Bringing Spring to Aomori: Starting a Garden in Japan

My first flower planter in Japan, April 2020.

In March, once I realized I would not be traveling anywhere for spring vacation and a friend who was planning to visit my area from another prefecture cancelled his trip, I felt the need to replace my travel itch with something new. When I travel this time of year, I am traveling to find spring. At the end of March, Aomori is still fighting to break from the grip of winter with hail and rain or snow one day and sunshine the next. I usually escape from this chilly weather to find flowers and cherry blossoms in other parts of Japan. Not this year. With the current situation discouraging any travel outside the prefecture, this year I had to bring spring to myself.

It started with visiting the local garden and yard store and buying herb seeds, soil, and a pot. After planting and watering, I just had to put them by a sunny window and wait. However, I forgot how long seeds take to sprout. My need for spring was still not met. It took buying some pansies at a local produce shop to finally start getting the feeling of spring. By then I was hooked, and now coming to the end of April, my front porch garden has continued to increase.

My front porch garden in Japan, April 2020.

I have successfully brought spring to my front porch, but am I satisfied? In Japan, we are coming upon the Golden Week holidays, so I have a lot more time at home without any plans. I may have to seek out more flowers. 

My flower obsession does not stop at my front porch, however. I want to spread the love of spring and flowers, so I created a gallery of the flowers I have seen throughout Japan in the past few years. Check out the gallery here.

Even if I cannot go out and visit these places at this time, I can plan to visit and support these places once it is safe and wise to do so. For now, I will enjoy tending my own garden.

By Kate Linsley