Spring in Kyoto – Shades of Green
May 20, 2012 by sevenbrane
Looking towards Higashiyama
In early May, one of the natural beauties of Japan is the lush spring foliage, exploding in shades of green. While the new leaves of the deciduous trees appear in bright hues of emerald, the new growth of some of the evergreens is extremely light compared to the dark green of the older leaves, giving the trees a two-colored appearance. Everyone loves the cherry blossoms and the autumn leaves, but there is a lot of attraction in other seasons as well. Now it’s a great time of year to appreciate the beauty and variety of just one color: green.
The Japanese maple – also in spring a superstar
The Japanese maple is divine in autumn (see
here and
here), but for me, it’s a great favorite from spring on. I love its delicate leaves, looking like a sky full of stars. They are gorgeous especially in spring, when the newest leaves appear in a fresh, light green.
At Ginkakuji
The garden of
Ginkakuji (銀閣寺), the Silver Pavillion, is a feast for the eyes in every season. Its meticulously chosen greenery melts seamlessly into the wooded slopes of the surrounding hills, offering many shades of green to the onlooker.
Each plant its own color – at Ginkakuji
The garden of
Okochi Sanso in Arashiyama makes use of the same effect, offering a no less masterly display.
At Okochi Sanso, Arashiyama
Even without the hand of a master gardener, the natural forest is beautiful to look at in this season! While not as impressive as the cherry bloom or the tinted leaves, it is worth stopping a moment to appreciate the beauty of the green of spring.
Hills around Kameoka
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