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.