🌅 A Morning in the Garden: Birds, Tomatoes, and a Rare Fungus

🌾 Introduction

In the quiet hours before sunrise, the garden becomes a world of its own. Birds stir gently, tomatoes glisten with dew, and sometimes—nature offers a surprise we never expected. This is a story from one such morning in rural Japan, where a simple visit to water the plants turned into an encounter with endangered fungi, curious sparrows, and a pheasant that stole the show.

🐦 Early Morning Visitors

The days had been hot and dry, with no rain in sight. I’d only been visiting the garden to water the plants, letting the weeds grow wild. But that morning, with my husband off work and the family still asleep, I slipped out early to tend the soil.

The garden was full of birds. Sparrows hopped around, unbothered by my presence. Swallows had recently nested in the shared shed nearby, raising their young with cheerful chatter. And then—something unexpected.

A pheasant appeared in the neighboring field. I froze. It was beautiful, regal even, and I didn’t dare get too close. I quietly took a photo, heart pounding.

📝 Cultural Note:
The Japanese green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) is Japan’s national bird. Though wild, they often appear in rural areas, especially near rice fields. Their sudden presence feels like a rare gift from nature.

🍅 Tomatoes, Basil, and Summer Care

I’ve been growing Red Ore tomatoes alongside basil. It’s a companion planting method that helps with pest control and flavor. But the lower leaves had started to shade the soil too much, and the plants needed airflow. I trimmed them carefully and removed weeds around the base.

I use rice husks and bark compost—gentle on the soil, and rich in texture. Perhaps the shade and compost created a perfect microclimate, because that’s when I saw it.

🍄 A Fungus I Almost Missed

While watering, I noticed strange clusters on the ground. They looked like insect eggs—eerie and unfamiliar. I scooped them up with my trowel and tossed them away.

Later, I checked with Google Lens. It identified them as Cyathus stercoreus, known in Japanese as hatake-chadaigoke—a rare bird’s nest fungus.

I felt a pang of regret. I had mistaken it for moss and discarded it. But preserving fungi is difficult, and I chose to let go.

📝 Cultural Note:
Despite its name, hatake-chadaigoke (“field tea-bowl moss”) is not moss but a fungus that disperses spores via raindrops. It’s considered endangered in some regions due to modern farming practices.
This gentle shift—from surprise to regret to acceptance—reflects a Japanese sensibility known as shōganai (しょうがない), meaning “it can’t be helped.” It’s a way of honoring impermanence and moving forward with grace.

🐤 Sparrows and Small Joys

The sparrows walk away when I approach, but sneak back while I fetch water. I wonder what they’re eating. They’re clever, and so endearing.

📝 Cultural Note:
Sparrows (suzume) are deeply woven into Japanese seasonal life and literature. Their cleverness and familiarity evoke a sense of gentle companionship in the garden.

🌿 Closing Thoughts

In the garden, I often meet things I don’t expect. Some I understand, some I don’t. But each visit reminds me: the world is full of quiet wonders.
Even a fungus mistaken for insect eggs can become a story worth sharing.

📷 Bonus: A Quiet Encounter

Watch a short video on YouTube:
A wild pheasant steps into view—just for a moment.
👉 Click here to view the short video