I visited Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture as well as Taishaku Valley
in Hiroshima Prefecture on June 9, 2002.
After I got on a streetcar at Okayama station
and got off at Shirosita station,
I walked for about 10 minutes. Crossing
the Tsukimi Bridge,
I entered Okayama Kohrakuen Garden from the South Gate.
We got a view of the pond of Sawanoike & Mt. Yuishin (a hill commanding a fine view)
against the background of
the Okayama Castle.
We saw two small islands, Nakanoshima & Minoshima with a fishing arbor on the pond.
We looked down at two islets, Nakanoshima & Minoshima
from the opposite position, the Hill of Yuishinzan.
I saw fish swimming pleasantly in the pond in front of the House of Renchiken.
Passing through Jigen-do from Koshikake-Chaya(Teahouse), you will reach the Chishio woods.
There were planted
horticultural maple species such as iroha-momiji (Acer palmatum), yama-momiji
(Acer matsumurae),
and oh-momiji (Acer amoenum) in this corner.
Upper right : Young leaves of maples,
The verdure of some maples were new
green or others were blazing red.
You will
also enjoy the leaf color changing in autumn.
Lower left : A big tree of trident maple (Acer
buergerianum) more than 10 meters tall
Lower right : A maple tree before formal butch haircut