February 3rd, 2025 –February 7th is Spring – RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-1st KOU “Spring wind melts the ice”
On the 3rd, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the first spring wind of the season had blown in the HOKURIKU region. The first spring wind is the first warm southerly wind to blow when the season changes from winter to spring. As the 1 KOU states, “The spring wind melts the ice,” the frozen earth begins to melt.
Meanwhile, this morning (5th) in Nagano has snow fallen in a while. Pansies planted in the fall and daffodils, which bloomed the earliest in this region, are also covered in snow.
I found something yellow in the snow. It was flowers of HON-KINSENKA (Calendula arvensis/Field marigold？). It is also known as “winter-unknown” because it continues to bloom even in the harsh cold. It is a plant that is extremely hardy to the cold, and is said to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -15°C. It is a small flower (about 2cm) to begin with, but it is nice to see just a little bit of it peeking out from the pure white snow that covers.
Well, it’s forecast to get even colder this weekend. I hope flowers stay that way.
