Akashi Fiori Fiorista

Akashi has a most delightful National Government Park. The park, on Awaji Island has weather patterns that allow for a different set of flowers blooming, every season, all year long. The ocean waters warm the island and make for beautiful views, every day.

Spring

In the spring you can see the:

• Bletillas
• Tulips
• Narcissi
• Mimosas
• Nemophilas
• Grape hyacinths
• Weeping golden bells
• Thunberg's meadow sweets
• And Cherry blossoms, of course.

My favourite are the Bletilla, or urn orchids. They are common only in Japan and some nearby countries like Taiwan, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. They are similar to the Bletia orchids I have seen in other parts of the world, which is why they have been named Bletilla, or “Little Bletia”.

My least favourite are the mimosas. They are lovely, and they are interesting because they will fold up when you touch them or they get really hot, but they are invasive in some parts of the world.

Summer

In the summer you can see the:

• Cockspur coral trees
• African lilies
• Busy lizzies
• Fireman’s caps
• Crape myrtles
• Chinese trumpet creepers
• Cotton roses
• Sunflowers
• Roses of Sharon
• Purple loosestrifes
• And the Hydrangeas, of course.

Autumn

In the autumn you can see what is essentially a repeat of the spring flowers, even including the cherry blossoms.

Winter

The autumn flowers hold their own into the winter and through into the spring.

Really it is only the summer at Akashi National Government Park that has different flowers, but they are always a delight.