Susuki, or Japanese pampas grass, look wispy and graceful but actually they are as strong as weed like cosmos which I wrote in the post Autumn walk through cosmos. A field of wild grasses might be an archetypal scene. Many Japanese people would feel more wistful nostalgia to see a field of susuki than other wild grasses or flowers.
Susuki are willowy in appearance swaying in soft breeze. In the strong wind, they are good at bending and later they restore themselves resiliently. What is the Soul of Susuki? Nature is the only truth. There's something we can learn from it.
Mt. Katuragi (960m) is well known for the fields of susuki in autumn. At the top, you can see panoramic view of surrounding mountains, Yamato plain (Nara), and Kawachi plain (Osaka).
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| view of Mt. Kongo |
Susuki covers the mountain slopes.
Susuki grows to the height of about 2 meters.
The silver plumes look shimmering when bathed in the light.
The habitat of susuki has been invaded by the goldenrod (セイタカアワダチソウ) from America these years. Interestingly, I hear susuki known as Fairy Grass, is invading the domain of the native goldenrod in America.
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| Wild flowers including goldenrod, foxtail, and susuki The two small mountains are Mt. Miminashi (left) and Mt. Unebi (right). |
The mountain has started weaving colored brocades from the top.
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| view from the ropeway |
Hikers will enjoy not only walking through susuki but also viewing the fabulous colored leaves soon.
Mt. Katsuragi gets ablaze in May with the red color of azalea. If you feel inclined to see what it's like, visit Red Carpet Welcome by “cosmos".
Mt. Katsuragi gets ablaze in May with the red color of azalea. If you feel inclined to see what it's like, visit Red Carpet Welcome by “cosmos".
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Hello Yoko:
ReplyDeleteSuch spectacular images of beautiful countryside. The Susuki grass is, as you describe, so very elegant and to see it in such quantity, and growing naturally, is an absolute treat. It really does shimmer all the way up the mountain side.
We are rather sad to see that the Solidago, Golden Rod, is becoming invasive as it is something of a coarse plant and the yellow of the flowers is not the prettiest. It certainly has a hold on the Hungarian countryside although in the UK it is seldom seen in the wild.
Your beautiful images gave me such a good and serene feeling, Yoko, thank you!
ReplyDeleteSeeing them and reading your words, it just came to me that maybe the wistful nostalgia of Japonese people when seeing a field of susuki has something to do with the same feeling (or intuiton) of Blaise Pascal when he said that man is nothing but a reed, the most fragile in the nature, only a thinking one (in fr. "L'homme n'est qu'un roseau, le plus faible de la nature; mais c'est un roseau pensant")?...
I for one really like watching such wild fields from above, especially when is windy. Their dance like soft waves over the planes, always gave me a strange sensation of stillness of time and somehow a feeling of belonging.
There is great strength in resiliency. I love the flexibility of these grasses and how deceptively frail they appear as they bend in the breezes. The small mountains are charming unique additions to the landscape. They look like two islands in a cityscape, rather than in the sea. :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photos that convey a smoothing feeling!I love the delicate undulation of the reeds in the breeze.
ReplyDeletegorgeous yoko....what fabulous pictures of these grasses!!
ReplyDeletei always enjoy coming here!!
They look so gentle and delicate! Beautiful post Yoko:)
ReplyDeleteHugs
Joo
Yoko, you always take us to such beautiful places that I long to see for myself. The blue of the mountains and silver of the grasses make for a dream landscape. The autumn colours are splendid too. You show us such an enchanting side of your beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the post, Yoko,your photos of the grasses on the hillside are lovely. I especially like the 3rd photo and of course the ones that capture them glistening in the sun! We have a few stands of pampas grass, they truly are resilient and graceful. Your Autumn colors viewed from the ropeway are lovely too.
ReplyDelete... Y el viento mece a las espigas susurrándoles su adoración... Bss
ReplyDeleteWspaniałe widoki ozdobione falującymi trawami. Pozdrawiam
ReplyDeleteThe grasses, offset by the mountains in the background, are so strikingly beautiful. Particularly the white plumed ones in image 8.
ReplyDeleteaca en argentina tiene distintos nombres ,depende de la zona que crezca.Se hacen casi impenetrables
ReplyDeleteun relato maravilloso,por supuesto que la fotografia ,hermosa como siempre
un abrazo
Looks like the mountain has totally changed from briliant red colors in summer. How blessed we are to be abe to enjoy the different scenes the season creates! It is good ropeway saved you time and trouble to walk up there. The picture of Mt.Kongo looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite excited where to go next holiday. There're so many choices.
See you soon.
Hi Yoko,
ReplyDeleteThe Susuki is resilient and strong though it looks very fragile and graceful. It is a good metaphor for human character - possibly we should try and emulate the grasses. . I like the light in your photos and especially love the city scene - the goldenrod does look pretty even though it's invasive.
Once again you've brought us such magical photos of your lovely part of the world. That susuki looks so graceful and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi Yoko
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I am very fond of grasses especially these tawny windblown delicate spears...
Perhaps they remind me of New Zealand where the hillsides around Christchurch on Banks Peninsula are often covered in reedy grass.
I like the movement and the colour. Your second shot I find moody. I like the sunlight and clouds in all of your photos. Grasses are so humble and resilient...take us right down to earth...
You have some lovely scenes here. I especially like the waves of grass blowing in the gentle wind. So very pretty.
ReplyDeleteTo see a field of Susuki bathed in sunlight would be magical!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteØnkser you a good Tuesday.
/ Hanne Bente
www.finus.dk
Hi Yoko...again a beautiful series of photos. The views are spectacular.We have a similar kind of grass associated with this season. Your post reminded me of what my mother says about the white blooms in the moonlight. Absolutely magical!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasure to see views and aspects of your beautiful country through your posts!
Kanak
Reading through this post is like walking through a door to peace and contentment! What a glorious series of photos. The first one is a work of art! We have this pampas grass here and I love it. Last evening, I noticed similar grasses on our golf course, but they were purple in color.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to love in these photos - the mountains, the sky, the beautiful autumnal trees.
Thank you for sharing!
こんばんわ、Stardust.
ReplyDeleteもう早ススキの季節になってしまいました！
青空の下のススキは、爽快！又ゆっくりWalkingをしてみようかな～～～あという気分になりました。お弁当持って....!
Enjoy your autumn!
Tomoko
Hello Yoko!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see Mt. Katsuragi in a different season. I love the image 4th from the end.....beautiful light.But of course all your photos are lovely.
Thanks for sharing,
Enjoy your week!
Ruby
What beautiful views!
ReplyDeleteSuzuki looks like Miscanthus sinensis, which I grow in my gardens. Here in Ontario it is a very well behaved grass, not taking over anything. And I LOVE it! I didn't know it grows wild in Japan.
Goldenrod is invasive here too.
爽やかな風を感じます。写真どれも見事。見ごたえのある風景ですね。奈良は野にも山にも恵まれた土地だとつくづく思います。
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic tour you have taken us on today... The beautiful high mountains with the lovely panoramic views, the grass, the clouds...
ReplyDeleteBeing among nature is always a good thing.
Fabulous pics, gives a good account of the beauty of the place.
Have a great week ahead Yoko:)
Sometimes I feel like the photos that you publish in your blog are from another planet. That's how much beauty and magic I find.
ReplyDeleteThe way you present Japan to us it seems to me that the whole of the country is like one fabulous garden.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking scenery and photographs.
ReplyDeleteI didn't imagine that there is such a place because susuki is very usual.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the place looks very nice.
In particular it has a superb outlook.
My beloved friend Yoko, hi
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful place, which were more prominent than the wonderful photos with so many colors!!!
The plants swaying from the breeze and the sun makes gold!
Thank you for the beautiful walk!
Many greetings and many kisses
This looks similar to what grows wild on our property, although ours isn't quite as tall and is definitely native to Colorado; we've got other invasive weeds that we try to keep under control. Beautiful photos, I especially love the third from last, with the white grasses in the foreground and the mountains fading into the distance.
ReplyDeleteYoko
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place. I enjoyed your photos very much, 有難う。
Evelyn
What beautiful photographs! I love the way the susuki is backlit in the 7th photograph. Amazing vistas!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful picture.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your efforts!
http://www.meghasarin.blogspot.com
Hi, Yoko!
ReplyDeleteI maybe found the answer to that commenting problem. If I remember correctly you had it not only in my blog. I found this:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=092f11c1b33843f1&hl=en
Maybe it can help. I'm not good at this computer stuff, though, to help any more.
And the grass - I really like it. I used to draw similarly looking grass long time ago. I took it from my mind. Now I wonder if I just saw susuki somewhere and it stayed in my unconsciousness :)
Ekaterina - It’s very kind of you to have searched for the possible answer to the commenting trouble. I visited the URL. I don’t understand it fully, but recently I found a trick to comment to people who use embedded comment form and still sometimes a trouble like that happens.
ReplyDeleteSusuki has existed and has been favored since the ancient times. I think the field of wild grasses like susuki would be a virgin landscape without any human development. Maybe you saw it when you were very young or susuki is inprinted into your DNA?
Well, they say that because of Mongol invasion of Rus' many Russians have Asian genes, maybe me as well. Who knows, maybe some of my ancestors roamed endless steppes of Mongolia :) I'm sure there are similarly looking grasses there. Wikipedia says susuki grows in China - not so far from Mongolia, and steppes were larger in that time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful landscapes you are showing. Fantastic vieuws. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMarijke
Lovely too...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment,
Greetings from France,
Pierre