Red Tulip

I　came across this tulip in my neighborhood. I tried to block out all the distractions as best I could.

This wasn't the best place to take a picture of a flower.

Pink Tulip

I really like the color of this flower.

After the Snow

Mt Izumi, or Izumigatake as it is known in Japanese, after all the snow has gone.

Mt Daito in Spring Thaw

I got this shot of Mt Daito (on the right) on a clear and beautiful Saturday morning. I wish I had straightened it out though. Those also look like some interesting clouds above it that I could have captured with a longer lens.

The Last Sakura

I am not sure what kind of sakura these are (or if they are even sakura), but they bloom after most of the other sakura bloom.

Off to School

These boys are heading off to school. They pass me every day.

Down by the Falls

The water was higher than I have seen it down by the base of Akiu Waterfall. The rocks where I usually sit were covered by water.

Neighborhood Tulip

On my way to the bus stop, I pass by all my neighbors' flower gardens. It makes for a nicer walk.

Ray of Light

I thought of the bat signal when I saw this ray of light.

Spring Maple

This maple is in my neighborhood, and when I went to take a shot of it, I happened to find this ant on a leaf.

Daikanon #46

On TV last night there was a professional photographer talking about how to compose pictures, and he had a shot of Roppongi Hills with a cherry blossom tree in front of it where the building was at an angle. It was cool and he said it worked because of the triangle composition.

I will try for that next year, but I guess this kind of makes a triangle.

Asian Mountain Magnolia

I should use this picture in my class to show students the parts of a flower.

Dripping

This year I tried to get a "soft, dreamy" style to my sakura pictures this year, but I feel I am still missing something.

I think that I could change the tone a little more, but I like this one though.

JR Tokoku Honsen

From Wikipedia:

The Tōhoku Main Line (東北本線 Tōhoku-honsen?) is a 575.7 km long railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Although officially the line starts from Tokyo Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, most of the long-distance trains actually begin at Ueno Station in Taitō, Tokyo, and pass through such cities as Saitama, Utsunomiya, Fukushima, and Sendai, before reaching the end of the line in Morioka. The Tōhoku Main Line runs mostly parallel to the Tōhoku Shinkansen.

The 159.9 km long portion of the line between Ueno Station and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi is often referred to as the (JR) Utsunomiya Line. A portion of the Tōhoku Main Line is also shared with the Keihin-Tōhoku Line (29.6 km between Tokyo Station and Ōmiya Station in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama) and the Saikyō Line (18.0 km between Akabane Station in the Kita ward of Tokyo and Ōmiya Station).

It says it is often referred to as the Utsunoiya Line, but it is officially referred to that on all the signs and platforms in Ueno.

Just Blooming

Even though there were only a few blossoms that had just started opening, this was my favorite tree at Shiogama Shrine.

Kobai From Below

Looking up at the red plum blossoms from below.

Kobai Plum Blossoms

These awesome red blossoms are called kobai (紅梅). The fact that I remember that proves that I do in fact listen to her mother sometimes.

Standing on a Corner

I htought it was interesting that there were only women here. I guess there is one figure in the front who could be a man though.

Colorful Umbrellas

People out and about on a rainy day at Sendai Station.

Riding Home

Riding home after their Saturday lessons.