Japanese Azalea, a birthday flower of April 16th

In my previous post I introduced variegated tulips as a birthday flower of April 16th. But they are not the only birthday flower of April 16th. Snowflakes and Catchfly are also birthday flowers of the day. As is Japanese or Mountain Azalea, Rhododendron Japonicum, or Renge Tsutsuji in Japanese. 

Renge Tsutsuji / Japanese Azalea are the vivid orange mountain azalea that are currently in bloom in the Greater Tokyo area. It is one of the season's most dramatic wild blooms. You can find them in mountainous areas all around Japan. They often color a large area ide of a hill or mountain, making them visible from far afield. 

In the Japanese language of flowers, hanakotoba, renge tsutsuji carries meanings such as "passion" as well as "steadiness". These interpretations come from the plant's nature. It's fiery flowers coloring a large area of quiet highlands.