Cosmos fields before sunset

The three-storied pagoda of Hoki-ji, National Treasure

Cosmoses are fairly representative of autumn flowers in Japan.

They are written 秋桜 meaning “autumn sakura/cherry blossoms.” 

In autumn, they dye the fields of the country shades of pink.

They are easy to grow even on non-fertile soil as long as they are in lots of sunshine.

 I have taken photos of cosmoses swaying under the blue skies many times.

On a sunny late afternoon with floating clouds last week, I suddenly wanted to photograph

 dancing cosmoses in the gradual darkening right before sunset. 

The place is one of my favorite cosmos spots, the fallow paddy field around Hoki-ji Temple 

less than half an hour by car from my home.

The flowers are not only graceful but also as hardy as weeds.

Unfortunately the sky was not so dramatic as I had expected before departure,

 but the flowers did do their best job. 

Airy cosmoses are floating in the falling darkness, looking at the Cosmos.

My grandson Y, who almost always draws dinosaurs or vehicles, 

got inspired to make a sketch of some cosmoses in a white vase;

pink to magenta flowers, yellow discs, and distinctively feathery, fern-like leaves.

The flowers seem to have made him add butterflies.

What were you inspired by recently?

There are eight posts about cosmos flowers including this one, here.

Linked to Mosaic Monday