Visiting the Kyoto Botanical Gardens in January with Anthony and Shimada-san, we noticed this somewhat funny sign over the entrance gate. The Japanese on it says “Entrance.” The English translation of that Japanese is as standard as can be, so one wonders what events transpired to make them choose the English shown.
The botanical gardens was where Anthony had his first preschool field trip (almost a year ago now), and are where I photographed the funky flowers I posted a few months ago.
This wrapping was done, I'm sure, to protect whatever is inside from snow damage, and also perhaps to keep it warm, and to protect it from bugs (who prefer to nest in the straw rather than the plant itself).
In any case, it looked sort of freaky.
I had only my small point-n-shoot, and Shimada-san didn't even have his camera with him. That's too bad, because he's pretty good with a camera (see: here and here).
Maybe it’s not wrapping. Maybe there was some sort of mistake, and they planted something large upside-down.
Amazing, funny pics!
Over here in my neck of the woods (Koto-ku, Tokyo), I have occasionally come across similarly wrapped trees in the winter time, especially at new parks with transplanted trees. But they don’t look like they belong in the Dali Musuem in Figueres.
Japanese: 藁囲い（わらがこい）。寒気を防ぐため、樹木などを藁でかこうこと。（広辞苑 第五版）
Hi there- I’ve enjoyed the bento page for a while- don’t know how I found it, could I have been googling bentos, regretting the day I ever left Japan? Just got a d200 so thought I’d pay you a visit. I like the wrapped up plant picture (15th April) I think it’s probably sotetsu (Cycad palm) underneath. I like it so much, can I use it for a lecture I do on Japanese garden trees, please?
cheers
Jake.