Higanbana - Tumblr Posts
Look at this beauty. This flower makes me fold in half and squee into a pillow because it's so beautiful and perfect. I would go so far as to say this is the equivalent of cherry blossoms in the spring. Allow me for this TED talk.
This flower, 彼岸花, higanbana (or 曼珠沙華, manjyushake) is so dear to my heart and every time anyone asks which flower to see when in Japan I point to this one and say go at the end of September despite the summer swelter still lingering.
Higanbana is usually seen in the red colour in particular for anime and in general associated with death because they're seen lining headstones. But that's because they protect those buried or offerings from pesky moles, mice, and any other creature or bug that try to desecrate the place. It is a highly poisonous flower in all its glory.
They're beautiful, misunderstood, glorious, silent defenders of the dead.
Then there's the flower meanings (which depending on the flower color have slight variances - red, white, yellow and even more rare, orange) and they're all just. Beautiful.
"Passion." "Independence." "Reunion." "Giving up." "Sad memories." "I love only you." "Until we meet again."
If that isn't beautiful, I don't know what is.
Please, if you're ever in Asia/Japan, I know summer is big on fireworks festivals (which are beautiful in themselves), but I implore you to consider, if you're there at the end of September, to put seeing these beautiful flora on your itinerary.
「 ephemeral red spider lily 」
A piece I had hanging in the city hall for quite a while. I like my frame job so I’m including it, since I’m a framer now.