ハナモモの谷根

谷根の山里では、地域の方々がハナモモを植え続け、年々その数が増えています。まさに「平成の花咲か人の里」と呼ぶにふさわしい光景です。春になると、休耕田の棚田や道沿いにピンク色の花々が咲き誇り、新緑が芽吹き始めた米山山麓の枯野が、一面華やかな花畑へと変わります。ハナモモは桜よりも花期が長く、週末を中心に多くの人々が花を愛でに山里を訪れます。

米山周辺にはユキワリソウをはじめ、ヤマザクラ、ウワミズザクラ、ムラサキヤシオツツジなど、春の野山を彩る花々も豊富で、写真撮影にも絶好の地域です。私が撮影した日はあいにくの雨模様でしたが、特に赤や濃いピンクの花は、曇りや雨の日のほうが柔らかな雰囲気となり、日本画のような趣のある写真になります。

また、この地域は米山山麓の豊かな水に恵まれ、湧き水や沢も美しく、谷根川では秋になると鮭が遡上する姿も見ることができます。年度初めに心を潤してくれるこの山里を訪れることが、私の恒例行事となりました。

In the mountain village of Tanne, local residents continue to plant hanamomo trees, and their numbers increase year by year. It is truly a scene worthy of being called “the village of flower lovers in the Heisei era.” In spring, pink flowers bloom along the terraced fields and roadsides of fallow fields, and the barren fields at the foot of Mt. Yama, where new greenery is beginning to sprout, transform into a vibrant flower field. Cherry blossoms have a longer blooming period than cherry blossoms, and many people visit the mountain village on weekends to enjoy the flowers.

The area around Mount Yone is also rich in flowers that adorn the spring mountains, such as snowdrops, mountain cherry blossoms, Japanese cherry blossoms, and purple azaleas, making it an ideal location for photography. On the day I took photos, unfortunately it was raining, but especially the red and deep pink flowers have a softer atmosphere on cloudy or rainy days, creating photos with the charm of Japanese paintings.

Additionally, this region is blessed with abundant water from the foot of Mount Yone, featuring beautiful springs and streams. In the fall, you can also witness salmon migrating upstream in the Tannegawa River. Visiting this mountain village, which refreshes my spirit at the start of the year, has become a cherished tradition for me.

EOS5DMarkⅣ+168mm  1/125秒 f：5.6

©️photo by Nakamura Osamu