I expected that if I plant coriander at home, I would get approximately ¥1,500 worth of coriander out of a ¥150 packet of seeds. But I was wrong. On the 37th day after planting my coriander, I was wondering why it didn't seem to grow much although I hadn't forgotten to water it. So I found lots of tiny yellow-green Aburamushi bugs on the stalks and on the undersides of the leaves! No!

I wonder what happened to the weather. These days it's been quite chilly in Tokyo. The weather during Golden Week was also not so good. This is just like being in London (sorry)! I don't mind it so much because I prefer winter to summer anyway. But my coriander might need more sun. I just checked my coriander and I was surprised to see how much it has grown! Actually it has been 21 days already since I planted the seeds, and I have to thin out the seedlings very very soon, maybe tomorrow, but not today. Sorry coriander! (The main picture shows my coriander on the 11th day)

It was just after I came back to Japan to live, it was even before we found a flat, I saw bunches of fresh coriander in a supermarket and it was almost three times more expensive than London! I was very shocked and I head to a gardening shop to buy coriander seeds (¥150=74p). It has been nearly three years since then, and I thought that today is the day. I finally seed them! (I guess it's because of the recipe book from yesterday) On the packet of coriander seeds says 'rub the seeds gently against a wooden board, soak in water for a few hours'. I don't know if I did it right... The green curry I used to cook in London needs lots of fresh corianders, at least three packs of a coriander from a Japanese supermarket. I hope my coriander grows a lot!

We had very bad weather in October. It was like rainy season (rainy season in Japan is in June). But finally, the great akibare 'fine autumn' days are here from November. I guess the highest temperature was something like 25 °C in Tokyo today. It was very warm! It's been about four months since I planted sage. Only 5 seeds have survived out of 30 seeds, they don't look very healthy but doing OK. I was recommended to make sage tea and sage pasta, I guess I don't have enough for pasta yet. Should I wait longer, or eat them before they die?

A few of my friends who read this blog asked me how the sage is doing. It's getting embarrassing to say I haven't planted it yet, so I finally did it the other day. I like plants but I usually kill them with too much water. Only 6 seeds out of 30 sprouted on Day 10. Isn't that a bit disappointing? I might come to dislike gardening.

We got a letter from C's mother in Germany, and we found the sage seeds inside. There are 29 seeds between very thin ø10cm papers. The instruction says, put soil on top, place it in a blight warm place and water them everyday. If it is before the bloom, nice to make herb tea with the fresh sage leaves. I didn't know that they are not only for cooking. Ms sage also makes a cup of sage tea for herself. Apparently the sage tea is good for the a sore throat and the inflammation of the gum.

I think that was last Spring, I bought fresh basil in a pot from a supermarket for eating. I planted it in a gardening pot. I cut off pieces when it grew too much and put them in water. They root very easily, and I've been trying leave their offsprings (but I kill them very easily too). Today, I realised that it has a cute white flower. But I remember that flowering will cause the leaves to have a bitter taste...

I wrote about air plant (tillandsia) 2 months ago. I have another air plant called albida (I think) and this was also carrying a baby since two month ago. But...the middle of a stalk has withered. The plant was growing very well (6cm longer!) though. I think the little one grew up too much. So, I did a delivery operation. I cut and removed all the withered leaves, and I have two small albida now.

This air plant is "A plant needs the easiest care in the world (just a bathing once a week, bit of food sometimes?)." I bought this half year ago and never paid much attension (sometime forgot to water for a month!) but it has a new baby! Wow!

I'm gonna look after 3 plants for my friend because she will go to Hawaii for 3 weeks. And today which is the DAY 1, the bud opened already. I was impressed... and got motivated to take care of it professionally. According to the Internet, the hibiscus is weak in the summer of Japan (shouldn't be more than 30°C). The hibiscus means "New love" and "delicate beauty" in the language of flowers... sounds like she is very difficult person!!