Looking back at Mt. Fuji during its opening period (2)

Hello! This is Handa from the Fuji Five Lakes Management Office.
As autumn deepens, a hike in the mountains surrounding Mt. Fuji offers a soothing experience with the sounds of nature, such as the crunching of fallen leaves and the chirping of wild birds. The air is crisp and clear, and the views of Mt. Fuji are magnificent. Please come and enjoy hiking at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. (When entering the mountains, please be sure to take precautions and prepare for bear sightings.)
Now, continuing from last time, I'd like to look back on the summer climbing season with some photos. This time, I'll introduce just a few of the plants and animals I encountered on Mt. Fuji.

Some people might think that above the 5th station on Mt. Fuji, there's nothing but rocks and gravel, with no flowers blooming, but that's not the case at all. If you walk carefully, you can encounter a variety of wildflowers bravely blooming on the desolate Mt. Fuji.

Japanese columbine (early August, at Yoshida Trail 5th station)

White-flowered columbine (late July, at Izumigataki waterfall)

The photo in the upper right is a white-flowered variant of the Aquilegia flabellata that I introduced previously. This flower normally has purplish-brown sepals and yellow petals, but this particular specimen is a mutant that has lost the ability to synthesize a pigment called anthocyanin. I learned about Mendel's laws in middle school, and this is a rare flower that only appears when two plants with the recessive gene that prevents pigment synthesis are crossed. My science studies at Mt. Fuji came in handy.

This photo shows the Yahazuhigotai (arrowhead flat-flowered bellflower), whose elegant colors of black buds and purple flowers are eye-catching. Its name comes from the fact that its leaves resemble an arrowhead, but do you know what an arrowhead is? An arrowhead is the end of a bow and arrow where the string is attached, and it is shaped like a Y. The "odamaki" in the Yamaodamaki (mountain columbine) mentioned earlier also refers to "a spool of thread made by spinning hemp or other fibers and winding them into a round shape," and many names of plants and flowers are derived from objects and tools that were closely related to the lives of people in the past. Isn't that interesting?

While the Hakone Miura AR posts also feature butterflies like the Chestnut Tiger and Peacock, here we introduce the Yellow-edged Comma butterfly (larva: bottom left, adult: bottom right). The adult is easily recognizable by its thick yellow border, but the larva is a caterpillar like this! Repeatedly patrolling the same area allows you to observe the transformation of plants from flowers to fruits, which is one of the joys of insects, but insects are an advanced subject. However, it becomes even more enjoyable once you study a little and deepen your knowledge.

When I first saw the photo in the bottom left, I thought it might be a Japanese Bush Warbler, which I often see at Mt. Fuji's 5th station, but it was wiggling its tail, so it looked a little different. After a while, it flew away with a black and yellow male that was also wiggling its tail. It's rare to encounter a pair of Grey Wagtails at Mt. Fuji's 6th station. Perhaps they were on a summer getaway date?

But it's not the Japanese deer's fault. They're just trying their best to survive. It's a difficult problem.

So, what did you think? Whether you've climbed Mt. Fuji before or not, did you find it interesting?
I have one last request.
We welcome your interest in the nature of Mt. Fuji and encourage you to take photographs, but please refrain from picking plants or capturing animals (this is a violation of the Natural Parks Act). Also, please be careful not to stray from the designated paths or trample on plants while you are engrossed in taking pictures. In some areas, this may obstruct the passage of other visitors. Please be mindful of your surroundings and proceed with caution to avoid accidents and dangers.

Etiquette and rules for climbing Mt. Fuji