Alpine Meadow and Aqua Fairy

It would be a shame not to enjoy the blessing of nature to make an escape from heat waves we are now in.

At the top of Mt. Ibuki (1337m), the alpine meadow is now the best season for various wild flowers.　（ related post is here)

クガイソウ（kugaisō）　

メタカラコウ（metakarakō）

ミヤマコアザミ（miyamakoazami)  シシウド（shishiudo)

イブキトラノオ　（ibukitoranoo）

If you are lucky enough, you can see the whole Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, below from the western slope of the mountain. When I went there, it was a poor visibilty but several photographers were waiting patiently for the fog to disperse.

メタカラコウ（metakarakō）

                                    　　　　　　　　　　　　キバナカワラマツバ、オオバギボウシ

The alpine meadow here has been known as a depository of medicinal herbs since early times. Back to the time of 織田信長（Oda Nobunaga, 1534~1582）, he ordered Portuguese missionary to bring medicinal herbs from Europe and transplant them in the field of Mt. Ibuki. . I happened to see  キバナノレンリソウ　(kibana-no-renriso, meadow vetchling）,which is thought to have come along at that time and to have become native to this place.

The temperature is 8 to 10 degrees lower here. Besides, occasional  mists rising from the bottom is a natural air conditioner.

On the way home from it, I stopped by 醒井(Samegai), where it used to flourish as the 61^st inn town of 中山道 (Nakasendo): one of the two routes that connected Edo, the present Tokyo, and Kyoto in Edo period (1603~1867). There still have old houses and streets that remind you of those days, however, what attracts visitors here now is 梅花藻（baika-mo; water weed which have tiny little flowers like Japanese apricot flower）. They only grow in a crystal clear stream so you can see them at only limited places in Japan.

ｍingled with reflection of potted flowers on the bridge

I was not able to capture the detailed
 　　　　picture of the flowers under water,
 so this image is from here

地蔵川（Jizo River）where they grow is not a big river and local people use it to cool water melons, tomatoes, or ラムネ（bottled lemonade） for sale. There are some small bridges over the stream and I found several Sunday painters and photographers enjoying spending their own times leisurely on the bridges. I felt I was in a different time and place in that special district.

                                A dog, while taking a walk,  can't resist playing in the river.

居醒の清水（Isame-no-shimizu) is a water-spring where Jizo River flows from. A legend says it was where 日本武尊 （Yamato Takeru） recovered his health by cooling off in the water after wounded in fighting against the god of Mt. Ibuki. He was said to name the place Isame-no-shimizu.



地蔵川の梅花藻
(baika-mo at Jizo River)

伊吹山の花畑
(alpine meadow at Mt. Ibuki)