Seasonality by Month

[AnaIkimaru]

Below are the monthly seasonal motifs seen on both kimono and kanzashi, as well as home decor in Japan. Enjoy.

January
ShouChikuBai combination of matsu, take, and ume (pine, bamboo, and plum)
Eyeless Pidgeon
Unhusked Rice

February
Ume (Plum Blossom)
Daffodils
Pinwheels

March
Nanohana (Rape Blossoms)
Cho (Butterflies)
Botan (Peony)
Momo (Peach Blossom)
Suisen (Narcisuss)



April
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Bonbori (Lanterns)
Single Silver Large Cho (Butterfly)

May
Fuji (Wisteria)
Ayame (Iris)
Cho (Small silver butterflies)

June
Yanagi (Pinks and Trailing Green Willow)
Ajisai (Hydrangea)

July
Utiwa (Paddle Fans)
Maiogi (Folding Fan)
Running Water
Dragonflies
Tsuyushiba (Dewed Grass)
Fireworks

August
Asagao (Morning Glory)
Suskui (Pampass Grass)

September
Kikyou (Bellflower)
Kikyou WITH Kiku (Mum)

October
Kiku (Cystanthamum)
Red and White, goldenrod or orange Mum

November
Katsura/Momji (Maple Leaf)
Ginkgo

December
Take (Bamboo)
Mochi (Rice Cakes)
Mochibana (Rice Cakes in Trees. Can I have one without the sticks, plz?)
Maneki Tags (Kabuki Theater Reference)

[AnaIkimaru]

Anything not listed above, or below, please let me know about and I'll edit the posts.

Thank you!

Kimono:
Winter
Shouchikubai (Plum, bamboo, pine combo
Ume (Plum Blossom))
Camelia
Snow covered bamboo
Snow covered pine
Snowflakes
Bare trees
Bare branches

Spring
Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Falling Sakura Petals
Cho (Butterflies)
Botan (Peonies)
Fuji (Wysteria)
Magnolia
Ayame (Irises)
Daffodils
Suisen (Narcissus)
New bamboo shoots
Orchids
Kujaku (Peacock)

Summer
Butterflies
Peonies
Grasses (green)
Willow
Pinks
Birds
Running water
Fireworks
(Bara) Roses
Dragonflies
Thistle
Fans
Koi
Clam catching baskets

Autumn
Kiku (Chrysanthemum)
Momoji (Turning Maple Leaves)
Bush Clover
Kiri (Paluownia)
Grasses (usually brown, or dry)
Falling leaves
Bundled bare branches
Bellflower

[esther]

When I count on my fingers the flowers that bloom in the autumn fields, I find there are seven.
A poem on the flowers of the autumn fields by Yamanoue Okura, a Man'yo poet. The Man'yoshu collection of poetry was compiled around 759 A.D.

http://home.earthlink.net/~khaitani1/mysx6.htm#8-1537

The seven traditional Japanese flowers of autumn are:

1. HAGI: bush clover, Latin name is Lespedeza thunbergii
   
   
   
2. SUSUKI (also called OBANA): Japanese pampas grass, Latin name is Miscanthus sinensis.
   
   
   
3. KUZU: arrowroot, Latin name is Pueraria lobata. This is the kudzu vine!
   
   
   
4. NADESHIKO: pinks, Latin name is Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus. The carnations we know are a cultured variety of "pink."
   
   
   
5. OMINAESHI: damsel flower or maiden flower, Latin name is Patrinia scabiosaefolia.
   
   
   
6. FUJIBAKAMA: no English name, Latin name is Eupatrium foltnei.
   
   
   
7. KIKYOU (or ASAGAO which, at the time, referred to the balloonflower or bellflower not the morning glory): balloon flower, Latin name is Platycodon grandiflorum.
   
   

[rjTheUser]

I like this topic.
Good idea Ann.
Thanks also to esther for the info.

I had to find something to add.
Hydrangea plant info for those in florida!
http://www.netpamj.com/hydrangea.htm

But if you want a cherry tree in central florida look for "Prunus campanulata" it is a low-chill species that will grow and flower in central Florida. It is known as the Taiwan Flowering Cherry.
Here is a great link for info. I think i want one for my front yard
http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/prun_cam.cfm

Well that is all for today.

RJS

[esther]

There are some at the Unviversity of South Florida. I don't know what variety, but here are some photos taken back in March of 2004. I *hope* they're still there. On Fletcher across from John Knox Village.

[Admin]

No kidding.

I'm going to have to get out my camera.

Thanks

RJS

[OhioKimono]

Thanks for this thread. The seasonal themes are always a major pain in my back. This quick reference list is a major boon!

[AnaIkimaru]

Hey Ohio Kimono, There's more that I have to add, but I'm still working on editing it. I'm also trying to get the Japanese and English for every motif, and eventually I may put the kanji in, too. If there's anything I missed lemme know. I may also be doing a color by seasons and a nonseasonal motif thread as well.

Hey Esther- I feel silly to know there's cherry blossoms so close and I haven't sniffed it out yet! I'm going to have to check it out! Thanks! I'll add in what I missed onto the MegaList of Doomity shortly.

[esther]

Maybe we should have a cherry blossom viewing party in the USF parking lot this coming spring...?

[rjTheUser]

Eww that sounds nice.
Get your camera ready.

RJS

[AnaIkimaru]

Still like the hanami flower viewing idea

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