Sunday, November 18, 2012

Fall colors in the hills...

Was out of Japan for about 10 days...
Returned home to see the temperatures dipping to the mid-teens... 
And the trees in the hills taking on hues of red and orange...
 This Japanese maple tree radiates as it takes in light from the morning sun...
Large tracts of the hills here are inhibited by this 'wax' tree... 
The Japanese name is 'haze' and the tree is apparently very useful albeit having toxic substances that can cause irritation to certain people... 
The sap is used to make lacquer, and wax can be tapped from their seeds to make candles... 
My 'sweeto haato' taking in the sights, as we paced through the paths...
Wooh, autumn in Japan... lovely it is...