Abutilon blooming in October

In the last few days in the Kanto region, the temperature and humidity have been high, mornings misty, and nights mercifully cool. While it does feel like autumn, the expected start of the change of colours is a long way away. I check Japan Meteorological Corporation's Autumn Foliage Forecast, periodically updated, indicating the end of November for the big show.

Still, there is a lot of colour to enjoy right now, and abutilons, アブチロン in Japanese, are blooming and full of buds right now in Saitama and Chiba Prefectures. The shrub is also called Indian mallow for its origin and flowering maple for the shape of the leaves.

On my daily walk in Kasukabe City, this double variety makes me smile. It reminds me of the "room maple", the abutilon my family kept as an indoor plant. The winters are too harsh for them there.

Are you seeing abutilons blooming in your region?