12 June 2024

Summer’s Palette: The Radiant Beauty of Flowers

As the warmth of summer takes hold, the world around us blooms with vibrant life. The sun shines brightly, bringing an array of stunning flowers that thrive in the heat. These summer blossoms, each with their unique charm, paint the landscape with vivid colors and fill the air with their delightful fragrances. At the street corner, these beautiful flowers sometimes suddenly catch our eye, bringing us the vibrant and lively feeling of the season. 

In the summer, sunflowers stretch towards the sky, embodying the sun's strength and radiance; hydrangeas display their large clusters of cool-colored flowers adding a touch of refreshment to the heat after the rain; clematis vines, with their conspicuous flowers, climb gracefully, adding elegance to gardens; and irises, their intricate petals, offer a spectrum of colors that captivate the eye.

Let's embark on a journey to explore the beauty of summer flowers together, immersing ourselves in the colorful world of blooms to experience the beauty and vitality of nature.

Contents

• Golden Smiles — Sunflower
• Spheres of Softness — Hydrangea
• Velvet Mystery — Iris
• Floral Waterfall — Clematis

Golden Smiles — Sunflower

Sunflowers are perhaps the most iconic flowers of summer. Their large, bright yellow heads follow the sun across the sky, embodying the very essence of summer's warmth. Native to North America and spread to Japan in the 17th century.

There are many excellent depictions of sunflowers in the Rimpa school, one of the major historical schools of Japanese painting. Katsushika Hokusai (1769 CE–1849 CE) created original drawings of sunflowers at the age of 88.

As we gaze upon a field of sunflowers, we can't help but feel uplifted by their cheerful presence. Sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty, and longevity. Their cheerful appearance brings joy and positivity, making them a favorite in gardens and floral arrangements. Whether in a vast field or a single stem in a vase, sunflowers capture the essence of summer’s exuberance and the power of the sun.

Spheres of Softness — Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are flowers native to Japan, typically blooming during the rainy season. They are also a popular pattern on yukata, giving a strong sense of summer. 

Celebrated for their large, globe-like flower clusters, which can change color from striking blue to pink or even purple depending on the soil’s pH levels. Composed of many small flowers with four petals each, layered upon one another, when the wind blows, they resemble little butterflies resting on the blooms. 

Hydrangeas symbolize gratitude, grace, and abundance. Their rich blooms and varied colors offer endless possibilities for garden design and floral decoration. As summer progresses, hydrangeas continue to delight with their ever-changing hues, adding a touch of magic to the season.

Velvet Mystery — Iris

Iris flowers come in many colors, upright stems also give them an aura of nobility and elegance. In Japan, cultivating irises is regarded as a sophisticated art form. The great master of Japanese ukiyo-e, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 CE–1858 CE), depicted serene and elegant iris gardens in his work.

Utagawa Hiroshige, Horikiri Iris Garden (Horikiri no Hanashobu), No. 64 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. 5th month of 1857, 14 3/16 x 9 5/16 in. (36.1 x 23.6 cm), Brooklyn Museum.

Irises symbolize wisdom, hope, and trust. Their regal appearance and vibrant hues make them a favorite in floral arrangements and garden displays. As summer progresses, the irises' blooming period offers a feast for the eyes, each flower a testament to nature’s artistic brilliance.

Floral Waterfall — Clematis

Clematis, originally native to China, was introduced to Japan during the mid-Muromachi period (1336 CE–1573 CE). By the Edo period (1603 CE–1868 CE), it began to appear in haiku as a kigo “seasonal word” for summer. They often referred to as the "queen of climbers," boasts star-shaped flowers ranging from large and showy to small and delicate forms, cascading down like a waterfall of blooms.

Clematis symbolizes ingenuity, beauty, and mental strength. Their ability to climb and thrive in various conditions makes them add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the surroundings.

As the summer sun bathes the earth, flowers bloom in a riot of colors, turning the world into a lively painting. The scents of these flowers fill the air, replacing the freshness of spring with the warmth of summer, and heralding days of growth and abundance. Let us take the time to appreciate the natural wonders around us, allowing the colors and fragrances of the season to fill our hearts with joy and wonder.