城北公園へ向かう途中、タイガはときどき手前の屋敷林に立ち寄ります。ここは古い農家の敷地だったところの一部ですが、今では一般に提供されています。
On our way to the Johoku Park, Taiga often stops by this woodland. This was a part of the woods surrounding an old farmhouse, but now it is open to the general public.
The farmer's family was ancient and the trees in the surrounding woodland are also ancient, as well as containing unusual trees. For example, I had never seen a tree called 'mukuroji' (Sapindus mukrorossi) until a person told me, who was collecting the fruits fallen from the tree. He also told me that the flesh can be used to make soap, and the seeds are used as the base for a shuttlecock that used to be used during the New Year in Japan. That huge tree is somewhere in this corner, but I cannot recognise it until the fruits fall off in autumn.
この大木は、何と柿の木です。ただし、よほど原始的なものらしく、ピンポン玉程度の実がなります。
Surprisingly, this ancient tree is a persimmon tree. However, it must be a very primitive one since its fruits are no bigger than a ping pong ball. Modern day persimmon trees do not grow like this.
竹やぶは孟宗竹。
The bamboo woods are of Chinese origin.
今日のタイガは城北中央公園ではなく、反対方向の茂呂山公園を目指しました。
Instead of going to the Johoku Central Park, Taiga chose to go to the Moroyama Park which was in another direction.
今日の練馬区の最高気温は38℃でした。最近の猛暑の影響で、公園の落葉樹の枝がだんだんとスカスカになってきています。
Today's maximum temperature reached 38℃ in our Nerima Ward. Due to the lasting heat wave, the branches of deciduous trees are starting to shed leaves.
上り切った広場につくと、誰もいませんでした。
When we reached the top of the hill, we saw that there was no-one else.
タイガは冷たい草の上で腹を冷やしています。
Taiga enjoying the cool grass under her belly.
近づいて行くと、いつものスリゴロを始めました。
When I approached her, she started her usual rolling on the grass.
ガバっと起きたと思ったら、
She suddenly sat up, and
独りで興奮して、あちこち駆け回りました。
started running like a mad dog in various directions.
でも、年なので長くは続かずヘロヘロになります。
However, she is too old to run endlessly and soon gets exhausted.
息をついたあとはベンチでオヤツタイム。
After catching her breath, we sat at the table for Taiga's treat.
この顔、ハイエナの赤ちゃんに似ています。
When she is all attention, she looks like a baby hyena.
きれいな芝生を背景に記念写真。腹部が太って見えますが、それは長めの毛が生えているだけで、
オヤツで一服したあとは、茂呂山公園のふもと近くにある公園にも立ち寄りました。ここは城北公園の一部ですが、数年前に完成した最も新しい公園のせいか、いつも草刈りが行き届いていて大切にされている印象です。一方、城北中央公園およびその周辺の草地は草丈数十センチにもなっていて、中型犬でも入りにくいほどなので、ここは別世界。
After the break, we went down to the park at the foot of the Moroyama Park. Just like Moroyama, this park is also a part of the Johoku Park. However, this is the newest addition to Johoku Park, and they seem to treat this one like the crown jewel - the grass is always kept prim. In contrast, elsewhere in Johoku Park, the grass has not been cut for weeks, and it is now too tall even for medium-sized dogs to walk in. So, this park is on another planet.
Against the background of neat grass, I took some photos. Her tummy may look fat, but it is due to the long hair.
動くと、はっきりします。
The moment she moves, you can see how it really is.
なぜかこの公園も貸し切り状態だったので、しばらくここに留まりました。僅かに風が吹いていたし、何より草が短くて清潔でした。
Since we had the whole park to ourselves, we stayed a little longer, enjoying the evening breeze as well as the clean, short grass.
