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It has grown noticeably cool here in Oita entering in September. The sunlight is still strong, but the color of the sky and the smell of refreshing air are apparently different from those in summer. Today, we went to the highland of Kujyu expecting the first sign of autumn in the plateau. Rice paddies in the valley have already turned to gold like this and are waiting for harvest. |
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You see chestnut burs are changing colors like this. |
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| We drove route 442 up to Kujyu plateau. The road is one of my favorite routes. In Edo era, the road was called "Hita main route" and used for Sankin-kotai(a system under which feudal lords in the Edo period were required to spend every other year in residence in Edo) of the feudal load of the Kumamoto clan. The route stretches from Kumamoto city to Tsurusaki port in Oita from which they went aboard and headed Kyoto through the Seto Inland Sea. On the right of the row of pine soars Kujyu peaks. On the left is an exercise course for runners winding through the grassy path of the plateau. Far away to the south is magnificent landscape of Mt. Aso. In such a scene, marathon runners train eagerly for an International race. | |
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Branching to the left from route 442, we enter Kumamoto prefecture from Oita prefecture. Both prefectures make a labyrinth in this area. We came up to Higotai Park. This is a map of the park at the entrance on which flower fields are indicated by different colors. Pink color shows cosmos flower bed and dark blue indicates the location of Higotai flower that represents the name of the park. |
 This is Higotai flower. It is a kind of aggregation of lovely flower pedals. This is a cultivating field of the flower, but I couldn't remember a strong impression when I found wild species of the flower in the mountain. It is very unusual flower that is in full bloom. The color of the flower is azure, I hope this picture indicates the real color of it. | |
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This is cosmos. There cosmos field is very large, but the flower is still waiting for full bloom. I make a pose at a lump of the flower. I saw many visitors carrying camera, others are taking lunch here and there in family, friends, and couples. |
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The other side of the park is a huge ranch. This is a "Higo red" cow of Kumamoto. The cow sits close to the fence, she seems like to see the cosmos. She may feel comfortable in a cool breeze. My husband played with her by a leaf of foxtail. For reference, cattle in Oita prefecture is called "Bungo black" whose color is pitch black. In adjoining ranches belonging to Oita prefecture, we see only black cattle. This always makes me puzzled. There is also a nearby ranch in which they breed a lot of Guernsey cows with spotted pattern. |
 This is Patrinia scabiosaefolia, one of seven flowers in autumn. |
 Thoroughwort, another seven flowers. |
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Japanese pampas grass, a member of seven flowers as well. It will soon become very beautiful in Kujyu plateau. What are the Seven Flowers of Autumn? Please click here. |
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