{"id":1193,"date":"2009-04-19T23:08:59","date_gmt":"2009-04-19T14:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2009-04-19\/1193"},"modified":"2009-04-19T23:08:59","modified_gmt":"2009-04-19T14:08:59","slug":"cherry-blossoms-in-the-rain-at-the-heian-shrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2009-04-19\/1193","title":{"rendered":"Cherry Blossoms in the Rain at the Heian Shrine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\nNOTE<\/b>: Images with an icon next to them have been artificially shrunk to better fit your screen; click the icon to restore them, in place, to their regular size.\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPuffy, Pretty, 'n Wet<\/span>\nyaezakura<\/i> cherry blossoms at the Heian Shrine, Kyoto Japan\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\nStandard: 1024×<\/span>768<\/a>  ·  1440×<\/span>1080<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>1200<\/a><\/small>     <\/span>\nWidescreen:  1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Last Tuesday, after Anthony went to school on the\nbus all by himself<\/a>, I thought<\/span> I'd take advantage of the rainy weekday\nmorning (no crowds!) to check out the cherry blossoms in the garden of the\nHeian Shrine. The most common<\/span> variety of cherry blossom around here (the pure white yoshino<\/i><\/a>) are almost completely gone, but the Heian\nShrine's justly famous garden is full of other varieties that were still\npretty much at full bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n

By the time I started over (the shrine didn't open for an hour and a\nhalf<\/span> after Anthony had gone), the rain had started up again. On the way<\/span>\nthere, I noticed<\/span> that the cherry tree in the middle of the park Anthony\nlikes to ride his bike in was full of pink blossoms, but tempered by the\nrain..<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nBig Cherry Tree in the Middle of a Park<\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 190 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 280 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStill a Nice<\/span> Background for a Snapshot<\/span><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

The shrine holds a lightup event in the evenings during cherry-blossom\nand it's absolutely beautiful. Or, it would be if it weren't absolutely\npacked to the gills with people, such that you can't walk, you can only\nshuffle. We've lived within walking distance for five years, but have gone\nonly once (five years ago, I think<\/span>) because it's just not worth the crowds.<\/p>\n\n

So, I thought<\/span> that it'd be empty on a rainy<\/span> weekday morning (just as it\nwas one morning last year after an uncommon but beautiful snow<\/a>)....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 98 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nI Was<\/span> Wrong<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Still, since I'd gone this far (a good<\/span> four-minute walk! ;-), I continued<\/span> in. The entrance<\/span> to the gardens is on the left as you enter, so\nthe view to the right was clear...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 110 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSubdued Cherry Blossoms Peeking Over the Building<\/span>\n<\/div>\n

(A shot from pretty much the same position leads off my\n“Amazing Snow at the Heian Shrine<\/a>” post\nfrom early 2008.)<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 27 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nShidarezakura<\/i> “Weeping Willow” Cherry Blossoms<\/span>\nInside the Shrine Gardens\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\nStandard: 1024×<\/span>768<\/a>  ·  1440×<\/span>1080<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>1200<\/a><\/small>     <\/span>\nWidescreen:  1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Japanese garden design tends to be masterful. The moment<\/span> you walk in,\nyou may still be just a few<\/span> meters from a busy<\/span> street and the stresses of\nthe city, but they all melt away inside because you feel you're a million<\/span>\nmiles from everywhere. (Another great example is the nearby Murin'an<\/a>, which is much smaller but still makes you\nforget that you're a paper<\/span>-airplane throw from the hustle and bustle of the\ncity.)<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/9, ISO 5600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWet Hanami<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 120 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 360 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCarpet of Pink<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nScattered, Distracted, and Way Too Busy<\/span>\nbut I really like this shot for some reason\n<\/div>\n\n

Most cherry trees in the garden seem to be the late-blooming\n(long-blooming) yaezakura<\/i> (extra puffy) and shidarezakura<\/i>\n(weeping cherry). The former<\/span> are very puffy, but nowhere near as puffy as\nthese\nblossoms<\/a> on a tree<\/span> closer to my place.<\/p>\n\n

I just wish I could remember the name of the latter,\nshidarezakura<\/b>, because for some reason my brain keeps coming up with\nyo<\/b> as the first syllable instead of the proper shi<\/b>, yielding\nsomething that happens to mean “drool cherry-blossom”.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, other varieties could occasionally be found, usually well past\nfull bloom...<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 1100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nToo Much Green<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 130 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCan't Follow Rules<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Unlike previous years where tripod and monopod use in the gardens required a\nseparate<\/span> permit<\/a>, this year there were big signs saying that all monopod\nand tripod use was forbidden. Period. Probably too many people coming through, or\ntoo much damage. I dunno,<\/span> but I respected<\/span> the condition of entry.<\/p>\n\n

Some areas had bamboo lattices set up to allow the sometimes vine-like\nbranches to hang down over and around the walkway...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 1800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRectangular Lattice<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 160 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nArc Fan-Shaped Lattice<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/6.3, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLess-Populated Lattice<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Some people suggested that rain dripping off these lattices is the\nanswer to yesterday's “What am I?” Quiz<\/a>, but as you can see in the photo above,\nthe path has no hint of any of the markings seen in the quiz picture. Good guess, though.<\/p>\n\n

If you follow one of the under-image “map & image data” links through\nto the Google Map satellite view<\/a>, you'll get\nshockingly<\/b>-high resolution images in which you can count the\nindividual sticks of bamboo making up the lattices. Absolutely amazing.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 @ 95 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIsolated Puffery<\/span>\n
Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\nStandard: 1024×<\/span>768<\/a>  ·  1440×<\/span>1080<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>1200<\/a><\/small>     <\/span>\nWidescreen:  1280×<\/span>800<\/a>  ·  1680×<\/span>1050<\/a>  ·  1920×<\/span>1200<\/a>  ·  2560×<\/span>1600<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 48 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPetal-Laden Stream<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLooking Back Toward the Entrance<\/span>\nafter making the circuit around the lower-left lobe of the garden\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPath to the Bathroom<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

At this point I was perhaps a quarter of the way through the gardens, which has several distinct zones.<\/p>\n\n

Continued here...<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Tuesday, after Anthony went to school on the bus all by himself, I thought I'd take advantage of the rainy weekday morning (no crowds!) to check out the cherry blossoms in the garden of the Heian Shrine. The most common variety of cherry blossom around here (the pure white yoshino) are almost completely gone, but the Heian Shrine's justly famous garden is full of other varieties that were still pretty much at full bloom.<\/p>

By the time I started over (the shrine didn't open for an hour and a half after Anthony had gone), the rain had started up [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,8,2,6,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1193"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}