I spent a short summer vacation in Bandai Kogen, Aizu, as I always do.
Unfortunately, the vacation coincided with the arrival of a typhoon in the Tohoku region, and although it did not hit our area directly, there were many concerns, but let’s put that aside for a moment.
This time, before the weather broke, I dropped by the biotope of Inawashiro Town, aiming to photograph a fantastic flower that I could not achieve a few years ago.
The flower I was looking for was this one.
SAGISO(Heron Weed) is a species of orchid that grows in sunny marshy areas and is widely distributed throughout Japan. In Inawashiro town, it is designated as the “town flower”, and in the past, it was possible to see many of them around rice paddies and wetlands around Inawashiro Lake. (The situation is similar not only here but also all over the country with regard to the herbivorous plant.)
In Inawashiro, it is protected and preserved by volunteers, and I came here with the information that the biotope attached to the learning center facility run by the town is a good place where anyone can easily see it.
The building in the photo is the town’s Learning Center “Manabina” and the small pond in the foreground is part of the biotope. The small pond in the foreground is part of the biotope.
The sign at the edge of the pond explains that you can indeed see Sagiso plants here.
However, I can’t find the all-important Sagiso.
I heard that the flowers bloom in August-September, so I was hoping to find them this time of year before the mid August. I have always been weak against flowering plants and trees in general, and if they don’t bloom, I have no idea which grass is the one.
If such a person is told not to come looking for it, I have no choice but to apologize and say, “Yes, you are right.”
So our little trip to look for Sagiso ended in vain this year.
Although we were unable to accomplish our goal, it was quite enjoyable to get acquainted with the grass, flowers, and colorful dragonflies along the water’s edge at this small biotope, which was our first stop by the town. Adjacent to a spacious park and a splendid gymnasium, it seems to be an important place for local people, where many children, young people, and families gather.
The perspective effect of the super wide-angle lens made the image look small, but the “Kamerina” gymnasium in the background was quite a magnificent building. The castle that once stood here was called “Kamegajo(Turtle castle)” (I don’t know if it was named after the Tsurugajo(Claine castle) in Aizu Wakamatsu or not).
As is customary every year, it looks like we will be continuing with articles about summer vacation trips for a while.
