（３９３） Ｗｅ ｗｅｎｔ ｔｏ Ｋｏｋａｉｇａｗａ Ｆｕｒｅａｉ Ｐａｒｋ
文字数 2,164文字
At the Kokaigawa Fureai Park (小貝川ふれあい公園) in Shimotsuma City, which is located on the riverbed of the Kokai River, there is a wildflower garden, where Higanbana (red spider lilies) are blooming.
We went to the garden to see Higanbana.
There were some Higanbana blooming outside the wildflower garden as well, so we poked around the area.
The nature center at the park is a unique building modeled after the national butterfly, “Omurasaki (オオムラサキ, Sasakia charonda)”. A mural of a caterpillar was painted on the side.
There were also Tsurubo and Japanese knotweed(Fallopia japonica, イタドリ) on the banks.
Japanese knotweed produces red-purple, bamboo-shaped young shoots in spring, and the young shoots are called "scampo'' and are edible. These young shoots are a local cuisine of Kochi Prefecture.
① This is a nature center modeled after “Omurasaki”, a giant purple butterfly. A mural of a caterpillar is painted on the side.
② This is the front entrance. The nature center is designed to look like a giant butterfly when viewed from the air.
③ From the bank, you can see the barbecue area and “Raccoon Dog Path”.
④ Higanbana are blooming on the “Raccoon Dog Path”. You can also see Higanbana in the wildflower garden in the back left.
⑤ I’m in front of the Higanbana on the raccoon dog path. We’re heading to the wildflower garden.
⑥ This is the wildflower garden. You will see a white sign, which says “Wildflower Garden.”
⑦ I am in front of Higanbana in the wildflower garden.
⑧ I am in front of Higanbana in the wildflower garden.
⑨ This is a close-up photo of Higanbana blooming in the wildflower garden.
⑩ My heart is healed by Higanbana.
⑪ Now we’ll make a U-turn.
⑫ Oh, dear！ Have I left behind my pawprints?
⑬ No, they are not my pawprints. The pawprints are those of a raccoon dog, which were made by the park staff. We’ll return to the bank.
⑭ On the slope of the bank, Tsurubo are blooming.
⑮ On the bank, Japanese knotweed are bearing fruit.
⑯ You can see Mt. Tsukuba from the top of the bank.
⑰ This is a hut for raising Omurasaki. Adult butterflies can be observed from mid-June to mid-July.
⑱ We’ll pass in front of the hut and head towards the parking lot.
We went to the garden to see Higanbana.
There were some Higanbana blooming outside the wildflower garden as well, so we poked around the area.
The nature center at the park is a unique building modeled after the national butterfly, “Omurasaki (オオムラサキ, Sasakia charonda)”. A mural of a caterpillar was painted on the side.
There were also Tsurubo and Japanese knotweed(Fallopia japonica, イタドリ) on the banks.
Japanese knotweed produces red-purple, bamboo-shaped young shoots in spring, and the young shoots are called "scampo'' and are edible. These young shoots are a local cuisine of Kochi Prefecture.
① This is a nature center modeled after “Omurasaki”, a giant purple butterfly. A mural of a caterpillar is painted on the side.
② This is the front entrance. The nature center is designed to look like a giant butterfly when viewed from the air.
③ From the bank, you can see the barbecue area and “Raccoon Dog Path”.
④ Higanbana are blooming on the “Raccoon Dog Path”. You can also see Higanbana in the wildflower garden in the back left.
⑤ I’m in front of the Higanbana on the raccoon dog path. We’re heading to the wildflower garden.
⑥ This is the wildflower garden. You will see a white sign, which says “Wildflower Garden.”
⑦ I am in front of Higanbana in the wildflower garden.
⑧ I am in front of Higanbana in the wildflower garden.
⑨ This is a close-up photo of Higanbana blooming in the wildflower garden.
⑩ My heart is healed by Higanbana.
⑪ Now we’ll make a U-turn.
⑫ Oh, dear！ Have I left behind my pawprints?
⑬ No, they are not my pawprints. The pawprints are those of a raccoon dog, which were made by the park staff. We’ll return to the bank.
⑭ On the slope of the bank, Tsurubo are blooming.
⑮ On the bank, Japanese knotweed are bearing fruit.
⑯ You can see Mt. Tsukuba from the top of the bank.
⑰ This is a hut for raising Omurasaki. Adult butterflies can be observed from mid-June to mid-July.
⑱ We’ll pass in front of the hut and head towards the parking lot.
