、ボタンなど様々の花が信州を彩りしてくれる。

その中で、この節分草のお花は特に有難い。戸倉駅の上の戸倉キティーパークに節分草の自生地があって、大勢の花ファンやカメラマンが身に来る。希少植物になっている節分草の可憐なセツブンソウは本当に貴重な花。亀清旅館の庭師、岡田さんが貸切露天「しなの風呂」の庭を作った時に節分草も植えてくれました。今年はこんな丈夫に咲いてきました。嬉しくてうれしくて！

春よ来い♪

Kamesei Ryokan's "Shinano-Buro" family bath has a garden that features several rare flowers, including the delicate 'Setsubunsou' Shibateranthis pinnatifida (Maxim.) Satake et Okuyama. This morning, I took a peek and was delighted to see that the precious little flowers have risen out of the ground and blossomed.

Everyone here in our area of Nagano is really looking forward to our area's main flower event, the apricot blossoms in nearby Mori "Apricot Village". Latest prediction is that they will bloom starting around April 6th. The blossoms will have special meaning this year, as this winter has been especially cold and long here in our onsen town, Togura-Kamiyamada.

But the apricot blossoms are just one of many spring flowers in Nagano. Following the apricot blossoms are cherry, peach, and apple blossoms. And for flowers, there are the creamy white skunk cabbages, pastel azaleas and brilliant peonies to look forward to.

But first, the quiet, pretty little setsubunsou. Above Togura Station in Togurajuku Kitty Park is a grouping of naturally occurring setsubunsou. Flower enthusiasts and photographers come from far and wide to see and take pictures of them.

And at Kamesei Ryokan, our gardener Okada-san planted some setsubunsou when he built the garden for our new private outdoor bath, the 'Shinano-Buro'. I'm glad to see the flowers are blooming again this spring.

Spring is Coming!