先日は歴史家の大谷さんが亀清にお越しになりました。色々と話している最中で、大谷さんは「えっ、この花はどうしたの?」と驚きました。ロビーに飾ってあった黄色い花の事。庭師の岡田さんが露天風呂の庭から持ってきた；伸びすぎていてtrimしたけど捨てるのはもったいないからロビーで飾ってくれた。と説明したら、「その余裕に育っているかい?その場所を見せてください」と言われました。
女郎花と言う花だそうです。うんと珍しいらしい。歴史家の大谷さんいわく、芭蕉が更級（この辺の昔の名前）に来たときに女郎花を見て騒いだそうです。大恥ずかしい事ですが、私はそれまでにぜんぜん認識していなかった。私がここに引越ししたのはそろそろ四年がたちます。その間、色々と一所懸命勉強しているけど、この女郎花の事のように、習わなければならないことがまだまだ多いですね。
The other day, local historian Otani-san came to Kamesei. As we talked, in the middle of the conversation he stopped and asked where we got the yellow flowers that were on display in our lobby. I explained that our gardener, Okada-san, had trimmed them from our outdoor bath's garden and since it would be a wast to throw them away, he had us put them in our lobby's flower vase. Otani-san was shocked -- "You mean, you have this flower growing in your outdoor bath's garden?!?!" Apparently, Patrinia scabiosifolia "Gold Lace" is a rarity from old times. In his historical studies, Otani-san had found that the haiku great, Bassho, had seen the flower in his travels to this area and had written about it. And here I've been pretty much oblivious to it.
It's been almost 4 years now since we moved here, and in that time I've been actively trying to learn as much as possible about the area. But instances like this Gold Lace flower just go to show how much more I have learn.
大谷さんの「更科への旅」歴史シリーズが更級小学校のHPに載っています。＃１００が女郎花の事。非常に分かりやすい文章で私が興味深い内容です。頑張って、勉強します。
Otani-san's "Journey to Sarashina" series of historical essays is posted on Sarashina Elementary School's website. #100 is about Gold Lace. Very well-written and carefully researched essays -- they will be my new source for learning.
更級への旅のHP "Journey to Sarashina" Website
