今夏の猛暑で枯れ始めてた庭のツツジ

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　４月には鮮やかな色で咲いていた「白とピンクの混ざったツツジ」が、実は今夏の猛暑で枯れてしまい、最近は葉の殆どが落ちてしまってました。このため、私の人生と同じで、このツツジはもう咲かないと諦めてました。

　ところが、昨日、庭をきれいにしつつ、このツツジの枯葉をすべて取り除いたところ、何と、小さな緑の葉があちこちで新たに芽吹いているではありませんか。これに気づいた私は、すぐに枯れた枝をすべて剪定したところ、樹木そのものは多少小さくなりましたが、しっかり生き返ってます。すぐに水をたっぷり与えました。今朝見たところ生き生きしており、もう大丈夫です。

　今までこのようなことはなく、夏場の水遣りが少なかったと私は反省し、来年の夏はよく気をつけます。このため、今日の仕事が決まりました。ツツジは根が小さく固まってるので掘り起こし、築山の南側の水場に近い所に植え替えます。「何事も諦めてはならないこと」を学びます。

　ところで、夢のない話で申し訳ありません。認知症対策を真剣に考えてる私は、今大切なことは「日々をマンネリ化して生きてはならず、変化ある一日一日」こそ脳に刺激を与えると考えてます。このため、来春は必ずこのツツジをよく咲かせることを目標に今日の園芸作業に集中します。来春はぜひ、ツツジの開花を見にいらして下さい。お待ちしてます。

Dear my friends who are crazy about the blossom of Japanese azalea and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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　In April this year, the "white and pink azalea" in the photo bloomed in brilliant colors. To my regret, it has actually withered in this summer's intense heat, and recently most of its leaves have fallen off. This is just like my life, I had given up that this azalea would not bloom again.

　Fortunately, yesterday, while tidying up the garden, I removed all of the dead leaves from the azalea, to my surprise, small green leaves had sprouted all over it. When I noticed this, I immediately pruned all the dead branches, and although the tree itself has shrunk a little, it has revived strongly. I immediately gave it plenty of water. When I looked at it this morning, it was thriving and should be fine now.

　Like this situation has never happened before, and I regret not watering it enough during last intense heat of summer, so I will be more careful next summer. So today's task has been decided. The azalea's roots are small and clumped together, so I will dig it up and replant it near the water source on the south side of the Tsukiyama which is the artificial hill for plants. I learned the lesson that is "Never give up on anything."

　Not change the subject, but I apologize for this uninspiring story. I am seriously considering measures to prevent senile dementia, and I believe that the important living now is to "get out of the rut," and stimulates my brain in daily life. For this reason, I will concentrate on today's gardening work, with the goal for the azalea blooms beautifully next spring. Please come and see the azalea bloom next spring. I look forward to your visiting me. If you wish, I will play one music by the piano.