Seraserapy Autumn. Shining Dahlia
- 山本まりこ
- May 19
- 4 min read
Updated: May 20
■Table of Contents
■ Enchanting Dahlia
Serakogen Farm in autumn is like a paradise.
After all, there are dahlias blooming as far as the eye can see.
It's easy to lose track of time as you snap photos surrounded by colorful dahlias.
There were beautiful dahlias blooming everywhere, and I couldn't stop taking pictures.
There have been many times when I would arrive at Serakagen Farm first thing in the morning and continue taking photos until the evening.
It's a very, very magical and happy time.
The first article about autumn dahlias at Serakogen Farm was published the other day.
This time, I would like to write about the dahlias at Serakogen Farm in autumn and about photographing them.
■Shining Dahlia
"What time is recommended for photographing dahlias at Serakogen Farm?"
I've been visiting the dahlia fields at Serakogen Farm for about 10 years, so I get asked this question a lot.
I will answer.
The recommendation is,
- Early morning and evening on sunny days
・Rainy days
is.
First, early in the morning on a sunny day.
In the early morning on a sunny day, dahlias sparkle like jewels.
The sun has just risen and the dahlias, still covered in morning dew, sparkle in the morning sunlight.
Sparkling.
It looks like the petals are adorned with lots of crystals and sparkle.
If I had to describe that time in words, it would be "Sera Crystal Time."
Sparkling crystals here and there.
Sera Crystal Time,
Could such a beautiful world really exist? I wonder this as I press the shutter.
And on a sunny evening.
The slanted evening light envelops the world in a dramatic way.
I still remember clearly what was going through my mind when I was taking the photos.
It's such a joy to be able to press the shutter knowing that I've taken a photo that I really love.
It's just, just the best.
And then, a rainy day.
On rainy days, dahlias are covered in raindrops.
Even on rainy days, beautiful dahlias sparkle here and there as if they were clad in crystal.
There are 7,500 crystal dahlias of 550 varieties.
"I wish it was sunny."
"It's raining so I won't be taking photos today."
"Why is it raining?"
When it rains while you're traveling, you can hear voices from all around.
In fact, even though I was taking photos at Serakagen Farm in the rain from morning until late afternoon, there were only a few people there other than me.
There were days when there were hardly any people taking photos.
There is such a beautiful world right in front of me.
If you have a camera, a rainy day becomes a wonderland.
You can take photos with an umbrella inside or adjust the shutter speed to capture the trail of raindrops.
Serakogen Farm is a wonderland on a rainy day.
Please try taking some photos on a rainy day.
■ Frog pops out
What I look forward to most every time I visit the dahlia garden at Serakogen Farm is...
That is, to meet Frog-kun.
It's quietly nestled among the dahlia flowers.
They are scattered here and there among the 7,500 dahlia plants.
It's not that there are lots of them everywhere, but rather that you have to search and look before you finally find one.
When you find it,
Ah, so you were here.
And then the shutter is released quietly.
The frog doesn't move much and just sits there.
I also take pictures gently so as not to provoke them.
But sometimes.
When an insect approaches, the frog starts to move around.
I thought he had been dozing off until then, but he was now surprisingly alert.
It's fun to watch them spend time like that.
This is Tombo.
Cats too.
Serakogen Farm is bustling in the autumn.
■Morning Sera
Autumn morning.
You can also enjoy beautiful autumn in the town of Sera and on the road to Serakagen Farm.
Red spider lilies and silver grass swaying in the wind.
There was fog on several occasions during my stay.
We recommend getting up early in the morning in Sera.
■Sera's food
Now it's time for dinner.
This time we would like to introduce "Sera Rice Ball Vegetarian Curry" from Setsugetsufuuka Fukuchiin.
This shojin curry is packed with the delicious flavors of Sera vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, soybeans, and fruits. It is topped with a rice ball made from rice from Sera, a rice-producing region. And because it is a shojin curry, it does not contain meat, onions, garlic, etc.
In fact, I, Mariko Yamamoto, provided the recipe for this curry.
Yamamoto is actually a photographer, but he is also a spice foods author.
It has been well-received, with people saying, "Shojin curry has a light image, but it's flavorful and delicious."
■ Seraserapi
Surrounded by beautiful flowers
Enjoy a delicious meal
Talk to kind people
A trip to Serakogen has you smiling before you know it. It feels as though you are surrounded by kindness, and is just like receiving therapy.
That's why I call the comfort of spending time in Sera "Sera-serapi."
Seraserapi
Well, see you in Sera this fall.
Mariko Yamamoto
Photographer. Spice Foods Writer. After graduating from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Science and Engineering, he got a job at an architectural firm. In the spring of his 25th year, he decided that "I still love photography," so he set off on a journey with his camera and immediately became a photographer. He continues to take spatially conscious photographs, with the concept of "airy," which means well-ventilated. He is active in a wide range of fields, including photography, writing, lectures, and teaching. He has published 11 books, including the photo collections "ARIY COLORS" and "Walking the Kumano Kodo," and the book "Airy Photo Taking Recipes." He runs the photography and spice cooking class Room5656, and opened PEANUTSuu, a space for photography and spice curry. His favorite foods are curry and squid.
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