Calendar Art 2012

Winter Camellias Honen’in Temple

During the coldest months of the year in Kyoto, when daytime temperatures hover at a few degrees above freezing and night falls at about five o’clock in the evening, the landscape is generally drab, lacking any colorful flowers. However, camellias can be seen blooming here and there in nature. Honen’in Temple is known as “the camellia temple” for its three special camellia trees in the courtyard garden outside the hall of worship. The camellias there serve as natural flower offerings. Approaching the temple, also, many camellias bloom along the hillside.