I thought I’d better write about this now … quickly before Spring has properly sprung. The Japanese use traditional techniques for protecting plants over winter months.

Ropes attached to tall bamboo poles create a cover to prevent branches of the trees breaking from the weight of snow.

This is shimoyoke, braided straw covers, to protect plants from warmer climates from frost.

Komomaki is a traditional method of eradicating pests in trees; pests gather in the warm straw which is then burnt at the end of winter. However this practice is now being questioned since it doesn’t differentiate between beneficial and harmful insects.

And I have included these last two photos to remind Geoff that i want some trees like this when we eventually return to the UK. First things first though as we need a garden!

Fabric Street / Nippori Central Street

This area could almost persuade me to sew …. almost. But since I have so many friends who sew, I thought I’d include a few photos. More fabric but less trimmings than in a similar area of Hong Kong.

Random Photos ..