Fireflies, Hydrangeas, and the Quiet Strength of Early Summer

Early summer in Kamakura brings gentle breezes, deepening green hills, fireflies along quiet streams, and hydrangea buds preparing to bloom. On an evening walk with my dog, I found small signs of life everywhere — in the air, by the water, and even in plants I had thought were lost to winter.

Over the past few years, whenever the long May holidays came to an end, strong winds seemed to blow just as the season was shifting forward.

This year, however, there has been nothing like that.

Only a gentle breeze.

The temperature and humidity are just right.

The green of the mountains is slowly becoming deeper.

It is a season filled with life.

 Last night, while taking Anne for a walk, I went to see the fireflies in the neighborhood.

In Kamakura, more and more small streams have been cleaned and cared for, and places where fireflies can be seen have gradually increased.

There is one quiet stream with very few people around.

I had a feeling there might be quite a few fireflies there, so I went to take a look.

And there they were, flying in good numbers.

After enjoying them for a while, I came home, not wanting to disturb the neighbors.

Hydrangea buds are also growing larger here and there.

I wonder how much longer it will be before they bloom.

I am looking forward to it.

Come to think of it, there was also an avocado plant that my wife had carefully grown from a seed.

We had thought it had withered away in the cold of this past winter. 

But today, to my surprise, I noticed a new side shoot growing from it.

 

Then I wondered how the others were doing.

When I looked, the banyan fig and the rubber plant had also put out fresh new shoots.

From a human point of view, it feels like a miraculous comeback.

But from the plants’ point of view, perhaps it is simply what they were meant to do.

Maybe this is what vitality really means.

The winter cold was not insignificant, but this year the seasons seem to be moving very clearly.

If only it does not become as hot as last year, I would have nothing to complain about.

But then again, what kind of summer will this year bring?

 

For now, early summer is quietly showing us how life returns. 

 

・・・

Vocabulary for Learners

gentle breeze　穏やかなそよ風。本文では、初夏の気持ちよい空気を表す表現です。

humidity　湿度。日本の季節感を英語で書くときによく使う単語です。

fireflies　蛍。単数形は firefly です。

stream　小川。river よりも小さく、静かな流れの印象があります。

hydrangea　紫陽花。日本の梅雨前後の風景を表す代表的な花です。

wither away　枯れてしまう、しおれてなくなる。植物だけでなく、希望や力が失われる場合にも使えます。

side shoot　脇芽。植物の茎の横から出てくる新しい芽です。

banyan fig　ガジュマル。英語では banyan や banyan fig と呼ばれます。

rubber plant　ゴムの木。観葉植物としてよく知られる表現です。

vitality　生命力、活力。今回の記事の中心にある言葉です。

miraculous comeback　奇跡の復活。少しユーモアを含みながら、驚きを表せる表現です。