Since childhood, I have loved plants, influenced by my mother who took me to gardens and encouraged me to draw flowers. Though my career led me into finance in London and Tokyo, I often sought refuge in botanical gardens and art museums.
After retiring, I decided to go for art, first completing the Kew Certificate, then the Edinburgh Diploma in botanical illustration. These programs gave me technical skills, discipline, and appreciation for the cultural heritage of the art.
Today, I continue observing and painting plants, fulfilling the passion that first began in spring gardens long ago.
Title of the project
Five Fruit Trees in the Rose Family in Japan
About the project
All five species have life cycles that mirror Japan’s seasonal transitions. In early spring, before the leaves emerge, each tree offers blossoms that last only a few fleeting days.
The fruits in late summer share cultural symbolism in Japan. Their presence in gardens, literature, and daily life are not only important for fruit cultivation, but to a broader reverence for seasonal change, health, and beauty.
These fruits are easily accessible and affordable. Their blossoms signal the arrival of spring. However, climate change is gradually shifting their growing zones northward—a trend that would sadly accelerate in the coming years.
