I Promised You a Rose Garden

I promised you a rose garden and in Yokohama that's an easy promise to keep. This time of year the roses are in bloom and they are blooming everywhere!

And, it's not only roses, flowers of every sort are blooming.

Then there are the lush green colors of spring too!

On my way to the rose garden in Yamashita Park I passed through Yokohama Park and was thoroughly impressed with all the green trees.  It's time to read Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees".

A tree that shades my head from sun
And, children sing and dance in fun

Not from Kilmer's poem, I just made that up.

Ah, I have arrived at the Yamashita Park rose garden. And, I am not alone in my enjoyment of the roses.

The object of our journey - behold the rose!

So many colors, so many varieties. A lot of work goes into maintaining this rose garden.

For anyone that lives near Yokohama I recommend you stop by and enjoy. Bring a box lunch and a thermos of tea; it's a wonderful place to sit and relax.

Even on an overcast day like this day was the roses look glorious.

Moving on to the next garden.

Restaurants line the avenues for those that don't care for a picnic style lunch.

Culture, culture, culture... one of the sights in the small park by French hill in Motomachi.

I chose to eat my lunch in Motomachi park. It's not a well known park and when I visit I'm usually the only person there.

There is a small street behind Motomachi park that leads up a hill to the Minato-no-mieru-oka-koen (Harbor View Park).

For those that enjoy a good English flower garden this is a must see place.

There is even a water fountain.

Make that two water fountains! The Harbor View Park has a larger rose/flower garden than Yamashita Park and thankfully the two are close enough to each other that one can visit both in the same day.

Working my way back toward the train station. I always take the long way home.

The tree lined avenues of Kannai.

The side streets of Bashiamichi.

It's such a nice day some of the merchants have set up shop on the sidewalk.

Inside a tea shop looking out in the Noge district.

The Noge district is filled with small interesting restaurants.

Well, last shot of the day and it's a familiar one. I'm standing on the street corner across from the intersection where the train station is. I've frequently taken this shot while waiting for the light to change.

It's a wonderful time of year and I'm so happy that I can get out and enjoy it!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike