2025 08 31 丸葉萩（まるばはぎ）

 

マルバハギ（丸葉萩、学名：Lespedeza cyrtobotrya）とは、日本、朝鮮半島、中国原産で、マメ科ハギ属の落葉広葉低木です。

本州～九州の山の尾根などの日当たりの良い場所に自生します。草丈は1～3mで多数分枝し垂下或いは直立,葉は表は緑色で裏には毛があり灰緑色をしています。葉柄は短く、クローバーのような3枚葉の長卵形で、その名にもあるようにコロンと丸っこい、特徴的な葉です。可愛いです。

花が咲くのは8～10月で葉腋から短い総状花序を伸ばし、枝いっぱいに小さなマメ科特有の蝶形花をたくさん咲かせます。萩の花長さは1～1.5cmで花色は主に赤紫、他にピンクや白、黄などもあります。

秋の七草にも数えられ、万葉集に最も多く登場すると言われる萩は、日本の秋を代表するような花です。と言っても立秋のあたりから立冬辺りまで咲いているという事なので、実際の感覚としては真夏から、残暑が厳しく残るところまでの時期に咲いているというところです。このすこぶる暑い中でも萩は非常に生育旺盛！短く切り詰めてもすぐに大きく枝を伸ばします。他のマメ科の植物と同じように根に根粒菌を保持しているので、土壌を肥沃にする特性もあります。

さて、米を蒸すか、あるいは炊いた後に潰し、それを丸めてあんこで覆うという和菓子をしっていますか？祖母が春と秋に必ず作ってくれていたお菓子でもあります。

この和菓子の名前は、春は「ぼたもち」秋は「おはぎ」と季節によって変わります。作り方も味も同じものですが、、、その季節代表として愛される花が名付けられて区別されています。

もともとは形状やあんこの種類も異なるものだったそうです。

「ぼたもち」は牡丹の花のように大きな丸い形で作られ、「おはぎ」は萩の花のように細長い俵型のような形状で作られていたとされています。外側を覆うあんこも「ぼたもち」はこしあん、「おはぎ」は粒あんという違いがあったのですって、その理由はあんこの原材料の「あずき」に関係しているということでした。

　秋に収穫したばかりの小豆は皮が柔らかく、そのまま皮も潰して食べられるため、秋の「おはぎ」には粒あんが使われていましたが、ぼたもちを作る春には皮が固くなってしまっているため、皮を取り除いたこしあんが使われていたといわれています。

なるほど！昔の人のおいしく食べるこだわりというか、作る人から食べる人へおいしいのを食べてもらいたいという、心使いからの事だったのだろうと想像できます。

「ぼたもち」も「おはぎ」もとても素朴なお菓子ですが、日本の季節を思い、人を思う風情のある素敵なお菓子だったのですね！春のイースターには「ぼたもち」、秋の記念礼拝には「おはぎ」を誰かのためを思い、ふるまってくれた祖母にあこがれの思いを抱かずにはいられません。

もうそろそろしたら今年度産の新米や新小豆が出回り始めますね！急に特別感の急上昇したおはぎ！挑戦したいな！できるかな！？

萩の花言葉は「柔らかな心」「内気」

今はまだちらほら咲きのマルバハギですが、来月の合同記念礼拝ではこの参道で可愛い花をたくさん見せてくれると思います👵

以前書いたのも良かったら覗いてみてください→🍀

Maruba-hagi (Lespedeza cyrtobotrya) is a deciduous broadleaf shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae), native to Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and China.

In Japan, it grows naturally in sunny areas such as ridgelines from Honshu to Kyushu. The plant grows to a height of 1 to 3 meters, with many branches that either droop or stand upright. The leaves are green on the surface, while the undersides are grayish-green with fine hairs. The petioles are short, and the plant has characteristic trifoliate, oblong leaves resembling clover — round and plump, just like its name suggests. They're quite adorable.

The flowers bloom from August to October. Short racemes sprout from the leaf axils, and the branches become covered with small, pea-like papilionaceous flowers — typical of the legume family. Each flower is about 1 to 1.5 cm long. The main flower color is reddish-purple, though pink, white, and yellow variations also exist.

Hagi is one of the Seven Flowers of Autumn (Aki no Nanakusa), and is said to appear most frequently in the Manyoshu, Japan’s oldest anthology of poetry. It’s a flower that truly represents autumn in Japan. That said, hagi blooms from around the start of Risshū (early August) to Rittō (early November), so in reality, it blooms during the latter half of summer and the lingering heat of early autumn. Despite the intense heat, hagi grows vigorously! Even if you prune it back, it quickly regrows and extends its branches. Like other legumes, it houses nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots, which helps enrich the soil.

Now, do you know the traditional Japanese sweet made by steaming or cooking rice, mashing it, forming it into a ball, and then covering it with sweet red bean paste?

My grandmother used to make this treat every spring and autumn.

This confection is called "botamochi" in spring and "ohagi" in autumn, with the name changing depending on the season.  While the recipe and taste are essentially the same, they are distinguished by the names of flowers that represent each season and are dearly loved.

Originally, there were slight differences in their shape and the type of bean paste used.

“Botamochi” was made round and plump like the peony flower (botan), while “ohagi” was formed into an elongated, oval shape resembling bush clover (hagi). The type of sweet bean paste also differed: botamochi used koshi-an (smooth bean paste), whereas ohagi used tsubu-an (chunky bean paste). This difference is said to stem from the state of the azuki beans used.

Freshly harvested azuki beans in autumn have soft skins, so they could be used whole to make chunky tsubu-an, which suited ohagi. But by spring, the skins had hardened, so they were removed, and the beans were strained to make smooth koshi-an for botamochi.

How thoughtful! It’s easy to imagine that this came from the desire to create something delicious, a gesture of care from the maker to the one enjoying the sweet.

Though simple, both botamochi and ohagi are seasonal treats full of heartfelt tradition.

In spring, my grandmother would make botamochi for Easter. In autumn, she would make ohagi for the memorial service. Thinking of her lovingly preparing these for others makes me admire her even more.

Soon, this year’s freshly harvested rice and azuki beans will start appearing in stores. That makes ohagi feel extra special this year! I really want to try making it myself. I wonder if I can do it...!?

The flower language of hagi is: “Gentle heart” and “Shyness.”

Right now, the Maruba-hagi is still just beginning to bloom, but I believe by next month’s joint memorial service, the approach by the church to the kindergarten will be full of its lovely flowers. 👵

Feel free to take a look at what I wrote previously, too → 🍀

2025 08 24 なつめ

　　棗(なつめ/ナツメ)は、クロウメモドキ科の落葉高木(らくようこうぼく)で。木の高さは5〜15メートルになり,熟れると赤くなる楕円形の果実は、生でも乾燥させても食べることが出来ます。生の実の大きさは、だいたい幅1〜3cm・長さ2〜４cmです。

地域の気候によって前後しますが棗(なつめ/ナツメ)は、だいたい5月～7月に開花、8月頃に実がなります。収穫できる旬の時期は8月中旬～11月初旬の頃です。棗(なつめ/ナツメ)と「なつめやし＝デーツ」（南国に多いヤシ科の常緑樹）は同じ名前で実も似ていますが、全く別物です

棗(なつめ/ナツメ)の語源は、初夏に芽吹き花を咲かせることから「夏芽（なつめ）」と呼ばれるようになったという説もあります。 

常用漢字では「棗」と書きますが、その由来は「棘（とげ）」という漢字です。棗(なつめ/ナツメ)は果実の両端に棘が2本生えており、大事な実と種子を害虫や鳥から守っているとのことで鋭いとげは刺さるととても痛いです。

また、抹茶を入れる茶器「棗」も同じ漢字を使いますが、果実の棗(なつめ/ナツメ)に形状が似ていることが由来だそうです。茶道が始まった昔から、日本に棗(なつめ/ナツメ)が伝わってきていたことを物語ります。その頃は、今より棗(なつめ/ナツメ)が身近な存在だったのでしょうね。岐阜県の飛騨地方には、収穫された実を砂糖と醤油で甘く煮た「なつめの甘露煮（うま煮）」が、保存食やおやつとして食べられているとのことでした。

棗(なつめ/ナツメ)には他にもいろんないわれがあります。中でも古くから生薬や菓子の材料として重用され“世界三大美女”として名高い楊貴妃（ようきひ）も欠かさずに食していた”東洋のスーパーフルーツ”とも言われています。

韓国料理でいたるところで登場する赤くて小さな実は、대추(テチュ)といい、なつめの事です。

代表的な韓国料理の参鶏湯(サムゲタン)にも入っていたり、一般の料理やお茶、韓方薬としても重宝されています。

また、冠婚葬祭のお祝いを飾る祭壇に並べられる縁起の良い果実の一つで、特になつめは、男の子を意味し、婚姻の日の朝に新郎新婦が両親に敬礼をした後、姑が新婦のスカートになつめを投げて、子孫繁栄を願うという風習があるそうです。

教会西側道路に面した壁沿いに、大きく育って今や毎年たくさんの実りがあります。熟れてそうな実を生で食べてみると、ほんのり甘い..？確かにリンゴのような？食感もするけど。ひとつの実が小さく、種も大きいので果実部分？いまいち味わいきれませ～ん😅

熱が加わるとどんなふうに変化するのかな？この夏の実りの時に1回くらいは試してみようかな！。。スーパーフルーツ入りの参鶏湯(サムゲタン）はぜひとも食べたい。。(笑）

夏の暑さに冷たいものばかりでは、体に疲れがたまるばかり。たまには優しい味の温かいスープもいいかも、ですよ～。🍲

Jujube (Natsume) is a deciduous tall tree belonging to the buckthorn family. The tree can grow to a height of 5 to 15 meters. Its oval-shaped fruit turns red when ripe and can be eaten either fresh or dried. The fresh fruit typically measures about 1–3 cm wide and 2–4 cm long.

Depending on the regional climate, jujube flowers bloom around May to July, and the fruit appears around August. The peak harvest season is from mid-August to early November. Though jujube and "date" (from date palms common in tropical areas) are called by similar names and may look alike, they are completely different fruits.

One theory about the origin of the Japanese name “natsume” is that it comes from the words “natsu” (summer) and “me” (bud), referring to how the tree buds and blooms in early summer.

In standard Japanese kanji, it is written as 「棗」. Interestingly, the origin of this kanji comes from the character for "thorn" (棘). Jujube trees bear two sharp thorns at the base of each fruit, which protect the fruit and seeds from pests and birds. These thorns can be quite painful if touched.

There's also a tea container used in Japanese tea ceremonies called a natsume (棗), which shares the same character. This container is named after the fruit due to its similar shape. This indicates that jujubes were already known in Japan when the tea ceremony was being established, suggesting that the fruit was once a familiar part of daily life. In the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, jujubes are simmered in sugar and soy sauce to make natsume no kanroni (sweet simmered jujube), enjoyed as a preserved food or snack.

Jujubes also have many traditional associations. Long used as medicinal herbs and ingredients in sweets, they were said to be a favorite of the famous beauty Yang Guifei—one of the “Three Beauties of the World”—and are known in the East as a “superfruit.”

In Korean cuisine, the small red fruit frequently seen is called daechu (대추), which is also jujube. It is widely used in dishes such as samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), as well as in teas and traditional Korean medicine (hanbang).

The fruit also plays an auspicious role in Korean ceremonial traditions. During weddings, jujubes are among the symbolic foods displayed. Specifically, they represent male children. On the morning of the wedding day, after the bride and groom bow to their parents, the mother-in-law throws jujubes into the bride’s skirt—a gesture to wish for prosperity and many children.

On the west side of the church, along the wall facing the road, there’s a large jujube tree that has grown beautifully and now bears plenty of fruit every year. I tried eating one of the ripe fruits raw—it had a faint sweetness... perhaps a bit like an apple? The texture was somewhat similar too, but the fruit is small, and the seed inside is quite large, so there’s not much flesh to enjoy. 😅

I wonder how it changes when heated? I’d like to try it at least once during this summer’s harvest! I'd especially love to taste samgyetang with this “superfruit.” 

When it's hot in summer, we tend to rely on cold drinks and foods, but that just wears our bodies out. Every once in a while, a gentle-tasting warm soup sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? 🍲

2025 08 17 むくげ

むくげ

ムクゲは、アオイ科フヨウ属(ハイビスカス属)に属する落葉性低木です。

このムクゲという名前は中国名の「木槿（モクキン）」からや、韓国名の「無窮花（ムグンファ）」から来たものではないかといわれています、後者は花が咲き続けること（花に困らないこと）を意味するとのことでした。

　日本に渡来したのは平安時代で、園芸が盛んだった江戸時代以降は多くの品種が作られるようになり。花には五弁の一重、八重、半八重咲きがあり、花色もピンク、白、紅紫、水色など人気のある花であったようです。一輪一輪は一日で散る「一日花」ですが、花の少ない夏に咲きつなぎ楽しませてくれるからではないかとおもいます、次々に開花するため木全体としての花期が長く。主な開花期は８～９月で、4時頃にはしぼんでしまうので早い時間帯ほど花色は鮮やかで美しいです。

 教会のむくげの幹に恐竜が潜んでいました😆

余談ですが、韓国の古い遊びで

「むくげの花が咲きました」というのがあるそうです、

どんな遊びかご存知でしょうか？

　これは日本でいうところの「だるまさんが転んだ」と同じ遊びだそうです。「イカゲーム」というスリラー映画の中で登場して話題になったゲームでもあります。

この「だるまさんが転んだ」ですが地方によって文言が変わりますね、京都育ちの私にとっては「ぼんさんがへをこいた」という遊びでした。しかもこの文言、後半には「においだらくさかった」がつき、遊びの時はこの2つの文言を繰り返し、早く言ったりゆっくり伸ばしたりいろいろ抑揚をつけて大きな声で遊んでいましたよ。。😅

なんとも説明しがたい文言ですが。。お寺の多い京都ならでなのでしょうか。。いつのころからか、「だるまさんが転んだ」に代わり、今は「ぼんさんが…」で遊んでいる子は全く見かけないです！うちの子に話したら、「屁をこいた、とか大きい声で言うの恥ずかしいわ。」ですって。

それと比べると。。「むくげの花が咲きました」は、美しい調べのようです🌺。

そんな話をした後で「むくげ」の花を見ると、幼い頃の「ぼんさんが～…」と遊んだことを懐かしく思い、クスッと笑いがこぼれてきます。

以前に書いたのも良かったらどうぞご覧ください→八重むくげ

Hibiscus syriacus (Mukuge)

The Mukuge is a deciduous shrub belonging to the mallow family, genus Hibiscus.

It is said that the name Mukuge may have originated from the Chinese name "木槿 (Mùjǐn)" or the Korean name "無窮花 (Mugunghwa)." The latter means "eternal flower," referring to the fact that it keeps blooming—never running out of flowers, so to speak.

It was introduced to Japan during the Heian period, and from the Edo period onward, when horticulture flourished, many varieties were developed. The flowers are popular, coming in forms like single five-petal, semi-double, and fully double blooms, with colors ranging from pink and white to reddish-purple and light blue. Each flower blooms for only a single day—what's known as a "one-day flower"—but perhaps because they continue to bloom one after another during the flower-scarce summer months, they provide ongoing enjoyment. As the flowers open successively, the entire shrub has a long blooming period. The main flowering season is from August to September, and since the blossoms begin to wilt around 4 p.m., their colors are most vivid and beautiful in the early hours of the day.

Incidentally, a dinosaur was lurking in the trunk of the mukuge at the church 😆

As a side note, there’s an old Korean children’s game called

“The Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed.”

Do you know this game?

Apparently, it's similar to the Japanese game "Daruma-san ga koronda" (The Daruma doll fell over). It even featured in the thriller series Squid Game, which brought it some global attention.

Now, speaking of "Daruma-san ga koronda," the phrase actually varies depending on the region. Growing up in Kyoto, we used to say "Bon-san ga he wo koita" (The monk passed gas). And not only that—it continued with "Nioidara kusakatta" (And it stank if you smelled it). 😅 When we played, we’d repeat these two phrases, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, adding all sorts of rhythm and intonation as we shouted them out.

It’s a hard phrase to explain… but perhaps one that's unique to Kyoto, with all its temples.

Somehow, over time, “Daruma-san…” became the more standard version, and now, I don’t see kids playing with the “Bon-san…” phrase at all.

When I told my child about it, they said,

"Saying 'passed gas' out loud? That’s embarrassing!"

Compared to that… "The Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed" sounds almost like a lovely tune, doesn't it? 🌺

After telling stories like this, when I see a mukuge flower, I can't help but remember those childhood games, shouting "Bon-san ga…" with friends. It brings a warm nostalgia and a little chuckle to my lips.

If you’re interested, feel free to read what I wrote about  mukuge flower before →八重むくげ

2025 08 10 さるすべり

 

さるすべり　サルスベリ属・禊萩（みそはぎ）科。

漢字では「百日紅」と書く難読漢字の一つです。

樹皮がツルツルで、猿が滑るように見えることから「サルスベリ」という名前が付けられました。夏から秋にかけて、紅、ピンク、白などの花を咲かせます。咲いている期間が長いので漢字そのままの読み方で「ひゃくじつこう」ともいわれています。

サルスベリの中国名は紫薇（シビ）といい、唐の時代（618〜907年）、長安の紫薇宮廷に多く植えられたことから、この名がついたのだそうです。当時、長安は世界最大級の都市でした。今の日本では、街路樹や庭木であったり身近な存在のサルスベリですが、かつては華やかな都を彩る特別な花木だったのですね。

耐寒性も耐暑性の強く育ちやすい木ですが、10mほどに大きくなるのと花も葉も派手に散るので管理には手がかかりますよね。

サルスベリの花言葉には「雄弁」「愛嬌」「不用意」「あなたを信じる」「潔白」などがあります。

サルが滑って落ちるなんて言われていますが、つるつるしていてさわり心地の良い、くねくねした枝や幹は登りやすく、ついついぶら下がったり登ったり簡単に木登りの達成感をもらえるステキな木でもありました。新会堂建築の時に移植され今は子供たちが入れない柵の中にありますが、、、私が子供の頃はよく登ったもので。。。

場所は変われども、今も変わらず毎年可愛いフリフリのお花を咲かしています。

教会のクリーム色の壁とオレンジの屋根に、グリーンの葉とピンクの花がとても似合っています！この写真にはBGMがありますが、どんなだかわかりますか？？

夏のBGMといえば…

それは「セミのこえ」です！

日曜日には讃美の歌に代わりますので、ぜひぜひ礼拝においでください😉

Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia, Family Lythraceae

The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) belongs to the Lythraceae family.

Its Japanese name, "Sarusuberi", literally means "monkey slip", because its smooth bark looks so slippery that even a monkey would slide right off!

This tree produces vibrant blooms—from red and pink to white—from summer into autumn. Because it flowers for such a long time, it's also known by the alternate reading of its kanji name, "Hyakujitsukō", which means "a hundred days of red." It's one of those kanji that’s tricky to read at first glance!

In Chinese, the crape myrtle is called Zǐwēi (紫薇). During the Tang Dynasty (618–907), many of these trees were planted in the Ziwei Imperial Palace in the capital, Chang’an—then one of the largest cities in the world.

Today in Japan, the crape myrtle is a familiar sight as a street tree or garden plant, but in ancient times, it was a treasured flower that adorned a dazzling imperial city.

Crape myrtles are hardy in both hot and cold climates, and generally easy to grow. However, they can reach up to 10 meters tall, and their leaves and flowers fall dramatically—so they do require a bit of upkeep.

The flower language (hanakotoba) of the crape myrtle includes:

"Eloquence," "Charm," "Carelessness," "I trust you," and "Purity."

Despite the idea that "even monkeys slip" on its bark, I always found the twisting branches and smooth texture irresistible. As a child, I loved climbing it—grabbing onto the limbs, swinging, and feeling that special joy of having scaled a tree all on my own.

Today, the tree has been transplanted inside a gated area during the construction of our new chapel, so children can’t climb it anymore... but I remember those days fondly.

Though the location has changed, the tree still faithfully blooms each year with its frilly, cheerful flowers.

　　　　　　　　　　

And now, the crape myrtle's green leaves and pink blossoms match so beautifully with our church’s cream-colored walls and orange roof—it’s a perfect picture!

This photo comes with a little background music.

Can you guess what it is?

When we think of summer background music...

It’s the sound of cicadas!

On Sundays, of course, the music is replaced with songs of praise,

so please do come join us for worship 😊

2025 08 03 藪茗荷（ヤブミョウガ）

 藪茗荷（ヤブミョウガ）

学名は Pollia japonica　 ツユクサ科ヤブミョウガ属に属する多年草です。

　夏から秋（おおよそ 8〜10月）にかけて白色の花を咲かせます。1日でしぼむ一日花ですが株全体では次々咲くため、長期間楽しめます。また花の後には丸い実ができ、熟すにつれて鮮やかな藍紫色に変化していきます

ミョウガと聞けば暑い夏の涼メニュー「お素麵」のお供にあると嬉しい食材を想像しませんか？

茗荷(ミョウガ）はショウガ科ショウガ属　で薬味として有名な食用植物ですが

藪茗荷（ヤブミョウガ）は全く異なる種類なので食用植物ではありません。

名前が似ている理由は葉の形がミョウガに少し似ており、藪（林の中）に生えるミョウガに似た草ということで「藪茗荷」と呼ばれているそうです。

藪茗荷の花言葉は謙譲の美徳、報われない努力、苦しみを和らげる、だそうです

林縁など暗く湿った場所を好み、地下茎で広がって群生することが多いとの事で。。教会でも日の当たりにくいところで生き生きと育っています。後ろに「マンサク」と「栃の木」の幹がみえます！

　

実のところ、この辺にはミョウガ（食べれる方）も生えていたりするので、茎を分けると地面に薬味のミョウガも見つけることができます！

ややこしいけど、復興教会の楽園は夏も何かしら楽しい収穫があったりしますね💝

8月に入り教会では夏期学校、中高生たちのキャンプ、大人の近畿夏期聖会、様々な夏の行事が続いています。新しい出会い、久しぶりの語らい、主にあっての家族や友との時間は本当にかけがえのないものだと感じます。

そんな中　8/6には教会の鐘が8時15分に響きました。平和を祈りつつ。。

その翌日8/7は立秋で、まだまだ気持ちは夏真っただ中ですが、暦の上では秋の始まりなのですね！一人一人に与えられる新たな日を大切に、主の恵みに感謝し過ごしたいです。

Yabumyoga (Pollia japonica)

Yabumyoga (Pollia japonica) is a perennial plant belonging to the family Commelinaceae, genus Pollia.

It blooms with delicate white flowers from summer to autumn (around August to October). Each blossom only lasts for a day, but since the flowers bloom successively across the plant, you can enjoy them over a long period. After the flowering season, it produces round fruits that gradually turn a vibrant indigo-purple as they ripen.

When we hear the word “myoga,” many of us probably imagine a refreshing summer dish—like cold somen noodles topped with that fragrant garnish.

However, while Myoga (Zingiber mioga) is a well-known edible plant from the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), Yabumyoga is an entirely different species and is not edible.

The reason for the similar name is that its leaves resemble those of Myoga, and it tends to grow in shaded, wooded areas—thus, the name “Yabu-myoga,” which roughly means “wild myoga of the forest.”

Yabumyoga is said to carry the following symbolic meanings as flower language:

Virtue of humility ,Unrewarded effort, Relief from suffering

It prefers shaded, moist environments like forest edges and tends to spread in clusters through underground rhizomes.

In fact, it’s thriving even in the shaded areas around our church! Behind it, you can also spot the trunks of a Japanese witch hazel and a horse chestnut tree.

Interestingly, in this area, the edible Myoga also grows. If you gently part the stems, you might find its flavorful buds hidden close to the ground!

It’s a bit confusing, but this “paradise” around our church always seems to offer something delightful, even in the midst of summer. 💝

Now that it’s August, our church is in the midst of various summer activities—Vacation Bible School, youth camps, and the Kinki Summer Conference for adults.

New encounters, long-awaited reunions, time shared with family and friends in the Lord—these are truly irreplaceable blessings.

On August 6, our church bell rang at 8:15 AM in remembrance, as we lifted our prayers for peace.

The very next day, August 7, marked Risshū, the traditional beginning of autumn.

Although it still feels very much like summer, the calendar reminds us that a new season is beginning.

May we each cherish the new day given to us, and live it with gratitude for the grace of our Lord.