Shibazakira (The moss phlox), which began to bloom from the end of April, is in full bloom. We often see them in parks and gardens.  Large parks lined with moss phlox as far as the eye can see are scattered all over the country. Among them, Shibazakura at Fuji Motosuko Resort in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture is a masterpiece.  The sight of about 500,000 Shibazakura in full bloom against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji, which is still deep in the snow, is probably the best in Japan.  Since “Fuji Shibazakura” is located in the plateau area, it tends to be a little slower than the flowering situation in the metropolitan area. It blooms for one-third or one-fifth in bloom in mid-April, one-eighth in late April, and is in full bloom at the end of Golden Week. Now is the best time to see it.  Since the flowering period of moss phlox is long, the “Fuji Shibazakura Festival” is held locally until the end of this month.

４月の下旬頃から咲き始めた芝桜が見頃を迎えています。公園にも庭先にもよく見かけるようになりました。全国にも、見渡す限り芝桜を敷き詰めた大掛かりな公園が散在します。中でも山梨県の富士河口湖町にある、富士本栖湖リゾートの芝桜は圧巻です。冠雪未だ深い富士山を背景にした約50万株の芝桜が咲き誇る光景はおそらく日本一でしょう。「富士芝桜」は高原地帯にあるため、首都圏の開花状況と比べると、やや遅い傾向にあります。4月の中旬頃で3～5分咲き、4月の下旬になると8分咲きになり、ゴールデンウィークの終わり頃に満開になるそうです。今がいちばん見頃でしょう。芝桜は開花期間が長いので、現地では、今月末まで「富士芝桜まつり」が開催されています。