River Table

Took the puppy to a park that also serves as a natural reserve for some of the native wildlife that used to live and barely continues to survive in the urban jungle of Yokohama.

She loves to jump onto chairs, desks, and picnic tables. 

She is not so hesitant these days when it comes to jumping down from high places. 

As always, her favorite place to play is in any brook, creek, stream, river, or pond. 

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fuji Stairs

Took the puppy for a walk in a nearby park that also serves as a natural preserve.

The park basically consists of an undeveloped mountainous hill. There are lots of steep stairs to climb and many different paths to follow.

There are several rest areas in the park or you can stop to take a breather. During this time of year, we can see the drooping blossoms called Fujii.

Likely due to the difficulty of hiking through the park, we don't often see garbage strewn all over the place.

I have always had an attraction to ferns. I wonder if they make me think of a Jurassic period.

One thing I like about this area is that many trees have different kinds of blossoms that I have never seen before.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Cave Border

At the top of the park, there is a small lake that is very dark and very deep. I let the puppy swim in the lake for a little while. It was her first time to ever actually swim in water where she couldn't touch the bottom.

The lake is fed by these small streams that run through soft limestone forming caves that would seem adventurous to me if I were much much younger. These days, I would be more afraid of slipping and breaking a bone!

I wonder why there are so many steps leading down into the streams and creeks that feed the lake.

If I were alone, and was wearing the right type of shoes, I might be bold enough to go inside this cave to find out what's inside.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Rest Area

At the top of the hill in the park, there is a rest area where we can enjoy a beautiful view looking west and southwest.

It was really hard to make sure the puppy would stand still long enough to catch this photo. She is so full of energy and very rambunctious.

Even when man tries to modify nature and cut a tree, life makes its glorious effort to survive and live regardless of man.

It was an overcast day today, but for a brief moment, the sunshine broke through the clouds and shined on this tree.

The Fujii blossoms at the top of the hill have a slightly different tone, almost purpleish.

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Stepping Stones

Another local park in the neighborhood also serves as the nature preserve. I don't know why they have stone steps leading down into the river, but maybe they are for cleaning purposes?

All along the river, we can see several stone steps going down into the water.

I am glad that they chose to use huge stones for the steps instead of building moder-looking cement and steel structures.

Although the puppy doesn't need stairs to jump down into the river, she really likes playing on stairs. It doesn't matter whether we are at the shrine or at this river!

Pix4Japan by R.D.S. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Scarecrow Bamboo

One our my neighbors had this teeny, tiny scarecrow in their flower garden. Obviously, this is not to actually scare the crows away. In fact, it might just entice them to her garden to steal it?!

Some more spring flowers in full bloom. Love the contrast of beautiful spring flowers next to or in a bamboo grove. Usually, the bamboo blocks out most sunshine from reaching the ground making it a little difficult for other species to thrive.

Pix4Japan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Muddy Girl

Played fetch in the small park next to the parking lot. The puppy had a lot of fun and worked up a "sweat."

Apparently, she feels a lot cooler chilling out in the muddy waters of a rain gutter. She had so much fun in the mud. I had a lot of "fun" cleaning her up afterwards!

Sunny Ears

The sun finally made her appearance in the afternoon after a morning of lousy weather. 

Took the puppy to a local cemetery for her dog walk and let her run loose without the leash. Quite a warm and nice afternoon. 

Would love to ask her what it means when she puts her ears back. 

Puppy enjoying her run up the stairs located on the cemetery grounds. 

Violet Border

These spring blossoms were in full bloom on the side of a road bordering a farmer's small field of vegetables. 

Usually take the puppy by the flowers during our nightly stroll since it's close to the park where we like to play fetch with a ball or Frisbee. 

Glad we walked by the same route this morning and were able to see the vibrant colors more clearly!

Enoshima Shrine

A steel plaque at the top of the torii gate leading to the major shrines atop Enoshima Island.

The guardian deity, lion-dog, guarding the shrines at Enoshima.

Beautiful bridge used to access some of the shrines on the island.

Floral Puppy

Puppy at a local park playing on the children's playground equipment.

One of my neighbors had these intriguing flowers planted in the front of their house.

I wish I knew what the names of these flowers are in both English and Japanese!

Neighborhood Morning

It was a little bit warm this morning, so the puppy wanted to take a short rest in the shade next to this motorscooter.

Spring flowers growing at the entranceway of the driveway to a farmers home in my neighborhood.

Cherry blossoms starting to warm up in the morning sunshine, after a cool, brisk spring night.