Across from the Palaceside Building is the Imperial Palace. With Reiwa begun, things feel different — or not.
So we took a "first of Reiwa" walk (a phrase we are frankly tired of) in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
May has pushed temperatures up and fresh green is overflowing. That is the real feast just now. Photo left above is the plaza on the Honmaru site; photo left below is the stone wall at Shiomi-zaka.
Honestly, though, we missed the flowers a bit. From Hirakawa-mon into the Ninomaru garden in front of Suwa teahouse we expected a carpet of aza
leas in full bloom, but they were nearly done, and satsuki still early. Wisteria too was almost over. So we went around to the rose garden beyond the Honmaru lawn. Lady Banks' roses there had also passed their peak. But roses are still to come. A few were already in fine bloom.
Just opening: China roses =end photos above= and cherry roses =end photos below. Cherry roses are only this season; China roses can be seen through December — a long run.
The Imperial Palace rose garden's signature is Florence Nightingale =top photo. The cream flowers bring to mind Nightingale's devotion nursing the wounded in the Crimean War. The variety was created for the 75th anniversary of the Florence Nightingale International Foundation (Geneva) and given to Empress Emerita in September 2009.
Please enjoy many plants in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace this season.
