Japanese Quince, a birthday flower of February 4th, 5th and 17th

One of the birthday flowers of February 4th, February 5th and February 17th is Japanese Quince, known a s boke (木瓜) in Japanese. You often see a quince tree or two on the grounds of temples, in particular, in my experience. They offer a vibrant, yet subtle, bit of color to a garden. 

Japanese Quince can bloom in winter and spring. In winter quince generally blooms in November and December, and in spring it blooms around March and April. I took the photo in this post on March 22nd. The blossoms of "boke", Japanese quince, range from soft pinks to vivid reds and warm oranges, creating a striking contrast against bare branches.

In the "hanakotoba", Japanese flower language, it can mean “grace,” “modesty,” and “a charming personality.” The meanings reflect the way its small, delicate blossoms brighten the landscape without overwhelming it. The understated beauty of Boke / Japanese Quince has made it a favorite subject in poetry and painting.