When spring is coming near, I become feeling restless every time as I am worried the amount of snow of the winter. If it was less than the regular year the flowers would not be flourished in spring. On the contrary if more I am happy to be able to see splendid flowers in summer. In the end of March, I usually start going out to spring field for spring flowers with a tent and sleeping bag on my shoulder. The main destinations are Japan Sea side prefectures where heavy snow falls and the flowers are shining brightly after surviving the harsh winter.
However, this year (2020), we are asked to stay-at-home due to the outbreak of new coronavirus. So I take this opportunity to sort out the flower pictures I had shot in the past couple of years in the spring fields.

(Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture)		  Amur Adonis "Fukuju-sou"
(Adonis multiflora：　Ranunculaceae)

As Japanese name means lucky and happy, it is sold as a lucky charm for New Year's, but it is a horticultural product by adjusting flower season. In wild it blooms from the end of February to March.
This flower does not make nectar, but instead with parabolic antenna-shaped petals it collects heat in the flower center, lures insects to the sunbathing bed, and lets them carry its pollen to other flowers. It's much more economical than using a lot of energy to make nectar.
Yellow is a color that encourages people as shown in the movie "Yellow Ribbon". Among the flower photos I sent to shelter houses in the area of the Great East Japan Earthquake, this was the most requested flower.

Last spring I went to Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu. I have traveled all over Japan so far, but Miyazaki is the last place among 47 prefectures to step on. It was a 24-hour journey using a Youth 18 ticket, taking on local trains and a ferry.
 　Nodding anemone "Okina-gusa"
　 (Pulsatilla cernua: Ranunculaceae)

It used to be seen everywhere in Japan except Hokkaido, but now it becomes endangered). This is because, in addition to digging, farmers are no need to manage grasslands with open burning in spring. However, You can see it here and some other communities in Aso, Akiyoshidai, and Watarase Reservoir, where the burnings are still working. In this area, the residents are managing the fallow land well, so it can survive.
The Japanese name of the flower is "Okina grass". "Okina" means an old man who lives more than some ten thousands years. The name comes from the long fluff of fruit, which looks like the white beard of an old man.. The seeds are blown away by the wind and increases the number of offspring. In addition, care should be taken when dealing with the grass as it is toxic. 　　　　

　　　　　　(Takaoka Town, Miyazaki City)		  
　Takanabe Hall Crabapple
　"Takanabe Kaidou"　
　（No scientific name: Rosaceae）　

Hall crabapple is originated in China and bewitching flower that can be compared to the appearance of the beautiful Chinese woman Yang Gui after bathing. But this flower with less pale pink is an endemic species of small town in Kyushu. It rather looks a young maiden and reminds me of the Venus's skin of "Primavera" by Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli.

(Takanabe Town, Miyazaki Prefecture)
 
Nearby is the Mythical Village, Saitobaru Ancient Burial Mounds. There is the stage for the rape and cherry blossom competition.

Even in Hokuriku and Echigo, one of Japan's leading heavy snowfall areas, the snow quickly melts in April due to the Fern phenomenon, and the abundant snowmelt water causes flowers to sprout at the same time.
Kidneywort　"Ou-missme-sou"
(Hepatica nobilis： Ranunculaceae) 
The leaves are triangular and pointed. There is also double flower type.
The colors of the flowers vary from blue to pink to purple. The flowers with beautiful color are easily stolen, so there remain almost all white flowers.
 
Bishop's hat
"Tokiwa-ikari-sou"
（Epimedium grandiflorum： Berberidaceae）
The Japanese name "Iikari" means anchor, coming from the shape of the flower It is a medicinal herb, and used for boosting sexual power in Chinese medicine.
"Shirane-aoi" (No English common name)
（Glaucidium palmatum： Ranunculaceae）

An endemic species of Japan, and one species one genus.
"Shirane" is named after Mt. Nikko Shirane where the first flower was collected. And "Aoi" means mallow because flower shape is resembling.
It is widely distributed on the Sea of Japan side from Hokuriku to Tohoku and Hokkaido.
There are no petals, and the light purple pieces are actually calyx.
The white flower below is Bishop's hat.

　(All are Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)

"Adzuma shirokane-sou" (No English common name)
（Dichocarpum nipponicum：Ranunculaceae）
Japanese hyacinth "Showjow bakama"
（Heloniopsis orientalis：Melanthiaceae）
 
These plants prefer swamps and wet north slopes.
 
Besides the stream there is

 "Neco no me-sou"
(No English common name)
（Chrysosplenium grayanum：Saxifragaceae）

The fruit becomes thinly dehisced when ripe and the shape looks like a cat's eye in the daytime
with a narrow pupil.
("Neco no me"means cat's eye)


  
   "Charmela-sou"（Mitella koshiensis：Saxifragaceae）

The name comes from the shape of flower which resembles a charmela, Chinese trumpet. When I was young (about 50 years ago), a ramen shop pulled a stall at night, blowing a whistle like "Chara-la-la-run" with the charmela while the flower never make sound.
　
 　When expanded  

　　　"Kikuzaki Ichige"　（Anemone pseudoaltaica： Ranunculaceae）
The Japanese name of the flower is given because of holding single flower ("Ichige") on the stem with the leaves that resemble chrysanthemum leaves ("kiku"). Because one flower has one flower on one stem. The colors of the flowers are white and purple sometime pink. There is a related species called "Azuma Ichige", and they are very similar and are often mistaken. I've put that photo in the bottom right, so please find the difference.
   "Adzuma ichige"
 　
The leaves are deeply cut into - Kikuzaki ichige,
The tip of the leaves is split into 3 - Adzuma ichige

　　(All are Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)
　 　
In spring the stars are also shining on the ground - blue flowers such as Veronica and Ajuga.
Birdeye Speedwell "Ouinuno Fuguri"
（Veronica persica：Plantaginaceae）
 		  
In the green mountains following stars are also shining
       
   Navelwort "Yamaruri-sou"
（Omphalodes japonica：Boraginaceae）		   "Haru-lingdou" 
(Gentiana thunbergii）
   A kin of forget-me-not.  

Dogtooth violet "Katakuri" (Erythronium japonicum：Liliaceae）
"Katakuri" is a Spring Ephemeral. When the trees have no young leaves in early spring, it enjoyes plenty of sunlight on the forest floor to open the flowers, and it disappears from the ground when the young leaves begin to cover. It spends several years underground before germination, and appears only in early spring. It is a phantom flower.
 （At Mt. Rokumangi, Minami-uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, behind is Mt. Makihata）
  The flower has been keeping deep relationship with people's lives since ancient times. Not only the bulb produces starch but the poets of the flower were collected in the Anthology of Myriad Leaves.
Since it blooms in early spring when there are few insects, the nectar mark around the pistil informs the insects of the presence of nectar, and the sweet liquor from the seeds attracts ants to spread;
In Senami area at the foot of Mt. Hakusan, there is an area of approximately 120,000 m2 (three times of Tokyo Dome size), but five years ago, it suddenly appeared when cutting trees or bushes to develop trail, and now became the largest colony in Japan.
（Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
   These flowers are also spring fairies.
   Fritillaria "Koshino-kobaimo"
（Fritillaria japonica koidzumiana： Liliaceae）		    Corydalis "Yama-engosaku"
（Corydalis lineariloba：Papaveraceae）　		  
  （At Mt. Rokumangi, Niigata Prefecture）   （Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture)  
         
      ”Ni ring-sou"
（Anemone flaccida：Ranunculaceae)

As the Japanese name suggests (Ni means two) it has usually two flowers, but sometimes one flower or three. Complicatedly there is another species with three flowers -;(Anemone stolonifera). The way to distinguish them is the shape of petioles - there
is no petioles in Anemone flaccida.

（Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
       
    Spiketail"Kibushi"
（Stachyurus praecox：Stachyuraceae）		    Asian Umbrella Leaf "Sankayou"
（Diphylleia grayi: Berberidaceae）
  The fruit was used as a substitute for the black dye quintet.   Distributed in north regions. The leaves are shaped like fluff and have two large and small leaves. Flowers become translucent when wet.
  （Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture)    　（Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture）
 		  
Japanese wild ginger "Koshino kan-aoi"
　　（Asarum megacalyx：Aristolochiaceae）

From the color and shape you can't really imagine that it is a flower. It does not care about the color because it uses an odor to attract ants and let them carry pollen (this is energy saving than making the flower colorful). So, the flowers bloom near the ground.

 　（Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture）


　　		 　 　　　
 　Siebold's wild ginger "Usuba-saishin"
　（Asarum sieboldii：Aristolochiaceae）

　This is a close spices of the above. The flower is still green when it is in the bud, and then turns black purple.

　　（Oze, Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture）		  

Skunk cabbage "Mizu-bashow"（Lysichiton camtschatcense：Araceae）
It grows naturally in swamps and streams northern part. The white color is a flower bract, and it is often mistaken for a flower. True flowers are the collection of small flowers attached to the central pillar (inflorescence).
It smells like rotten meat as the name suggests. This foul odor attracts flies and let them carries pollen. Many flowers of the taro family have a bad odor.
　Yellow marsh marigold
"Ryukin-ka"　　
（Caltha palustris var. nipponica：Ranunculaceae)
 
There is Yellow marsh marigold, where there is Skunk cabbage.

Both are toxic.
　(All are Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)
　   
In the latter half of April, spring goes north along with the cherry blooming line. After seeing famous cherry blossoms in Hirosaki in Aomori Pref. last year, I headed to the World Heritage site, Shirakami Forest nearby.
The purpose was to climb Mt. Mukai-shirakami (1,250m), the highest mountain in the Shirakami Mountains, which has no trails and can only be reached during the remaining snow season.

(The second peak is Mt. Mukou-shirokami. Unfortunately I couldn't step on the top due to the collapse of eaves.)
   
    The whole view of Mt. Shirakami seen from the east side (Muko-shirakamidake side) A forest of beech trees that has not awaked from sleep  

The top of the mountain was in a silvery world, but on the foot the snow had completely melted and sprout and young shoots were blowing. And the flowers you are looking for ...
　　  Fairy slipper "Himehoteran"
　　（Calypso bulbosa：Orchidaceae）

Also known as "Hiba's fairy", it grows on the forest floor of Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata). It's a slender figure about 15 cm long, and it doesn't look like the name of Hotei(Pu-tai, a fat good). Hiba's resin contains essential oils that have antibacterial effects, making it difficult for orchid plants that coexist with fungi to grow. However, this species has the power to counter its bactericidal effect. Endangered species II (VU) A

Few years ago, I walked in the mountains of Tsugaru in search of this flower, but I could not find. This time, I had a local guide and it was my first time meeting for three years.


（Foot of Mt. Shirakami, Ajigasawa Town, Aomori Prefecture）
　Japanese horseradish "Yama-wasabi"
　（Armoracia rusticana：Brassicaceae）

Wasabi (Wasabia japonica) that is served with sashimi at a sushi shop is cultivated in Izu and Azumino, but this is originally western horseradish that is cultivated at farm land and escaped from to become wild. Originally it was used as a seasoning with grated root to serve for roast beef. It is said that this root powder is mixed in commercial product of pickled wasabi and wasabi in a tube.
A friend of mine taught me a recipe using this plant. By cutting stems, leaves, and flowers properly, and dipping them in thin soy sauce for a couple of days it became a delicious sake side dish. I tried to make with the cultivated one sold at the roadside station - the taste was quite good.
 
A kin of the winter Daphne (Daphne odora) flower that blooms in early spring and scents with a high fragrance, but its aroma is not strong. It grows on the Sea of Japan side north of Hokuriku. It has cold resistance and can survive winter in Hokkaido. Instead, it drops the leaves in summer. For this reason, it is locally called as "Natsubozu" (summer bold head).
There are some stories about its origin of the name. One is coming from an ancient poem which was in the Anthology of Myriad Leaves.
"This flower in the capital of Naniwa (Osaka) has been standing without blossoms during winter, but now in spring it becomes blooming and flourishing"
In this poem the flower means a plum that blooms in early spring, so since this Daphne blooms in early spring in northern countries, people took the name from this poem. I like this theory.
In addition, this poet is first sung as a prelude at the competitive Karuta (traditional card) competition.

Japanese Daphne "Naniwadzu"
　　　（Daphne jezoensis： Thymelaeaceae）		  
 
In May, the mountains of Kanto, my home ground, are in full bloom.

　Hardy primrose "Kakko-sou"
　（Primula kisoana：Primulaceae) 　 
It used to be dyed pink mountain of Ashio, but now there are only about 800 strains on the top of Mt. Narukami.
The cause is digging. Another cause is ceder plantation after WWII. Originally it was grown in a broad-leaved forest, but the plantation made it an environment where it was not exposed to the sun. In any case, the decline is of human origin.
The local people manage to keep their lives alive, but with such a low population, genetic diversity is lost, and this species will disappear from the earth in the near future. How many species does human have extinguished?

(Kiryu City/Midori City Narukamiyama, Gunma Prefecture Altitude 800m)
Giant Bugle "Hiiragi-sou"
（Ajuga incisa：Lamiaceae） 

The name comes the leaves resembling to the holly's 		 
 Expanded　
（Narukamiyama, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, alt.630m）		  
    "Koiwa-kagami"
（Schizocodon soldanelloides：  Diapensiaceae）

Normally, it holds pink flowers and sometimes albino white ones.
Diapensiaceae is an alpine species, but this spreads in subalpine mountains.
The leaves are evergreen and shinning, so the name as mirror .

(Mt. Narukami summit 980m)



In the mountains of Ashio, azaleas also begin to bloom all at once.
"Tougoku Mitsuba-Tsutsuji"
（Rhododendron wadanum: Ericaceae）		  "Yama-Tsutsuji"
（Rhododendron kaempferi: Ericaceae ）
  "Aka-yashio"
（Rhododendron pentaphyllum var. nikoense： Ericaceae）

Petals are pink rather than red. As the flowers bloom before the leaves appear, the mountains dye pink. Mitsumoch-iyama Daimaru in the Takahara Mountains is one such place, but this year it seems to have failed.
Since the number of visitor is less due to the restraint of going out, there may not encouraged for flowers to bloom ...

(Mt. Takahara, Yaita City, Tochigi Prefecture, alt.730m )
  　　
Golden orchid "Kinlan"（Cephalanthera falcata：Orchidaceae）　
The flower that was commonly seen in low mountains in the past, but it has been drastically reduced by digging, so designated as endangered II (VU).
Orchid flowers, especially terrestrial orchids, do not grow when transplanted because they get nutrition from ectomycorrhizal fungi that are symbiotic with the roots of trees. It should be "kept it in the field ..".

　"Sasaba-ginran"→
（Cephalanthera erecta）
Blooms in a similar environment, but prefers a more moist environment. The two species were observed in close proximity.


(Both are Mt. Takao, Tokyo)
The most damaged orchid is Lady's slipper (Cypripedium macranthum). It was said that one bowl was traded for 1 million yen during the boom of wild orchids. It's a problem for people who buy it, but the traders are criminal because they are knowing that it does not grow up out of wild.
In several natural habitats, residents and conservationists put the flowers in a grate to protect them. The wildflowers put into jail is eloquent of humans' ugly desires.
 
   
In the second half of May, late spring will come in Oze Marsh.   
   （Near Ryugu-cross, behind Mt. Shibutsu）

At this time of year, while Oze Marsh is occupied by Skunk cabbage and Yellow marsh marigold ,but the flowers in early summer also start to appear.
         
   "Azuma Shakunage"
（Rhododendron degronianum：Ericaceae）		    "Ohba-Kisumire"
（Viola brevistipulata:Violaceae）		  
 
 　　　"Togakushi-sou"
　　　（Ranzania japonica：Berberidaceae）

This flower was collected in Mt. Togakushi and named after the mountain, but now no longer seen there. It blooms in the deep forest on the Sea of Japan side from Hokuriku to Tohoku. It is the sole species in the genus same as "Shirane-aoi". The lilac pieces are calyx, and the petals are the yellow part inside.
It is also known as the first scientific name given by the Japanese. Ranzania was dedicated to Ono Ranzan, a herbologist of the Edo period, and among his disciple is Genpaku Sugita. Regarding this naming there was an incident in which Atsutarou Ito, an out-of-office researcher and the name giver, was excommunicated from the Botanical Laboratory of the University of Tokyo. At that time, out-of-office researchers, including Tomitaro Makino, visited to the laboratory and contributed to the development of botany. Such the tradition is still inherited.
    

Due to the new coronavirus outbreak, I am unlikely to go to abroad such as China or Nepal to search for flowers this year. So I am thinking to visit domestic mountains instead, but under the vague Japanese regulation of "voluntary stay-at-home" I dare not going out, so just glance at the clear sky in May. We should be more patient in the hope that it will be lifted in June.

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2020..5.25 upload