Ｈａｋａｔａ Ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ vol.87

Early Summer Flowers in Maizuru Park

Maizuru Park, the site of the ruins of Fukuoka Castle, is well known for its cherry blossoms, but did you know about its peony garden? After the cherry blossoms have fallen, you can enjoy peonies of many colors-red, pink, white and yellow-in April and May. The peony garden is located on the ruins of Otaka Yashiki, the dwelling where Fukuoka's founding father Kanbei Kuroda spent the later years of his life.

Next to the garden stands the nagaya ('long house') gate of the old Tahei Mori residence. Tahei Mori, a Kuroda vassal, is the hero in the Kuroda-bushi folk song who is said to have won the famed Nihon-go spear by quaffing a large cup of sake. This prime example of an Edo era nagaya gate used to serve as the entrance to the living quarters for low-level samurai before it was moved to Mori's residence. Right next door is a wisteria arbor, whose gorgeous purple flowers also bloom in April and May.

If you walk down the road toward the Fukuoka City Art Museum, you will soon run into the iris garden. The purple and white irises bloom in May and June, and you will likely see many people strolling through the garden at this time of year. Not far from the garden is the Tamon Turret, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. Fukuoka Castle was said to have 47 turrets, but the Tamon Turret is the only one still standing in its original location.

Irises also grow in the moats around the park. Later, between May and August, you can enjoy water lilies on the moats, followed by lotuses in July and August. The Shiomi Turret, located next to one of the moats, was originally in the castle's sannomaru, or outer perimeter, and was used to keep watch on the tides of Hakata Bay.

In early summer, Maizuru Park is abloom with many different kinds of flowers.  Stop by to admire the view as you walk through Fukuoka's historical ruins.

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初夏にかけて楽しめる舞鶴公園の花

　福岡城跡のある舞鶴公園は桜の名所として非常に有名ですが、桜が終わった後もさまざまな花を楽しむことができます。そのひとつが牡丹・芍薬園。赤、ピンク、白、黄色など、色とりどりの牡丹や芍薬が植えられていて、４月から５月にかけての見ごろの時期は、それは見事です。この牡丹・芍薬園は、福岡藩祖である黒田官兵衛が晩年を過ごした御鷹（高）屋敷跡でもあり、園内には記念碑も建っています。

　この牡丹・芍薬園の横には旧母里太兵衛邸長屋門があります。黒田の家臣であった母里太兵衛は「酒は飲め飲め…」の黒田節にも歌われた豪傑で、名槍日本号を飲み取ったという逸話があります。その邸宅にあった江戸時代を代表する武家屋敷長屋門を移築したものです。さらに、この門に並んであるのが藤園。大きな藤棚は４月から５月にかけて紫色の美しい花を咲かせます。

　そのまま福岡市立美術館方面に進むと見えてくるのが花菖蒲園。紫や白の菖蒲が植えられ、５月から６月にかけて開花する時期には、菖蒲園の散策を楽しむ人も多く見かけます。近くには国指定文化財である多聞櫓もあります。福岡城に47あったとされる櫓のうち、現在も同じ場所に建っているのはこの多聞櫓のみです。

　菖蒲は公園を取り巻くお堀にも咲いています。お堀ではこのほかにも５月から８月にかけて咲くスイレン、７月から８月にかけて咲くハスなどがあり、道行く人の目を楽しませてくれます。お堀に面して建つ（伝）潮見櫓は、もともと福岡城三の丸にあったもので、博多湾の潮流や玄界灘の監視をするための櫓だったとされています。初夏にかけてさまざまな花が楽しめる舞鶴公園。歴史散策を兼ねて、ぜひ訪れてみてください。