Hokkaido University Botanical Garden Pt 1

After our trot in Odori park, we went to Hokkaido University botanical garden. 

It was 400 yen per person to get in and worth every penny if you ask me. 

Brace yourselves again, flower pictures are coming! 

 This giant pale pink rhodorendron was close to the entrance of the park.

Blooming forsythia. 

 

Our picnic spot under this massive tree. Sushi and tea for lunch! 

 

We walked through the wooded arboretum bit of the park to a garden area.

 

Very inspiring for how I'd like my dream kitchen garden to look. The beds were lined with roof tiles!

 

We walked on to a rose garden, complete with tadpole filled pond in the middle.

 

Under the trees on the outskirts of the garden, there were flowers to be admired. :)

 

 

Obviously none of the roses are blooming yet, but this is a place I will have to revisit once they do! 

A rose tunnel of climbing rose vines... ooh fantasy! 

 

They had a partnership with Oregon something or other (university was it?), and it was in the form of this rock garden.

The rock garden quickly became a bushy azalea place. 

This bush was so red, that the camera doesn't even capture it.

 

I couldn't get over how lush this play of colors was.

 

The path went on to a little babbling brook and waterfall, then to an algae filled pond and this gorgeous tree.

 

Then there was a little area with I believe, most of the species of plants found in the garden with their name in Japanese and Latin.

 

And this pink tree was I believe a "decorative" apple tree like in Finland and not a cherry tree! 

(The sign said malus = the latin name for  a type of apple tree)

 

Next up: pictures of the greenhouse! 

Told you this was my paradise! :)

Nakajima and Odori revisited

For my dad's first full day in Sapporo, we decided to head to Nakajima koen with some store-bought sushi for a park lunch, then walk to Sapporo station via Susukino district. 

It's a walk Kevin and I have done before, and I chose it since I think it is quite scenic and gives you an idea of the what the downtown area is like. 

We stopped at Horohira bridge along the way and my dad did the walk up the arch and admired the views like I did in this post here. 

When we got to Nakajima koen, we were in for a treat! At one of the "squares" there, there was a plant market! YAAAY! So my type of thing. It was a shame though that I couldn't buy anything since I can't really take anything home to Finland. :( It was still a cool thing to see and I totally could have spent a lot of money there! 

Someone was selling perfect teeny weeny bonsai.

 

Someone had rose bushes for sale.

 

Someone was selling succulents in every color.

 

A pretty rose.

 

Someone had veggie garden stuff for sale. 

 

Lots of flowers.

 

Primroses.

 

Pansies.

Someone was selling bushes and small trees. This large pine in the picture could be yours for only about $2000! 

 

Pretty dusty red rose.

 

I think these are for a rock garden maybe?

 

And these?

 

Such fun! :)

 

We walked on to the little lake in the park.

 

And found the weeping cherry tree still had some blossoms left. (I took a picture of this on Sunday)

 

Ah, perfect. ♥

My favorite part: the Japanese garden.

It was extra serene this time, the perfect place to stop and snack. It being a Wednesday early afternoon, not many people were out, especially since the weather wasn't great. So peaceful.

 

Perfect reflections. 

 On our way out of the park, we had to stop so I could take MORE FLOWER PICTURES! 

I know, it's kind of ridiculous, but the heart wants what the heart wants. ♥♥♥

We walked through a rather quiet Susukino to Odori park. 

Obligatory tourist photo below:

 

Lots of pretty flowers all through the blocks of Odori. (more about that later)

 

After walking around Daimaru, Esta and Apia, we took the subway home to meet Kevin. 

Then we went to Seiyu to do some grocery shopping and made another yummy meal. 

What a fun day! :)