Monday, April 11, 2011

Sakuras, roots, and greens...

Yes, the sakuras in our property are blooming...
This one is what is called Oshima sakura...
their petals are known to be white...
My favorite is the willowy 'shidare' sakura...
The flowers are pretty, but it is the buds that really fascinate me...
See that bud on the left? With the 'tongue'?
It was moving right when I was photographing it...
The somei-yoshino sakura is used as the 'standard' to record the start of the blooms...
It is said that more than 80% of all sakura trees in Japan belong to this specie...
This specie was developed at the end of the Edo period (about early to mid 1800s)...
Flowers of the somei yoshino are reputed to be very pretty compared to other species...
Readers can see the whole somei yoshino tree in our property here...
My missus bought this cutie from the store...
Looked it up and found out its name... Saxifraga rosacea or Irish Saxifrage?
Don't know much about this plant as yet...
Carrots, we have a-plenty-plenty this season...
They are absolutely crunchy and sweet...
Been chewing on them for many, many moons already...
Our radishes did not do too badly this time...
I normally ask my suweeto-haato to cook them with tofu for me...
One of my favorite dishes, I must say...

The way to prepare this dish is actually very simple...
Slice radish into thin stripes
Prepare a little garlic
Cut tofu into bit size

Apply sesame oil on pot
Put on low heat and fry garlic
When garlic flavor comes around, put in radish...
Increase fire to medium
Water will ooze out from the radish as it cooks...
Add a little salt to taste
Put in tofu
When radish turns translucent, it is ready...
Two years ago, got a few pieces of Jerusalem artichoke tubers from a neighbor...
We had wanted to grow them for their flowers...
Think they belong to the sunflower family...
They are yellow and equally pretty, yet smaller and easier to handle...
Their tubers are edible and they taste not too bad...
We harvested a pail-full of them this season...
And the parting shot for this post is...
One of favorite greens...
The locals call them 'mamba'...
Well, let us just say that it is a Japanese mustard green...
They have a slight, faint, bitter taste to it...
And I am quite hooked on it...

23 comments:

  1. Wow! Such wonderful flowers and harvest. The carrots stood out for me. Maybe it has something to do with your skillful photography.

    There is another earthquake just now. Hope all is fine with you and family.

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  2. Love the lovely sakuras, I noticed they are blooming now all over Japan...wish I could be there! Curious about your recipe of radish and tofu..2 of my favourite food, must be a soup! Happy Spring to you and your sueeto haarto!

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  3. Sakura aitaina...kireidesune. Ohanami mo ikitaina...I still can get used to Jerusalem artichoke yet. But they look so cute in your photo.

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  4. Anonymous4/12/2011

    Oh I envy you your fresh carrots, radishes and greens! I know they are delicious. Interested in recipe for radishes and tofu! The blossoms are beautiful...my favorite photos are those of blossoms...I'm having a wonderful time blog visiting now...everyone has photos of blossoms! Just wish I could smell the ones with fragrance! Enjoyed your post!

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  5. Lrong, like you I find the buds of flowers fascinating. There is so much beauty in the anticipation of a bud becoming a bloom. Also, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and prayers. We all appreciate your concern. Both grandmother and sister in law are recovering and are making great strides! Again, many thanks.

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  6. Wow! beautiful Sakura flowers!
    Good harvest of radishs, carrots and greens!

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  7. Ouch i must hide my daikons and especially carrots after seeing yours... hahaha

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  8. The sakuras are lovely! Btw, what's the sakura at Ueno Park, Tokyo? Happy eating/drinking carrots/juice. Keep healthy! They are great source of antioxidant, Beta Carotene.

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  9. One.. me too, I like the carrot shot... the earthquake never seems to stop... but we are ok, for now...

    p3chandan... they are blooming all over western Japan now... thank you for your wish... shall talk to my sueeto haato about the recipe...

    Malay-Kadazan girl... totemo kirei desu yo... the J. artichoke is not an artichoke at all... the flowers are really pretty though...

    Theanne... they are absolutely delicious... shall post the recipe after I consult with my missus... am happy that you enjoyed my post...

    Cat... actually the bud picture is not as sharp as I had wanted it to... blame it on the wind... am glad to hear that your sis-in-law and grandmother are feeling better...

    Malar... thank you!

    milka... always enjoy your episodes with regards to your veggies... anyway, small is beautiful... big is a bit too difficult to handle...

    Stephanie... been to Ueno park long time ago... if I recall, they are probably somei yoshino sakuras... just chewed two carrots during dinner... urmmm... nice...

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  10. What lovely sakura. As usual, I can only admire the skills you have as a vegetable gardener. I'm out of your league.
    Rosie

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  11. Lovely, lovely blooms. They always make me smile. :)

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  12. These sakura photos are gorgeous and the tree on your property too.
    Delicious, fresh vegetables too

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  13. Rosie... I am still a 'student-gardener'... still have a lot to learn...

    lina... thank you... the blooms make me smile too...

    Maia... thank you for your kind words...

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  14. Such beautiful blossoms! Such a hard Winter is over at last! You reminded me that I must try to grow carrots again. My soil is too heavy and not fine enough for carrots to grow well. I do so love the taste of fresh grown carrots!

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  15. The sakura blossoms are really very lovely. I hope they can bring solace and a smile back to many people affected by the earthquake in Japan. Daikon salada is my favourite and I really like it when they put some kind of fermented barley(?)mixed with mayonaise in the sauce.

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  16. Matron... I'm certainly planning to grow carrots again... their taste is just too good and I hope I need not have to buy any more carrots from the store again... hopefully...

    Autumn Belle... hmmm, am wondering how the fermented barley looks like... this is new to me...

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  17. Just look at sakuras. You want to sit and marvel at nature's beauty!

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  18. Your radishes look lovely, I haven't had a white radish in a long while.

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  19. Bangchik and Kakdah... right on... been doing quite a bit of that for the last few days...

    mangocheeks... thanks for dropping by... hope you get to plant some radishes this time around...

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  20. Great looking photos Lrong, both of the flowers and your harvest.

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  21. I just check out that sakura... most popular variety said wikipedia. I recall the flower looks more pink in real. Been there long time ago also. Most superb place to be :-D

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  22. Stephanie... you remember well... the shades can be more pink than white...

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