The Meaning Of Four-Leaf Clover

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

For me, Clover is a new plant, and I’m curious about their legend or the meaning behind four-leaf Clover plant. It is very interesting to know about them more. How lucky me, my friend told me about four-leaf Clover more than I expected. She helped me to satisfy my curiosity about four-leaf Clover. Thank you very much Ryo-san, arigatou gozaimasu.

Honestly, I knew about four-leaf Clover when I watched Japan anime. What? Yes, it is true. Many times I watch Japan anime to release my stress from daily activities. In that story of Japan anime, some kids were looking for four-leaf Clover. If they could find it, it means good luck would come to them. So they tried hard to find four-leaf Clover. That’s a very nice story, I like that Clover plant commonly has three-leaves. Four-leaf Clover is a rare variation of approximately 1 in 10.000. Yes, there are approximately 10.000 three-leaf Clover for every four-leaf clover. Wow, how awesome it is when we could find four-leaf Clover. And it is unclear and become debates, the four-leaf Clover is caused by genetic or environmental issues. Forget about why and what is the cause when four-leaf Clover appears, because I really, really wanted to find a four-leaf clover

Ryo rakusui gave me this picture

According to the tradition, if someone could find four-leaf Clover, it bring good luck for them, especially when they found accidentally. Oh, of course, it is like other foliage plants. I have some kind of foliage plants that believed to bring good luck for the owners. First, called Money plant, the Money plant is just one of foliage plants that believed to bring good luck. Sometimes we could find them in green leaf color, or green and white leaf colors. Secondly, Aglaonema plants. Javanese people believe these plants bring good luck. So, if we planted them at the house, and they grow well with many leaves appear, that means lots of good and luck come to us.

I think four-leaf Clover is unique and mysterious thing. Because there are many legends on it that it’s unclear which one is the true legend about four-leaf Clover. Four-leaf Clover are about legend, tradition, and belief. And I think is that why it always attracts people to find four-leaf Clover until now. Yes, it is a miracle when someone can find a four-leaf Clover.

In Europe, the four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck. Someone who can find four-leaf Clover then luck will visit. Besides, in a Christian legend, the story tells that Eve brought a four-leaf Clover when she was expelled from Paradise. So, what is the meaning behind four-leaf Clover? Each leaf Clover represents faith, hope, love, and luck/happiness. Some others say the four leaves represent fame, wealth, love, and great health. How is about five-leaf, six-leaf, and above? Well, five-leaf represents money. And there is no meaning for six-leaf and above.

Ryo Rakusui gave me this picture

May 10, 2009, in Yawaza, Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture-Japan, was discovered 56-leaf Clover by Mr. Shigeo Obara. He has received a certificate Guinness World Record for his great job. He was 84 old farmer that studied about multi-leaf Clover. He was an independent researcher on Clovers for over 50 years. On May 25th, 2002, Mr. Shigeo Obara discovered 18-leaf Clover, then on June 3, 2008, he discovered 21-leaf Clover. Yes, he shattered his own record. But, He died before receiving a certificate of Guinness World record.

Wow, it is an amazing four-leaf Clover story. Many of the stories behind these leaves, a legend, a tradition, and a belief. Well, I agree if four-leaf Clover is a miracle leaf. It is not a common leaf, but it’s a miracle if we can find four-leaf Clover. Yes, there is not easy to find some miracle around our life, but when we try hard, we will probably see it in a small percentage, even if 1 in 10.000. Do you believe it?

Note:

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• Pictures from Ryo Rakusui
• Do not copy this article without permission

Bunga Sakura Dan Budayanya

 

1. Bunga Sakura

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Sudah tahu apa belum, di Jepang terkenal akan keberadaan bunga sakura. Bila orang berkata “bunga sakura”, maka pikiran kita akan langsung menuju sebuah negara yang terkenal dengan sebutan matahari terbit, yaitu Jepang. Bunga sakura, selain beragam jenis, ternyata ada budaya menikmati keindahan bunga cantik ini, yang disebut dengan nama Hanami.

Di negeri Sinchan, yaitu Jepang, bunga sakura atau yang juga disebut dengan Cherry Blossom flower, jenisnya ada tiga. Apa saja itu?

• Somei-Yoshino

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Bunga sakura jenis Somei-Yoshino ini adalah bunga sakura yang biasa atau kebanyakan dijumpai di Jepang. Bila kita mengatakan “sakura”, maka yang ada dalam  pikiran kita adalah sakura jenis ini.

• Shidare-Zakura

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Bunga sakura jenis yang kedua ini, penampakannya tak kalah indah dan menarik dibandingkan dengan jenis yang pertama, Somei-Yoshino. Bila dilihat atau diperhatikan, jenis ini seperti air terjun, bukan? Bunganya menjuntai-juntai jatuh kebawah. Rantingnya melengkung kebawah, dimana sepanjang ranting itu dipenuhi oleh bunga-bunga sakura.

• Yae-Zakura

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Nah, bunga sakura jenis yang ketiga ini, bentuknya benar-benar rupawan lhoo… Kenapa begitu? Karena mahkota bunganya double/ ganda. Bandingkan dengan jenis yang pertama dan kedua, mahkota bunga sakura jenis pertama dan jenis kedua, mahkota bunganya single atau hanya satu saja. Sementara jenis yang ketiga ini, Yae-Zakura, lebih terlihat seperti bunga mawar, kan?

Bunga sakura jenis Yae-zakura ini, mekar paling terakhir diantara jenis sakura-sakura yang  lain. Bunga sakura biasanya mekar pada awal musim semi, dan hanya sekitar dua minggu saja. Nah kira-kira bunga sakura jenis mana yang disukai oleh kawan-kawan sekalian, hayooo? Semuanya cantik-cantik kan… Saya menyukai semuanya!

         2. Budaya Hanami di Jepang

Di Jepang ada budaya Hanami.  Apa itu budaya Hanami? Budaya Hanami adalah budaya untuk menikmati keindahan bunga sakura. Kira-kira seperti apa sih budaya Hanami itu?

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Ketika musim semi tiba, orang-orang Jepang bersuka cita menyambutnya. Kenapa? Karena dimusim semi itulah bunga-bunga sakura akan bermekaran dipinggir-pinggir jalan, dan taman-taman kota. Nah untuk menikmati keindahan bunga sakura, masyarakat Jepang berbondong-bondong pergi berpiknik ketaman bersama keluarga, teman, dan kerabat.

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Disana, ditaman itu, mereka menggelar tikar/ alas duduk, dan membawa bekal makanan. Ya,  duduk-duduk makan bersama  keluarga sambil menikmati bunga-bunga sakura yang sedang mekar ditaman itu. Itulah yang disebut budaya Hanami.

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Saat sedang menikmati keindahan bunga sakura ditaman, ada pantangannya. Apa  itu?

• Tidak boleh memetik bunga-bunga sakura, bahkan untuk menyentuhnya juga tidak boleh
• tidak  diperkenankan untuk memanjat pokok-pokok sakura 

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Kenapa ada pantangan/ larangan semacam itu? Untuk orang Jepang, tindakan semacam itu, baik memetik bunga sakura, ataupun memanjat pohon bunga sakura, dianggap sebagai tindakan bodoh dan sangat memalukan. Bila ada orang yang memetik cabang/ bunga sakura, itu artinya orang tersebut tidak peduli akan pohon sakura, dan dianggap telah mengambil kecantikan bunga sakura. Kawan sekalian bayangkan, bila batang sakura serta bunga sakura dipetik dari pohonnya, maka pohon sakura tidak cantik lagi kan, karena bunga-bunganya dipetik.

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Selain itu, pohon bunga sakura bukanlah sembarang pohon. Ketika batang pohon sakura dipetik, maka akan berakibat buruk pada si pohon sakura, yang bisa mengakibatkan kematian pada pohon sakura. Pohon bunga sakura bukanlah pohon yang bisa dipangkas/ dipotong. Bila pohon-pohon disekitar rumah kawan-kawan sekalian mudah tumbuh dahan atau pokok-pokok baru setelah dipangkas/ dipotong, maka tidak demikian dengan pohon bunga sakura.

Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Oiya… tau kah kawan sekalian, bila bunga dan daun sakura itu bisa menjadi bahan olahan. Orang Jepang biasa menggunakan bunga-bunga sakura ini untuk dicampurkan kedalam teh hijau mereka. Sementara daun sakura  dibuat salted sakura leaf dimana proses pembuatannya sampai 6 bulan baru bisa digunakan hasilnya yaitu digunakan untuk membungkus makanan khas Jepang yang bernama Sakura-Mochi. Sakura-Mochi ini terbuat dari tepung beras, gula, kacang merah, dan air. Wah…terdengar lezat kan makan Jepang yang satu ini. Tidak hanya digunakan untuk membungkus mochi saja, salted sakura leaf ini bisa dimasak menjadi tempura sakura leaf, untuk campuran tamagoyaki atau telur dadar ala Jepang, dan juga campuran Sushi. Menarik, bukan?

Source: wikipedia.com

Nah, itulah sedikit penjelasan tentang bunga sakura dan budaya Hanami di Jepang. Seru kan piknik ditaman dengan dikelilingi pohon-pohon sakura, melihat bunga sakura bersama keluarga. Semoga bisa menambah wawasan kawan sekalian tentang Jepang.

Catatan/ note :

• Penulis Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti – Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Ryo Rakusui
• Foto Sakura Mochi diambil dari Wikipedia
• Dilarang untuk meng-copy paste tulisan ini tanpa ijin – Do not copy this article without permissions
• Dilarang untuk mengambil gambar/ poto yang ada dalam artikel ini tanpa ijin – Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions

Singapore Wet Market, Traditional Market in Modern Country

I believe, everyone loves shopping especially for me, as homemaker. So, where would you go to shop? If you live in modern country, you will have to go to the supermarkets. How about traditional market? In Singapore, most locals (Singaporeans) goes to the traditional market, they call it wet market. Which of them are you interested in?

When I moved into Singapore four years ago, I didn’t know about wet market. Had I known wet market was there, I would have visited it. At the time, if I needed something, I would have gone out at supermarkets. Until someday I realized, there was wet market nearby. My neighbours every morning go to the market and bring their trolley bag to shop. Since that day, wet market is one of my favorite place to shop.

What is wet market? Wet market consists of many stalls inside which has two sections, wet section and dry section. At the wet section, the stalls are selling fishes, and meats. While dried noodles, dried beans, dried red date, spices, vegetables, and fruits are sold at the dry section. Smaller shops always around, such as shops selling household tools, groceries, saloons, clinics, and cake shops. And you can find ATM and SAM (SingaporePost Automated Machine) around too. When you feel tired after shopping, you can stop by at the food stalls buy local foods. Or you can just sit and enjoy a slice of traditional cake with a glass of grassjelly drink.

For some people, wet market is similar to the traditional market. Traditional market selling fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and fishes as wet market do. Even things like shoes, sandals, socks, pants, clothes, and bags are sold. It’s good for you who like shopping at bargain-able price. Market commonly identical with smells, hot ambience, and wet floors. The smells usually comes from spices, fishes or meats, or it could be something else. Hot ambience makes you sweat, because there is no air-conditioner installed. And the wet floor, sometimes caused by melted ice from the wet section.

www.alamy.com

I can see many cultures in Singapore. And wet market is one of Singapore’s culture and heritage. Languages, local foods, traditional spices, and social relations, are part of life in the wet market. When you are shopping, you can hear many languages, they are Mandarin, Malay, English, and Tamil. So is the spices, it’s easy to find Chinese’s, Malay’s, or Indian’s spices in there. Something that you have to know, most locals spends their time at food stalls. Whether it’s for eating, or just talking with their friends and family. That is why we can find local foods easier at food stalls that stands around wet market. The sellers and their regular customers are very close to each other. Even if you are the first customer at the day, they will be welcoming you and talk to you like an old friend. The sellers and their customers are bound with heart-warming, and smile.

www.expatliving.com

As a modern country, youngsters loves supermarkets and convenience stores. I believe, a big country is the country that still keeping the culture and heritage alive. That is why wet market still exist until today. Shopping at wet market has been such a common routine for locals (Singaporeans). But, if the next generation doesn’t aware and care about the wet market around them, this culture and heritage will possibly lose forever.

Why should we go to the wet market? One strong reason is the prices generally are much lower than the supermarket’s. So you can save your money to buy another things. Secondly, the vegetables, fruits, fishes, and meats are sold fresh. New stocks comes every day. Lastly, we can buy something that we couldn’t find in the supermarket. Such as bayleaf, banana leaves, or cassava leaves. Those are some reasons why we have to look at the wet market and buy something.

The government realized, wet market is one of the Singapore’s culture and heritage. So, they have to keep it and make it more better by renovations time by time. Renewed wet market will attract more people, and it’s good for business. Besides, this is a good destination for tourist who wants to know about locals’ activity in the morning. It will be an unforgettable experience for them.

I do agree, yes, we are standing in modern country. Yet we can’t avoid modern shopping that makes us ignore the wet market. But, we must remember who we are, that wet market is one of the culture and heritage in Singapore. It is not about doing business, it’s about social culture and friendship. Wet market represents truly Singapore. If we can’t keep them, someday the next generation will never ever seen multi-culture social bounded by wet market society.

Note :

• Written by Acik Mardhiyanti / Acik Mdy
• This article is my essay writing for my course
• Photographed by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti and Rdz
• Some of these pictures in this article are taken from other sources
• Do not copy this article without permissions

Traditional Yogyakarta Wedding : The Meaning of Makeup and Finery, Paes Ageng

Traditional Yogyakarta Wedding, wow..sound great and very interesting for me. You can search on Google with tag “Yogyakarta Royal Wedding”. And you can see the bride and groom, it’s a magnificent and luxurious makeup and finery wedding, named Paes Ageng Jogja, or Paes Ageng Yogyakarta. There is deep meaning inside the makeup and finery that the bride and groom is wearing on.

Royal Wedding Kraton Jogja, www.pinteres.com

Few months later I and my husband to\ok a picture. We wore a traditional Yogyakarta wedding, named Paes Ageng Jogja. Yeah, every year we take a picture to celebrate our anniversary wedding. And this year we decided to wear Paes Ageng Jogja for this moment. We thought it’s very interesting tradition, and deep meaning inside. So we learnt about that.

Royal wedding Kraton Jogja, www.pinteres.com

What means Paes Ageng actually is? “Paes” means make up, “ageng” means glorious, luxurious, and elegant. Paes Ageng is a traditional Javanese custom that bride and groom is wearing on. There are two kind  of Paes Ageng, Paes Ageng Jogja / Paes Ageng Yogyakarta, and Paes Ageng Solo. And they are different each other. And I will just write about Paes Ageng Jogja on this article, named Paes Ageng Jogja Basahan. Sorry…maybe next time I will write about Paes Ageng Solo.

Jogja/ Yogyakarta is one of province in Indonesia. It’s located in Java Island. Now, King of Yogyakarta named Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. At the time, just relatives of the king that allowed to wearing Paes Ageng Jogja. But in 1940, when Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX reigned, Paes Ageng Jogja allowed to wear for the ordinary people or civil. Since that time, a lot of people wearing this custom for wedding, pre-wedding pictures, or just take a picture for wedding anniversary like us

Royal Wedding Kraton Jogja, www.pinteres.com

My make up maker talked much to me. She was excited for her job, Paes Ageng Jogja specialist make up maker. And I forgot to ask her name  She said, if it was a wedding, she needs four hours to make up the bride. WHAT? yeah, just for make up Paes Ageng Jogja, needs four hours. But she promised me, she just needed 1 hour to make up me, ‘cause it just for a photo shot. And the fact is, almost two hours to make up me, and one hour to prepare custom.

Dodot, kain cinde merah, udet, museumku.wordpress.com

The make up maker told me much more about Paes Ageng Jogja. So I asked and learnt many things at the time. She said, if it was Paes ageng Jogja, the bride and the groom would be wearing a dress, named “dodot”, “udet” and the red dress named “kain cinde merah”. Yeah, Identity of Paes Ageng Jogja is red color, blue color, and white color. And you won’t to believe this, the bride head finery must 10 kilograms all of them. Yeah, if you wear the original finary head of the bride, you will carry on 10 kilograms on your head.

These are deep meaning inside finery and make up of Paes Ageng Jogja, Let’s check it out

• Cundhuk Mentul

Cundhuk mentul 9, ink361.com

Cundhuk mentul 5, www.online-instagram.com

What kind of is that things? Cundhuk mentul is the attribute that wearing on top of head. The number is odd, sometimes you can find 1, 5, 7, and 9. That time I wore 5 cundhuk metul on top of my head. Of course every number have a means. 1 means one God, 5 means Islamic Symbol, “rukun islam”.7 means relief, and 9 means symbol of Islamic guardians. And more important about cundhuk mentul, it must used rear facing.

• Gunungan

Gunungan, www.isigood.com

Gunungan, it means mountain. The bride wears it on top of her head too. Why mountain? Because our ancients believed, mountain is the highest place that the God stay. Gunungan is symbol that husband must respect to the his wife (women).

• Centhung

Centhung, www.isigood.com

What is that? It’s look like a gates, right? Yeah, there are a symbol of the gate of life. Centhung wears on the head, one on the left another on the right side. When a women got married, she must ready to be a wife, her new life has begun.

• Prada

Prada, www.isigood.com

Prada is a makeup on the bride brow. You can see it, it’s a black make up, with gold color on the line. There are 5 of curves, the biggest curve means a God, and three dots gold colors means symbol Trimurti (three of Gods, Brahma, Wisnu, and Siwa).

• Citak

Citak, www.pinteres.com

What’s Citak? Citak is a makeup that make on the center of bride brow. you can see it between eyebrow. And my makeup maker used a fresh betel leaf that cut like diamond, and place it on my center brow.

• Alis Menjangan

Alis menjangan, www.lakako.com

in English, Alis menjangan means, deer eyebrow, ‘cause the eyebrows has made like deer antlers. You see that, huh? this eyebrows is inspire by deer. Because deer is smart animal, clever, elegant, and loyal. So, the women must have these characters, Smart, clever, and elegant. Oh, I like this words, women have to smart, clever, and elegant and of course we must loyal to our husband.

• Sumping

Sumping, mutiarahati55.wordpress.com

Sumping? What is that? Sumping is finery in the ears. It looks like a leaf guys… yeah, that’s right. At the ancient time, Sumping made by papaya leaves. But now, it’s made by metal. The taste of papaya leaf is bitter, right? It  means as a wife, we must ready to feel hard life with our husband.

• Kalung Sungsung

Kalung sungsung, www.isigood.com

Kalung Sungsung, is a necklace. There are tree level, means our life are tree level too, born, married, and die. Tree levels of human life.

• Kelat Bahu

Kelat bahu, commons.wikimedia.com

It looks like a bangle, right? Yeah, it wears on the bride and groom arms. If you see that, it’s a dragon bangles. The head of dragon must facing in the front.

• Gelang

Gelang, www.isigood.com

Of course there are round shape bracelets, and without breaking anywhere. The bride and the groom, have to wear these bracelets. The bracelets means eternal love

That’s so great wedding dress, right? It’s magnificent,luxurious, and elegant. I love that! and we was so excited to wear this wedding dress.

Note :

• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Do not copy this article without permissions

Higan-bana, Bunga Amaryllis ditanam di Sawah?

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Bunga Amaryllis, kenapa bunga cantik-cantik ditanam disawah? Seperti yang sering kita lihat pada umumnya, bunga ya ditanam dihalaman rumah atau ditanam didalam rumah sebagai penghias dan mempercantik rumah kita. Tapi mengapa di Jepang, bunga Amaryllis ditanam disawah? Tidak cantik kah bunga ini? Yuk simak penjelasan singkat dibawah, mengapa bunga Amaryllis ditanam disekitar sawah.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Bunga Amaryllis itu seperti apa sih? Bunga Amaryllis itu banyak jenisnya dan banyak macam warna. Di Indonesia bunga Amaryllis ada yang menyebutnya sebagai bunga lili hujan, dan ada pula menyebutnya sebagai bunga bakung atau bawang-bawangan. Disebut sebagai lili hujan tak lain dan tak bukan, adalah karena bunga Amaryllis berbunga disaat musim hujan tiba. Disebut dengan bawang-bawangan, karena memang pertumbuhannya dimulai dari sebuah bulb, yang tampak seperti bawang.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Bila berjalan ditaman di Singapura, terkadang kami menjumpai bunga Amaryllis. Penulis lebih mengenalnya dengan sebutan Spider Lily. Yeah, Spider Lily, seringkali ditanam ditaman sekitar tempat tinggal warga, juga ditaman kota. Tapi biasanya yang kami temui di Singapura, Spider Lily denga warna putih. Sedangkan warna merah belum melihatnya.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Di Jepang, bunga Amaryllis yang biasa tumbuh disana, atau banyak dijumpai disana disebut dengan nama Higan-bana dalam bahasa Jepangnya. Higan-bana memiliki nama inggris Cluster Amaryllis, atau Hurricane Lily. Bila menelusuri klasifikasinya, bunga ini masuk dalam kingdom Plantae, family Amaryllidaceae, genusnya adalah Lycoris. Belajar Biologi lagi ya, yeah sedikit mengingatkan kembali akan mata pelajaran disekolah, Biologi. Penulis sendiri menyukai pelajaran Biologi, apalagi bila menyebut nama latin dari tumbuhan Di Jepang bunga Amaryllis ini berbunga saat musim gugur tiba. Bila orang Jepang melihat bunga Amaryllis berbunga, maka itulah pertanda musim gugur telah tiba.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Adalah seorang kawan penulis yang merupakan warga negara Jepang, sekaligus seorang volunteer di Botanical Garden Kamisakabe, Amagasaki-Japan. Teman penulis inilah yang memberikan pengetahuan akan manfaat lebih dari bunga Amaryllis. Apa itu? Ternyata bunga bakung (Amaryllis Sp), di Jepang banyak ditanam di sekitar sawah dan lapangan atau tanah lapang. Tujuannya apa? Tujuannya agar supaya sawah-sawah dan tanah lapang tersebut terhindar dari ular. Dan ini sudah dilakukan sejak jaman dahulu kala. Artinya, pengetahuan ini adalah turun-temurun.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Pada dasarnya, seperti yang kita ketahui bersama, disawah itu banyak ular, bukan? Tidak perlu ditanya, penulis bisa memastikan itu. Lantas, bagaimana caranya bunga secantik itu bisa menghindarkan sawah-sawah di Jepang dari ular? Oh ternyata, kata teman penulis, bunga Amaryllis ini beracun dan memiliki bau yang tak disukai oleh ular. Tak cukup menghindarkan dari ular, dengan menanam bunga Amaryllis disekitar sawah serta tanah lapang, bisa menghindarkan dari tikus juga. Wah, menarik, bukan?

Higan bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Oh, sebentar, bunga cantik nan rupawan ini beracun? Iya, betul sekali! Bagian tanaman Amaryllis yang beracun adalah terletak pada bulb-nya. Racun yang terkandung dalam bulb bunga bakung (Amaryllis Sp), adalah Lycorine Alkaloids. Apa itu Lycorine Akaloids? Secara kimia mungkin penulis belum bisa menjelaskannya. Namun yang pasti, sangat beracun baik untuk hewan maupun untuk manusia sendiri. Bila sampai termakan bulb-nya bisa menyebabkan diare dan juga muntah-muntah. Itulah mengapa bunga Amaryllis ini dihindari oleh ular, serta tikus.

The picture is from Google

Bagaimana cara menanamnya disawah? Seperti pada gambar yang ada dalam tulisan ini, bunga Amaryllis ditanam disekitar pematang sawah, ditanam mengitari/ mengelilingi tanaman padi. Terlihat semacam pagar, bukan? Tapi yang ini beda, pagarnya cantik dan enak dipandang mata. Berfungsi ganda kalau begitu, selain ditanam untuk menghindarkan dari bahaya ular, juga untuk mempercantik pemandangan disawah. Tak hanya itu, kata kawan penulis, bunga Amaryllis ini bisa menjadi penanda/ bukti apakah padi-padi yang dilindungi tumbuh dengan baik atau tidak. Jika bunga Amaryllis dipematang sawah itu berbunga dengan baik, maka padi yang dilindungi juga akan tumbuh dengan baik. Sawah-sawah hijau dikelilingi oleh bunga Amaryllis berwarna merah yang sedang mekar. Atau ketika padi mulai menguning, ada semburat warna merah mengelilinginya. Wah..menyegarkan mata, dan terasa indah sekali.

The picture is from Google

Tapi ada hal unik tentang tanaman bunga Amaryllis. Apa itu? Jadi, meskipun beracun, bunga Amaryllis bisa ditanam untuk kebutuhan makanan dalam keadaan darurat. Dari penjelasan kawan penulis, Bunga ini ditanam bila keadaan memang benar-benar kekurangan bahan makanan dengan memakan bulb Amaryllis. Ada caranya untuk menghilangkan racun yang terkandung dalam bulb. Bagaimana caranya? Masih menurut kawan penulis, adalah dengan menyiramkan air selama 7 hari berturut-turut. Disiram terus tanahnya sampai tujuh hari, dengan tujuan untuk menghilangkan racun. Setelah itu bulb bisa dipanggang dalam keadaan bulat, atau dibuat untuk dumpling.

Higan-bana - Photographed by Ryo Rakusui

Inilah sekelumit cerita tentang bunga Amaryllis dari negeri Sakura, yaitu Jepang. Meskipun beracun dan ditanam untuk menghindari ular, namun ternyata bunga ini masih memiliki manfaat lebih, yaitu untuk dijadikan bahan makanan bila keadaan darurat bagian bulb-nya. Pengetahuan menarik. bukan? Terimakasih untuk kawan baik penulis yang mau berbagi pengetahuan tentang Higan-bana, Cluster Amaryllis.

Note / Catatan :

• Written by Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti – Penulis Acik Mdy / Acik Mardhiyanti
• Photographed by Ryo Rakusui
• Gambar/ poto Amaryllis dipematang sawah diambil dari Google
• Do not copy this Article without permissions – Dilarang untuk meng-copy paste tulisan/ artikel ini tanpa ijin, apalagimengakui karya ini sebagai karyanya pribadi
• Do not reuse these photographs anywhere else without permissions – Dilarang untuk mengambil gambar/ poto yang ada dalam artikel ini tanpa ijin. Kecuali untuk gambar/poto yang memang diambil dari internet/ Google