Nature in Short / Gentian flowers bloom as spring gives way to early days of summer

By Kevin Short / Special to The Japan NewsHow fast this spring is giving way to early summer. The third moon of the year, the last of spring, is already a waning gibbous. In the traditional Asian almanac this past Wednesday marked the start of the Koku-u or Grain Rains, one of 24 fifteen-day periods used to chart the progress of the solar year. This is the final segment of the spring season, and will last until the Rikka or Start of Summer on May 5. For we naturalists and wildflower enthusiasts this is a busy time of year. So many species are blooming that we have to keep constantly busy just to keep track of them all. I carry my camera and close-up lenses with me whenever I go out. It’s a...