Roses at the Iris Garden

Yesterday the Shonan Ladies gathered for the first time since the earthquake of March 11. Some of the American members have not yet returned to Japan -- many are waiting until the end of the school year so their children's education will not be disrupted even more than it already has been -- but there were enough of us present to make for a joyous reunion.

We visited the Yokosuka Iris Garden. The parking lot attendants tried to wave us off; the irises are not blooming yet and they did not want us to be disappointed. When we persisted, the attendants passed out lollipops to sweeten our day.

Those lollipops weren't the only treat in store for us. Near the top of a hill, behind a wisteria arbor, we found roses and peonies in bloom. Some of the roses were delightful colors I had never before seen, and that's something because I hail from a place that bills itself as "Rose City."



Lavender!



We will come back in June to see the irises in their full glory. Right now it's hard for me to imagine how the irises can possibly top the roses.