Hello, Setsubunso
戸倉駅の裏の戸倉宿キティーパークaka天狗公園は節分草と言う小さな可愛いらしい花で有名です。と言うか、節分草のファンの中で有名。大体春に雪が解けてきたら咲いてくるのでどうなっているか、見に行ってきました。
２０１１年の戸倉の節分草の現状は？写真通り、落ち葉からちょっとだけ頭が出は暇っている。今週末の天気は温かくなる予想だが、来週からまた寒くなって雪が降るそうです。従って、今年の節分草の咲きは恐らく１，２週間後かな？
また見て、報告します。
節分草の周辺に「天狗の松」と言うでかい松があります。４００年前からだそうです。この３０メータの高さの木は千曲市の指定文化財になっています。伝説によると、地元の山で修験していた三人兄弟が川の洪水で分かれて、それぞれ別なの山で籠った。三人共が天狗になり、地元の人間を守るようになったと言う。
こんな神秘的な天狗の松を見れば、なんとなく信じるようになる。
戸倉の節分草と天狗の松を是非、ご覧になってください。
Above Togura Station, there is a park called Togurajuku Kitty Park. It is better known as Tengu Park, and one thing it is famous for is a nearby grouping of cute little setsubunsou flowers (Eranthis pinnatifida). Well, at least it's famous amongst fans of setsubunsou. Such fans come from far and wide in mid March to photograph the delicate little blossoms.
Today, I went to see if they were in bloom yet, as the snow in the nearby mountains is starting to melt. I found a few just starting to poke their heads out from under the fallen leaves. But after warm weather this weekend, we're supposed to have another chilly front come through. So the setsubunsou are probably still a week or so from being in their full photogenic form.
Nearby the setsubunsou area is a massive pine tree called the Tengu no Matsu (pine). The 30 meter tall tree is supposedly over 400 years old. According to legend, three brothers that were hermits in a nearby mountain became separated in a flood. One took up residence above Togura and was so honored by the locals that upon death became a Tengu.
After seeing the imposing size of the pine tree, one is almost led to believe in the spiritual origins of the tree!
So, come and check out the elusive Setsubunsou flowers as well as our mystical Tengu no Matsu pine tree.
Mystical Tengu Pine Tree
