Autumn is beginning to deepen here on Naoshima Island too. Roka’s natural vegetable garden “Oborozukiyo” has also begun to wear charming autumnal look.
Before sunset Enokorogusa（=green foxtail) shines brightly under golden afternoon light of the day. “Enokorogusa” literally means “the grass that makes cat jabbling” in Japanese today (猫じゃらし), but the name of Enokorogusa” derives originally from the word “Inu-koro kusa”(犬っころ草), as it looks like dog tail. Funny it has the name both in cat and dog, and in English you also call it fox tail, interesting.
When you take a walk in the garden, you will see many autumn flowers and plants. This “Fujibakama” is one of the Seven Autumn Flowers (秋の七草), with lovely pale pink cotton-look. It is indigenous to China and Korea, and was introduced to Japan as a medicinal herb during Nara period (A.D.710-794). Its Chinese name is “perfume orchid”, releases the aroma similar to cherry blossom leaves when half-dried. Japanese women in Heian period (A.D.794-1185) used to burn this Fujibakama and wear it as their body fragrance.
Autumn simbol flower Cosmos are also blooming. They have strong fertility so it grows well even in the barren land, but in our Oborozukiyo garden it was keeping good balance with the other plants. In Latin “Cosmos” means constellations, or the universe as an established world with order. Our cosmos flowers just looked like stars in the sky twinkling in Enokorogusa.
“Kikyo” , another Seven Autumnal Flowers, is usually in bloom until September, but its petals were still lively open due to mild weather this year. It blossoms moderately near the wooden Moonlight platform in the center of the garden. Please take a look when you visit us at this time of the season.
In neighbour area, lovely small Loquat blooms from mid-November to February, a valuable plant on the island that can provide vanilla scent and some colours even in winter.
2024.11.14