Hana no Michi Fukuda, October 2024 ~ I don’t have a lot of time to lash up this post about today’s new-to-me and a new-for-me happy place; Hana no Michi Fukuda. The biggest challenge I have is choosing photos. I took a lot of photos today. Not just of the flowers, but of all the paraphernalia in the garden too. Statues, scarecrows, recycled art and more. There has been a lot of rain lately and more is forecast for the end of next week. This garden is stunning no matter what the weather, but the cosmos – which are a large feature of the garden – look best in the sun, because they bow in the rain. So I want to get this post out in real time, while we have sunny weather! Therefore, I have just randomly selected unedited photos for the meantime. I will add more photos tonight / this weekend if I can.
Hana no Michi Fukuda
Hana no Michi Fukuda is a private garden that is open to the public and is completely free. Moreover, the lady, who lovingly tends to the garden, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. What a joy it was to spend a couple of hours in her garden, and for about half of it, chat to her. Please be mindful that this is somebody’s home when visiting. I’d advise that you arrive at a respectable hour! It might be best to avoid lunch time too (noon to 1 pm). Also, no tripods or photography equipment unless you have prior permission from the owners.
At this time of year the garden’s main focus is mainly cosmos and sage. But there are dozens of other flowers here and there. Including some rare ones such as “American Deigo” or “Kaikouzu” which a translator tells me is Erythrina crista-galli in English. Another seasonal element of the garden is the scarecrows, which made me laugh out loud. Especially Asao and Masao, pictured below! Because it had been raining yesterday they were wrapped in plastic when I arrived, but the lady removed the plastic shortly after. The attention to detail, and to the flowers, is impeccable.
Open garden
There is another private garden in Moroyama that opens to the public twice a year. But it has a charge and is smaller. I can’t believe Hana no Michi Fukuda is free and is ‘open’ all year round. If I’d known I’d have brought something along for the owners. Especially as it turns out, the lady gave me two presents, as well as lots of free information (I did pick them some drinks up from a vending machine after). I could have listened to her talk about flowers all day, if I had not to get home. I see many trips to this garden in my future!
Information
Michi no Hana Fukuda, 278 Oyagi, Moroyama, Iruma District, Saitama 350-0452. View on Google Maps.
There is no official website and they don’t have any social media accounts.
There is limited parking at the garden, but its probably best to park at Moroyama Park and walk over. The garden is about a 30 minute walk from Moro station on the JR Hachiko line. And about 40 minutes on foot from Bushu-Nagase station on the Tobu Ogose line.
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those are some top notch scarecrows!