Jinchoge perfuming the spring air

The last few days have been dreary, cold, and rainy here in northern Chiba Prefecture. However, we got a welcome respite from the rain today, March 27th. I've been keeping an eye on Shimizu Park, selected by Japan Sakura Association as one of the top 100 cherry blossom spots. Today, the buds are starting to burst open. 

There is another flower that precedes the cherry blossoms. This is daphne odora, called 沈丁花 jinchoge in Japanese. The evergreen bush produces bell-shaped flowers in bunches around mid-March. While running errands on my bicycle, I catch the fruity, sweet scent. This time I found two bushes in front of Noda City's Shimizukoen Station east gate.

Enjoy them with your eyes and nose only - the foliage and flowers are toxic and some people suffer skin irritation from touching them.

Here's the sakura tax.

These are early-blooming cherry trees in containers in front of the temple within the park. The cherry blossom festival runs until April 7th with food stalls and evening lanterns.