着果短枝ふたたび

この季節になると、落葉広葉樹の種子の拡散が目に付きます。以前にも書きましたが、ケヤキはその中でも着果短枝を多く飛ばして種子の拡散を計る樹木として知られており、実際に大量の着果短枝が周辺に飛んでいます。以前、北風が吹く晩秋の日、京都御を通りかかると、ケヤキの巨木がさわさわと葉を落としていました。その葉の中には着果短枝も多く含まれていたのでしょう、鳩たちが舞い落ちる枯れ葉の中を忙しく地面をついばんでいました。いつまでもいつまでも惜しげなく葉を散らすケヤキの木と、ひたすらに無心に餌をついばむ鳩たちの間に、静かで確実ないのちの引き継ぎを感じて深く感動することがありました。

At this time of the year, if we are careful, we notice the spread of seeds from various deciduous broad-leaved trees. As I have written before, Keyaki, or zelkova trees are known for their ability to spread seeds by producing many short branches, and in fact, on a windy day, a large number of short branches are flying around now. Several years ago, when I was taking a walk in the Kyoto Imperial Palace on a late autumn day, I saw a huge zelkova tree rustling and dropping its leaves with a gently blowing north wind. There must have been many short branches and with them seedson the branches. Pigeons were busily pecking at the ground among the falling brown leaves. I was deeply moved by the solemn and unfailing succession of life between the zelkova tree and the pigeons.

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The seeds on the short branches and the branches on the ground.

Photo 2021-11-12