The eleventh 節気 “sekki” division of the traditional Japanese calendar is:
小暑
(しょうしょ)
“shōsho”
‘lesser heat’ // ‘minor heat’ (solar term)
The second “kō” microseason within this division is:
蓮始開
(はす はじめて ひらく)
“hasu hajimete hiraku”
First lotus blossoms
That makes 蓮始開 the thirty-second microseason of the year!
It typically lasts 12~16 July.
開
(ひら・く / ひら・ける / あ・く / あ・ける)
“hira・ku” / “hira・keru” / “a・ku” / “a・keru”
open, open up, commence, establish
開く
(ひらく)
“hiraku”
to open; to unpack; to bloom; to start; to hold
Click here to learn about this subseries
Image credit: An altered “Gilded Lotus” Magic card.