Today (12/21) is the winter solstice.  Primula Julian has bloomed well. Primula begins to bloom around December, when winter is deepening, and withers when the cherry blossoms fall.  It’s strange when you think about it.  Why does it bloom vigorously in the harsh winter and disperse when many flowers bloom?  Even animals are full of mysteries, such as polar bears that live only in the Arctic, and antelopes that live only on cliffs.  In Darwin’s words, it would be “natural selection” or “survival of the fittest,” but I’m not convinced.  Primula enthusiasts seem to devote themselves to how to make Primula go through the summer.  By the way, there are about 500 types of Primula, and it seems that the number of varieties is increasing steadily, and the Primula in the photo is called Primula Julian.

今日(12/21)は冬至です。プリムラ・ジュリアンが元気に咲いています。プリムラは冬が深まる12月頃から咲き始め桜の散る頃に枯れてしまいます。考えてみれば不思議な事です。なぜ厳しい冬に元気良く咲いて、沢山の花が咲く頃には散って仕舞うのか。動物でも、白熊の様に北極にしか棲まないとか、カモシカの様に断崖絶壁にしか棲まないとか、不思議だらけです。ダーウィンの言葉を借りれば、「自然淘汰」とか「適者生存」と言う事になるのでしょうが、もうひとつ納得いきません。プリムラ愛好家はプリムラを如何に夏越しさせるかに心血を注ぐそうです。ちなみにプリムラは500種類ほどあって、どんどん品種が増えているそうで、写真のプリムラはプリムラ・ジュリアンと言います。