Exploring the Elements of the Classical Japanese Garden. Part 4

The purpose of the classical Japanese garden is to provide a place for meditation and veneration. A Shinto shrine is the historically oldest and perhaps archetypical garden. Its form may date back to 500 BCE. It is noted for its rusticity and blending into the local surroundings. It is a place for contemplation and veneration of the native elements and important concepts and significant ancestral figures. These spiritual elements called “Kami” were recognized as important and worthy of respect or veneration. These were not deities for worship but instead were intellectual constructs supporting the Japanese “rules of civility”

This is part 4/5 in a series of postings on my experiences and observations of gardens of Japan. For a complete understanding please visit the other postings. (1) (2) (3)

There are typically 6 elements in the classical Japanese garden. These include a Torii Gate, a bridge, one or more lanterns, rocks, a pond, and trees.

The Torii is a gateway which is placed at the entrance of the shrine. It signifies the transition between the ordinary and the spiritual worlds. Often it is painted carmine red and made of wood. I frequently saw two shapes. Myojin torii are curved upwards at their ends and have a crossbeam that extends past the posts. Shinmei torii have a straight top and a crossbeam that ends at each post. There may be associated symbolic decorative rope or string accents called Shimenawa which along with trees further signify the boundaries of the shrine space.

The bridge symbolizes transition from one state of existence or world to another; from mundane to spiritual, from our sensual mortal reality to perfect immortal paradise. They maybe made of stone or wood and maybe either elaborate constructions or simply a single flat stone. Stepping on a bridge gives us a choice – either we cross it and take time on the bridge, or we turn back. In some gardens, bridges led to a central island called nakajima, which symbolized the Pure Land of Amida Buddha.

Stone lanterns originate in Buddhist traditions where the light suggests the enlightenment of Buddha’s teachings through the darkness of ignorance. From a Shinto perspective stone lanterns or yorishiro are made to attract, guide and house kami in the created sacred space. Each item in the construct has special significance. They are regarded as peaceful and tranquil.

Garden rocks selected and arranged for contemplation while sitting.

Rocks are ever so carefully selected, placed and arranged into the shinto garden. They are the residences of the kami. They symbolize the mountains or islands or even powerful figures in the Japanese pantheon. They are especially important in the Zen Buddhist garden. In the Zen garden, rocks stand for Mt Horai, the “Blessed Isles of the Immortals”.

Expansive water feature with bridge in background

Water in the shinto garden represents purity or purification. Without water in the garden the significance of bridges, rocks and islands would be lost. Ponds and especially flowing water are a key element to all but the Zen gardens. Instead of water in the Zen garden, gravel and stones are carefully placed and raked into patterns resembling rippling water.

Group of carefully trimmed trees in private garden. Note the variations in color and texture.

Trees are included within and around the periphery of the garden. They are called shinboku, and may be draped with shimenawa rope. The shinto shrine trees are specifically designated as sacred because of their age, size, or connection to a particular kami. Large, old, single or groups of trees are attributed with concepts like immortality or endurance, beauty or mythology. They are the connection between the natural world and the divine.

Perhaps the ideal of the shinto garden, this place is in the wilderness at the base of Mt. Fujii. The Torii arches over the simple stone path. The bridge provides a decisional option to access another route. The native trees surround not only this pleasant lowland but also the entire Mt. Fuji national park. The stones are truely mountainous.

SUMMARY:

The five classical garden types include shinto shrines, buddhist gardens, zen-buddhist gardens, imperial palace grounds, and castle grounds. Images of these can be seen on our previous blog.

Shinto shrines are intended for veneration of kami.

Buddhist monastery: I think of these enclaves as gardens for the mind. They are surrounded garden areas that are mostly devoid of effigies or suggestions of kami. They are intended to provide tranquil respite for peace and tranquility. Buddhism derives from India and became very powerful in Japan. During the Shogunate civil wars the Buddhists fought for independence from the warring parties. During the Edo period Buddhism was considered a threat to the Empire. Its foreign origin and power conflicted with the concept of three principals of Japan; duty to the Emperor, to the Nation of Japan and to the Japanese ancestors. The State no longer supported the monasteries. Attendance dwindled and contributions were insufficient to maintain these mammoth wooden buildings.

Zen/Buddhist gardens: Zen Buddhism arose during the civil wars. The Shoguns combined various portions of the Shinto faith and positions of Buddhism to facilitate their own code of ethics. The esthetic simplicity of the Buddha combined with a strict discipline of the Samurai. This is referred to as the “Shogun way”. Samurai and Daimu modeled their private retreats in the form of shinto shrines.

Imperial palace grounds. The centers of government changed during the more than one thousand years of imperial rule. Several cities were host to the Emperor and these cities hold the remains of the various palaces.

Castle grounds: The castle itself is a military fortification. It was not a residence, instead it was a place for defense. It would be packed with munitions and armaments. These materials were used for offense or as a depot for invasion forces. Surrounding the castle the army would be encamped and the outer rings were the support and suppliers for the troops. The grounds may have extended many square kilometers around the castle. The gardens encircling the castle were for walking, meeting and socializing.

CONCLUSION:

It appears to me that both shinto and buddhism seek enlightenment. They have opposite approaches to achieve this goal. Buddhism puts faith in self inspection, shinto puts faith in kami. Both approaches have value.

REFERENCES:

Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

REFERENCE LINKS:

Stone lanterns , Water in Japanese gardens , Bridges in Japanese gardens

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#Japanese garden #kami #shinto #buddhist #lanterns #bridges #trees #samurai #shogun #zen

June 15, 2025

Cover Photo Published !

Marie Gorman, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Bay Watch News, accepted a submission for publication as a feature article written about Stunning Japanese Gardens for volume 7 number 5 April 2025. I previously posted much about this on this site and gave a Power Point Presentation to the Bonita Bay Community Association.

Much to my surprise she accepted two additional photos from my submission for the cover contest finalists. An even greater surprise for me was to see one of them on the cover of this recent issue. The feature image of this blog is a copy of that printed cover page.

Tommye Flemming, a senior contributing editor for the Bay Watch News also asked to interview me for a bio feature of residents in the community. We had a fun conversational experiencing. She was terribly flattering in her biographic sketch and also submitted additional photos from our travel experiences. This too was published in the same issue !

After the Bay Watch News was published, Marie said that she had an overwhelming positive response. I’m so pleased that these images and stories have brought a little happiness to so many people. See the full issue and enjoy the other submissions at this URL. Bay Watch News

Thanks Marie ! You made my day too.

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Feel free to use the coments block or go to the discussion board on this site.

#publication #Bay Watch News #biography # photography

April 4, 2025

Japanese Garden Types – Part 3 – Woodlands

The native woodlands are foundational for all other Japanese gardens. They have been revered for thousands of years as part of Shinto. They are geologically, ecologically, historically, culturally and economically important. The previous posts in this series have reviewed the cultural insights and history of the Japanese gardens. This is part three of a six part series on Japanese gardens. The purpose of this presentation is to focus on the value and management of the forests. Can these be applied to care of woodlands in Florida and the East Coast of the USA?

There are three garden types in Japan that include woodlands, food production gardens, and the classic traditional gardens. Here is a brief overview of the forests in the wilderness of Japan.

The feature image is typical of the countryside viewed from the cable car on the way to Mt. Fuji. It is mountainous and covered with a forest of predominantly gymnosperm trees.

The history of Japan has significantly altered the natural woodlands of Honshu. The wilderness is not as natural as expected. 75% of Japan is densely forested. Forty percent’ was planted by people. There is a deep and protracted use of the woodlands for lumbering. The giant shrines with statues of the Buddha are made of cedar and cypress harvested from the wilderness. Historically all of the major buildings and residences were built from local wood. Until the twentieth century no other materials were used.

No understory at altitude at 1/2 (4500 ft) of Mt Fuji

Deforestation Events

The forests were depleted of wood from three major events. There were two major event periods of construction which consumed whole mountains of wood. The first was during the castle shogun period the 1700’s. These included many square miles of defensive castles and associated residences for soldiers, civilians and commerce. Simultaneously, the residences and temples of the Buddhists were constructed. The second period was during the Edo and the Mejie eras. Edo construction focused on the new capital now called Tokyo. The third and period was the combination of the 1850’s through 1950. The forests were severely depleted as never before. This third period included deforestation for construction and devastation as a result of war.

Deforestation has an impact on the geology and ecology. Without the tree roots to hold the soil, earthquakes, floods, land slides with mud and rocks ensued. To restrain the soil trees were aggressively replanted with cedar and cypress with very little diversity. In 1954 The public was incentivized to plant even more. That incentive indirectly increased further deforestation of diverse native tree angiosperm hardwood species like the maple.

This had a further modern impact of construction lumber. Its value depends on good management of the trees. To grow straight, tall and knot free, the limbs need to be trimmed. To allow sufficient light and access to the trees the forest needs thinning. To be accessible to harvest, the slopes of the hills must be within the capacity of the power equipment. This is demanding work requiring a skilled and able labor force. The population of Japan is aging. The wage rate compared to other countries is relatively high There are insufficient foresters to develop an industrial timber crop. As a result of this, the trees are of questionable value. The monocultural nature of the crop also makes the forest susceptible to pests and diseases. The understory is sparse and not diverse. The wildlife is severely limited. To compete with imported lumber the method of management needs to be rethought.

2024. Tokyo completely rebuilt in concrete

Spiritual Value of Old Trees as Seen in Art

Shinto regard of trees and forests is foundational. Recall that there has been a long veneration of trees which we described in the last posting. This value dates back thousands of years. They are assigned individual and group value as Kami spirits.

In Japan, old trees are venerated for their resilience, strength and power. Allegorically, they offer a bridge to the past. Both of these concepts are essential to the concept of Shinto. Blossoming trees are also highly regarded. Most notably are the spring blooms of the weeping cherry and plum trees. Autumnal trees with seasonal chromatic change in the leaves offer even more inspiration for artists.

Kano Masanobu, ~1550, This exquisite screen, ink on foiled paper is in the Tokyo National Museum

Buildings for the Community Revering Forested Trees

The size of the remaining wooden buildings speak volumes about the mass of lumber needed for the temples, castles and residences of ancient Japan. The Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji in Nara Japan is the world’s largest wooden building. It houses the largest cast bronze seated Buddha statue. It is only one of the few remaining giant Buddha halls. These images of notable wood structures do not truly capture their great size. Maintenance of these halls, palaces and castles is constant, expensive, and requires expert craftsmen and are paid for by donations. The remaining buildings are a small fraction of all of the original buildings that once existed.

Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji in Nara. This reconstruction is only two thirds of the original building.

Private Wooden Buildings

The Gion district in Kyoto and the Yasaka-no To Pagoda has a high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. This area was established 1300 years ago. Many of these wooden buildings date back to the Meiji period more than 150 years ago. Most of the original buildings were destroyed in the fire of 1865. In Kyoto those which were rebuilt were not destroyed in WW II. There were wooden structures like these in Tokyo. They were the norm and as you would expect, during WW II most of them burned. Only a few pockets of these remain. They were replaced with modern buildings made of steel reinforced concrete and glass.

Tokyo. Wood is protected from deterioration caused by dog urination. The curved barriers can be seen on the face of the structure

Kyoto. No barriers results in discoloration and acidic damage to the structure.

WW II post war reconstruction period and current state of woodlands

Trees by the numbers

Look at this hillside. At the lower level, below the green line, you can see the density of the tree trunks. There is no place for understory growth. This suggests over planting without selective tree pruning or thinning as is necessary for a healthy tree growth pattern.

The foliage distribution strongly overlaps the mountainous areas which we described in the first of this series on Japan. To better appreciate the distribution of trees in Japan, the following illustrations will show the varieties and locations in the island group. This underscores the limited accessibility to manage the growth or to commercially harvest the wood.

The distribution of trees is approximately 40% deciduous and 60% coniferous and evergreen.

This graphic is from “Forest and Forestry of Japan Textbook to Learn about Forests” . The Japan Forestry Association, “Forest zone of Japan”. Note our visited area is characterized as warmer temperature vegetation.

For more information on plants seen on this trip, please visit the Everglades Ark Epicollect database. to see more native trees and plants in seen on this visit. See observations numbers 422 to 434.

Reforestation:

There is a strong response to the tree management in today’s Japan. The forests of Japan rank third in the world for percentage of forest covered land. Modern management techniques including diversification of species are being applied and the use of local lumber is increasing.

Japan is now making a concerted effort to reforest and rewild their woodlands. Although this is a public works project and is government sponsored/funded it depends on community part time and volunteer workforce. It includes incremental reforestation using a variant of the Montreal process. This successful process has been widely applied in many locations around the world. The dedication and discipline of the people of Japan have made this do-it-yourself (DIY) project an example that could be followed here in Florida.

CONCLUSION

Forests continue to play an important part in Japan both spiritually and economically. Hopefully we can learn that over deforestation and questionable management can result in unintended consequences. The reversal of the untoward results can be costly, labor intensive and time consuming.

Next

In our next posting we will explore the productive gardens as farms in Japan. Later we will see the classic formal gardens

HERE ARE SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR the discussion board

Where does the art of bonsai fit into Japanese culture?

How would you manage the woodlands of Japan?

What can we learn from the Japanese woodland management experiences?

How can we use the Florida Master Naturalist program to encourage woodlands management in our own neighborhoods?

If you have visited or live in Japan please add to this description.

Is Japan competitive with the world in lumber production?

Reference texts:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

Please post your comments in the space provided below.

If you wish to be notified of future postings please enter your email address and click on Subscribe.

#gardens #Japan #Shinto #samurai #Buddhism #Shogun # culture #imperialism #history #philosophy #art #trees #

December 8, 2024

The Evolution of Japanese Gardens: Exploring Dramatic Cultural Influences – Part 2

The cultural changes of Japan are fascinating and profound. Journey with me and see how they have significantly influenced gardening on Honshu and all art in Japan. This posting is a generalized recapitulation of the history. It will help you follow the cultural forces as they change through time. Powerful characters in that history built these gardens and structures. We will look for the demonstration of these influences by interpreting the evolving style and content of their gardens.

The featured image is a shinto shrine. Be sure to see the earlier posting, Cultural Insights from Japan’s Stunning Garden Landscapes.

Types of gardens:

We will look at three types of gardens which were made and modified over the last thousand years. I have selected Japanese history to follow the gardens. All of the gardens were made with special intention. In Japan there are three identifiable types of gardens; wilderness, production and formal (classical). These will be individually discussed in the posts to follow.

Early Development:

Shinto:

Shinto is an ancient veneration based faith. It is native to Japan. It may have originated ~300 BCE. It is not a true religion. It attributes veneration to spiritual Kami; avatars of people, objects and forces in natural settings. The Shinto shrine is simple and rustic. It has specific elements and design style emphasizing nature. This is the earliest referenced form of Japanese gardens. The natural elements and symbolic representations in design are in nearly all subsequent classical Japanese gardens.

Buddhism:

Buddhism is a philosophic, faith based life style. It originated in India and came to Japan ~400 AD. It emphasizes simplicity, restrained behavior, self awakening, and reincarnation using meditation. There are many forms of Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a Samurai adaptation of one of the extant Buddhist sects. It is more severe in imaging and its gardens are characterized by the use of stones, gravel and sand. The arrangement is designed for stationary meditation not for walking. This form of faith acknowledges the concept of limitations. The gardens encourage transcendence of the limitations of the objects.

Entrance gate to Buddhist monastery / garden

IMPERIALISM:

Walking path in a large and complex Kyoto Imperial garden. It includes Shinto elements of water, bridge, trees and shrubs, lanterns and other Kami references.

The emperors of Japan have a long and troubled history. They date back to 1000 BC well before written history. Imperial power has risen and fallen at lease three times in recorded history. In the last period, Imperial power did not return until after the second visit of Commodore Matthew Perry. He was sent by the US president to force the trade. Japanese nationalists precipitated the overthrow of the Shogun and reestablish the power position of the Emperor.

Samurai: CODE

Samurai warriors had a moral code of ethics and behavior. Their training started in childhood. It focused not only in strength but also intelligence. When they were not fighting or training their combat skills they practiced self reflection, studied philosophy, literature, and the arts. They showed discipline, frugality, kindness, honesty, personal duty & honor, athletics, military skills, military strategies and political savvy. Ultimately they were trained to be fearless in battle. They were rewarded with currency, land and promotion.

The samurai developed a complex hierarchal order. The shogun was the highest rank of military commander. The feudal land lords were called daimyo. The shogun and his samurai provided military protection to the emperor and the daimyo. Through aggressive civil warfare attrition, one Shogun eventually dominated. This resulted in the end of civil strife, a unified Japan and peace which lasted for 200 years. In total, samurai directed an inalienable influence for 600 years.

The White Castle built buy the samurai Shogun

Politics and civil war:

Two Samurai armies fighting for opposing Shogun who seek domination of territory and power. (Source Anonymous)

The four current and historic Japanese capital cities are on Honshu. Each has a palace with gardens built for an emperor. These palatial gardens were made for the royal entourage for pleasurable encounters. They were used for meetings, entertainment, and celebrations for those with imperial access. In private, the emperor entertained his friends and families, concubines and eunuchs and his other supporters. They were used for and socialization, fun, intrigues, scheming, and planning. They had outer buildings and walkways. There were surrounding walls and moats with defensive designs. A class of defensive warriors was encouraged to defend the high culture class. These men called samurai were dedicated and highly trained. They were better than the ancient Greek Spartans .

Mid development:

The Shoguns were highly successful leaders of the Samurai warrior class. Regional Shoguns built castles with associated buildings as well as gardens. These were strategically placed for conflict management and defense. Daimyo and Samurai also built traditional gardens because they had land and power to pay and support them. These private gardens were used as retreats for meditation and rest.

Late Development:

During this period political pressure reduced support for some and increased support for other gardens. During the 1600-1850 (Eco) period Buddhism was controlled by the shogun. During the 1886 -1912 (Meiji) period the government forced a separation of Shinto from Buddhism. Buddhism was persecuted because it was considered a foreign influence. State money was no longer directed to the massive and expansive Buddhist monasteries and gardens. They deteriorated in structure and appearance. Shinto increased in importance and along with Confucian thoughts were strongly supported by the State. This accomplished four valued behaviors. It reduced the power of a passive Buddhist ideology. It reinforced commitment to Japanese nationalism. It forced discipline, militarism and ethnic superiority. This also supported naturalistic idealism and devotion to the Emperor, the State and ancestral heritage. The samurai were outlawed. The military continued the defensive and offensive duties and many of the ethics of the samurai. The leadership pursued fanatic militarism and ultra-nationalism. To capitalize on the gains of WW I and to compete with the western powers, in 1931 all resources of Japan were committed to expansion through “total war”.

Continuing Development:

The sequela of the bombing of Japan during World War II, particularly in cities like Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki was devastation. The death toll was enormous. Among cultural artifacts, traditional Japanese gardens were too, heavily damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the conflict. There is insufficient data for a true count. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of national treasured gardens were lost.

Through military force, the USA substantially altered the Japanese culture early by gunboat and later by atomic bomb diplomacy. The first time was opened the borders to international trade and introduction of advanced technology. The second opportunity opened Japan to multilateral, international, equilateral negotiation and trade without warfare.

This leveling of the field has allowed the Japanese people to cooperate with other nations and peoples. They assimilated and develop new ideas without loosing their identity. They now share their culture with others. The Namba Park is an excellent example of post-modern architecture and garden blended into the urban center of Osaka.

Conclusion

Many factors influenced the Japanese gardens: The Shinto veneration set the basics of the Japanese garden. Once established, the Samurai character and Shinto/Buddhist beliefs pervaded through the culture. My interpretation of the gardens emotes a display of discipline, unwavering moral values, intelligence, honor, and duty. The people of Japan have demonstrated continued adaptablity. The gardens of tomorrow will reflect the constants and the changes.

Period, era and influence and characteristics summarizing the progress of Japanese gardens

Topics for your discussion on the discussion board

Have we answered the question posed in the previous posting? “Can some value in Japanese ethnographic field work be extracted from study of the iconography of Japanese gardens ?” How do you see the evolving relationship of Shinto, Buddhist and Samurai behavior? Please show and interpret examples of your local gardens that reflect the thinking, philosophies or values of your community.

If you have expert knowledge in Japanese gardens please share your thoughts or images in the discussion board. This will help us all learn more.

If you want to enter into a dialogue please use the discussion board and engage in group participation.

NEXT

In our next posting we will explore the three forms of gardens in Japan.

If you wish to express your ideas please use the comment box below.

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Recommendations for film lovers:

Yojimbo by the award winning director Akira Kurosawa

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, A period docudrama currently on Netflix directed by Stephen Scott,

Last Samurai Standing a docudrama currently on Netflix staring Tom Cruise, directed by Michihito Fujii

The Last Samurai, A period docudrama on Netflix directed by Edward Zwick,

Reference texts:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

#gardens #Japan #Shinto #samurai #Buddism #Shogun # culture #imperialism #history #philosophy #art

November 15, 2024

Cultural Insights from Japan’s Stunning Garden Landscapes. Part I

INTRODUCTION:

This is the first of a series of postings on gardens in Japan. It is the result of a three-week, September visit in the central area of the island of Honshu, Japan. It focused in the area between Kyoto and Tokyo (Fig 1). This is called the Golden Route. These are my interpretations of observations of this on-site visit supplemented by a review of some of the relevant literature. The gardens are a small sample of complex art forms generated by the Japanese over the past 1000 years. It involves a combination of art, history, philosophy, politics, wealth, power struggles, and a dynamically adaptive way of life. Approximately 15 sites were visited in and around the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Matsumoto, Nara and Tokyo. From my American and European experiences I found their visual impact emotively stunning. Much of the area seen reminded me of my home in Florida. It was so familiar but so foreign. This led me to ponder the contrasts and parallels of these eastern and western cultures. I was full of questions. I wanted to know what do the Japanese want us to think when we see their gardens ? What do the gardens tell us? What can we learn from the gardens?

There are many important factors that influence the gardens that include geology, geography, ecology, philosophy, and history. Surprisingly, there are similarities and parallels between Japan and America. Follow along with the Everglades Ark for a fascinating exploration.

Geology:

Japan is series of islands that act as a geologic barrier to the pressures of the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the “ring of fire” generated by four massive tectonic plates. Seventy five percent of the islands are mountainous that include volcanoes. It is subjected to the severest forces of nature including, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, tropical storms, and lava eruptions. See Fig 1.

Fig 2. Japanese islands overlying US eastern seaboard

Geography:

The three larger islands of Japan lie, latitudinally, in a position similar to the eastern seaboard of the United States. If overlaped on the USA, they could cover an area extending from Main to Florida and from the Appalachian mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific typhoons are like the Atlantic hurricanes on the coast of North America. They are generated by the warm air and water energy in the western Pacific Ocean. They follow the Kuroshio current that runs northerly along Japan’s eastern coast. This is equivalent to the African Easterly Jet and the Gulf Streams. The water and air streams move northerly along both east coasts east coast.

The weathering of the mountains of both areas have similar erosive effects. Tropical storms slam into the mountains causing erosion of the weathered rocks which is washed downward to the sea. Gravel, sand, and mud flow down their eastern slopes to cover the bedrock topography of the east coasts. This action creates broad deep coastal planes of fertile sedimentary soils ideal for plant growth to flourish. In Japan there is an additional source of nutrients to enrich soil. These are the volcanic effluents which additionally characterize the mineralogy of the land. See Fig 2.

Fig 3. Earth’s most densely populated city seen from the Tokyo tower looks the same in all directions.

Population:

The population of 122 million in Japan is nearly equal to the east coast of the US. The most populous portion of these islands lies in an area similar to the US Carolinas . The Tokyo central part of the city (Fig 3) has 15 million where the population density is 6,363/km² (16,480/sq mi). The metropolitan area has 41 million where the density is 3,000/km² (7,900/sq mi). The buildings are generally less than 60 years old because of the effects of American bombing in WW II. The construction materials are mostly steel reinforced concrete and glass; not wood. This image begs the question; Where are the gardens? This series of postings shows how I tried to attain understanding.

WHAT IS NEXT:

In postings still to follow, we will discuss interactions of all these factors and the probable anthropologic significance of Japanese gardens. Additionally, we will confront a question. Can some part of Japanese ethnographic field work be extracted from study of the iconography of Japanese gardens ?

SUMMARY:

The soil, water and weather are fundamental to the materials and design of Japanese gardens. The area visited was subtropical. During the three weeks of the trip, the midday temperature averaged 95⁰F and the humidity was nearly 90%. The daytime sky was mostly cloudless. In the month of travel, the island experienced two typhoons. It was just like home in Florida! But it wasn’t.

If you wish to express your ideas please use the comment area below.

If you want to enter into a dialogue please use the discussion board and follow the group participation.

If you wish to be notified of future postings please enter your email and click on Subscribe.

References:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

#Japan #weather # typhoon #subtropical #Honshu #mountains #soil #volcano #soil #ethnography #

November 10, 2024

Pine Flatwood / Scrubby Flatwood – Part 2

The purpose of this post is to show the details of the scrubby understructure of the flatwood pine of the Estero Bay State Preserve in Estero Florida. Additionally one can see the management of of the ecosystem with prescribed burning. in the first post about this site post we saw the general terrain of the pine flatwood of the State Preserve. Now we can compare this understructure to a previously explored Florida’s hard wood hummock.

The feature image is the Florida State flower. The Tickseed (Coreopsis Leavenworthii)

Scrubby flatwoods are characterized by an open canopy of widely spaced pine trees and a low, shrubby understory dominated by scrub oaks and saw palmetto, often interspersed
with areas of barren white sand.*

This image shows the size of the saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) scrubby flat.

Off the trails, it was very difficult to make any headway. I was insufficiently prepared for the hazards. Because of the dangerous anatomy of the saw palmetto growth, it was nearly impossible to walk. The stems of these palmettos were edged with saw like teeth. Without brush pants, shirt, gloves and boots it was impossible to venture by foot deep into the off-path areas without injury. There may be interesting animals living in this dense razor-sharp growth, however, that will wait for another day. In the future we will investigate these plants and this territory in more detail. I also walked into some of the previously prescribed burn areas.

Possible cogon grass. Seeds not visible. If it is this grass, it is invasive.

Bushy bluestem grass (Andropogon glomeratus)

There were also recently burned areas already showing extensive recovery. In these areas it is easy to see the root structure of the saw palmetto. They are like palm trees lying horizontally just below the surface of the soil. The fronds sprout horizontally from the roots. Without the herbaceous portion of the plants, it was much easier to walk off the path and see the regenerative behavior of the plants.

Roots and pinecones densely littered the surface and were robustly sprouting new growth. I could see no erosion of the soil caused by the surge in the areas with the saw palmetto roots. The burned areas were very interesting. It was evident that the green tops of the saw palmetto burn easily, probably because of their high oil content. The saw palmetto plants burn even when they are green. The surviving palm and pine trees were scorched and trunk surface burned but in the pines not down to the cambium and not into the tree crowns. Prescribed burning is an important part of the control measures for this area and deserve more attention.

Laurel dodder (Cassytha filliformis) Probably invasive vine.

The rich deep brown chromyl spectra of the charred forest ranging from deep chocolates to subtle cafe-au-lait plus the broad textural variety in this setting retains the promise of plant regeneration.

Prescribed burning:

Prescribed burn area showing the exposed sand surface with very low mineral and organic soil content

This view of the postburn area shows the root system holding the soil from erosion

Remnant of the saw palmetto growing from the remaining root

The surface of the slash pine scorched but not burned through to the cambium

The areas with prescribed burning seen a year ago also experienced a heavy flood surge from hurricane Ian. These areas have recovered. There are scorched trees and some deadwood, however, most of the scrub has regrown. It is difficult to distinguish the destruction of the trees from fire or from flood. There were also recently burned areas already showing extensive recovery. In these areas it is easy to see the root structure of the saw palmetto. They are like the trunks of palm trees lying horizontally just below the surface of the soil. The fronds sprout vertically from the roots. Without the herbaceous portion of the plants, it was much easier to walk off the path to see the regenerative behavior of the plants. Roots and pinecones densely littered the surface and were robustly sprouting new growth. I could see no erosion of the soil caused by the surge in the areas with the saw palmetto roots. The burned areas were very interesting. It was evident that the green tops of the saw palmetto burn easily, probably because of their high oil content. The saw palmetto plants burn even when they are green. The surviving palm and pine trees were scorched and surface burned but not down to the cambium on the pines and not into the tree crowns. Prescribed burning is an important part of the control measures for this area and deserve more attention.

Costal plane stagger bush (Lyonia fruticose)

Discussion:

The scrubby flatwood and the flatwood pines or the Estero Bay Preserve are very different from the C.R.E.W. Cyprus Dome walking trails. The concept off highlands in Florida are evident in the CREW when you consider the major differences in flora between the two Preserves. Subtle changes in land height make a remarkable difference in vegetation. One could almost exchange the term ‘Highland’ for “Dryland’. In fact, “High Land” designation could practically be made on the basis of vegetation rather than measurement. That relative dryness provided by a few centimeters on height changes the entire biology of the environment. The height advantaged trees are also phototrophic. They grow toward the light and therefore at their climax are broad leafed and wide spread. The plants of the flats are are geotrophic,. They grow high and narrow. They are not competing for the light once they rise above the scrub. This height advantage allows them to bring the crown of needles out of fire harm’s way. When comparing the role of fire in the two environments, fire in the hardwood climax forest is calamitous while fire in the flats are regenerative. I suspect that the nutrative value of soil in the planes areas will also make an important differences in plant selection.

Tougher clothing is an imperative for exploring the saw palmetto scrub.

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References::

*Scrubby flatwood

Saw Palmetto Control: Individual Plant and Broadcast Application

A Study of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Saw Palmetto Berry Extract

Typical yields in harvestable areas range from a low of 200 lbs. to more than 1000 lbs. of berries per acre.https://patents.google.com/patent/US6669968B2/en

Saw Palmetto Market https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saw-palmetto-market

Saw Palmetto Berries https://fenuccio-j.medium.com/saw-palmetto-berries-996329cbec20

Forest Herbicide Workshop https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/media/programsifasufledu/florida-land-steward/events-calendar/Minogue-2021-Forest-Herbicide-Webinar-Pine-Mgmt-FINAL.pdf

Harvesting Saw Palmetto https://sustainableherbsprogram.org/explore/plants-in-commerce/saw-palmetto/harvesting-saw-palmetto/

Sustainability of Saw Palmetto https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/132/table-of-contents/hg132-feat-sawpalmetto/

Saw Palmetto Structure https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2021/03/04/saw-palmetto/

#flatwood #saw palmetto #prescribed burn #

February 28, 2024

Costal Wetlands Ecosystems of SWFL. Part 3, Shore Birds

In a two-hour walk along the southern coast of Fort Myers Beach hundreds of birds were readily observed. The photos show just a few of the birds present and this posting doesn’t really capture a full catalogue of all of the possible birds in this group. These observations were made from 8:15 to 9:30 AM. The area is not restored after the Hurricane Ian floods. The shore was relatively flat with the sea and as I was leaving the waters were rising with the tide. Except for the Osprey, the birds in this posting belong to the Aequornitornathes as discussed in our post on Calling Birds by Clades. Shore birds seem to be a frequently undervalued group. This is somewhat understandable because they are relatively small, fast flying, limited in chroma, difficult to access and seasonal.

26.405637, -81.896622

The GPS location for these observations.

Some of the birds found in this area are at risk and some are endangered. This is a State and the Audubon Society designated sanctuary. Others birds are routinely found throughout the shore area. This is nesting, mating and hatching time for these birds and large areas are marked off-limits to all to prevent damage to the nests, eggs and mating behaviors of the birds. The photos were all made from outside of these restricted areas.

The title photo is a flock of Black Skimmers roosting on the 10 to 12 inch high dune about 200 meters from the shore line using the 400 mm lens. This is fairly representative of the terrain and accessibility for observation. All of the birds were very busy in their mating and nesting behaviors. Nearby there are numerous empty multistory condominium buildings ruined by the storm. Additionally there is considerable construction work on those damaged sites.

Black Skimmer *Rynchops niger,* scavenging along the shore

Ruddy Turnstone *Arenaria interpres* along the shore

American Oystercatcher at work along the shore

American Oystercatcher *Haematopus palliatus*

Osprey, carrying fish captured from the Gulf of Mexico, flying to its nest on a perch on Fort Meyers Beach tree line.

Summary:

Nine bird species were identified. Here are a few important lessons to be learned from this first trip. The area is a State protected site and you cannot approach the birds closer than 100 meters. Available birds are seasonal and their activity is somewhat predictable. The birds listed here usually flock in species. The food resource comes from the sea. They mate, nest, lay eggs and hatch on the beach during spring season. For better images some combination of extra effort should be applied. This includes: patience and better understanding of the bird behaviors, more stealth and closer approach if allowed by the Audubon Bird Naturalist who is on site daily. Use a lens with focal length greater than 400 mm and a tripod.

These small shore birds are generally at risk for flock survival. Some are endangered, some are threatened. As you would expect the usual culprits are warming, environmental squeeze*, loss of habitat, and a relatively new threat. The recent increased threat is an avian viral infection N1H1 which has globally decimated the poultry and wild bird population. This variant of H1N1 is highly contagious and the domesticated populations together with the wild populations have cross contaminated one another. This cross contamination makes the control of the disease extremely difficult because the wild group is an untreatable reservoir. The hope is that, in the wild population, the disease will burn itself out by killing the susceptible animals while the resistant survivors repopulate the species. With small populations such as the snowy plover, this may result in their extinction. The domesticated population must be kept highly quarantined and a vaccination needs to be developed and deployed. Bird flu may jump species to other farm animals and to humans.

* Environmental squeeze is the loss of beach habitat from human encroachment and rising water.

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#Osprey #Plover #Sand Piper #Tern #Turnstone #Skimmer #Oystercatcher #environmental squeeze #avian flu #H1N1

May 20, 2023

African Wild Dogs – Hunting

This is not about your father’s hunting dog. These are not household dogs which when set free in the wild become feral survivors. They are indeed a species unto themselves. Wild dogs of Kenya are a dying breed. The pack must have more than five dogs to maintain a threshold below which reproductive failure is likely. The area requirements of five wild dogs are estimated to be 65 to 150 square kilometers. Because they are a pack animal, they are transmitting rabies among one another. There is no one to care for this deadly disease and because they are not a high priority species. Because of environment change and disease they may become extinct. They are pack animals which work to hunt as a team just like the lions. Their method is different from lions where they run their prey down to exhaustion. That can run at 40 mph for hours. When the dogs take down their prey, they exercise dogged precision.

The featured image is a portrait of a Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). The Wild Dog (AKA Painted Dog) is one of the world’s most endangered mammals. Perhaps only one thousand remain.

The ear of the lead dog lying in the shade of the tree around 5:00 PM. He is one of about a dozen. It is dinner time.

We saw a pack of about 12 resting in the shade of a tree with deep soft grass. The entire family was together and appeared to be contented. They lay down through the heat of the day in close contact with the soil for cooling. In the afternoon a head or an ear pops up showing that they are not sleeping but alert. As sunset neared the pack leader stood up all rose at the same time and began a fast-paced loosely grouped walk. They apparently had a powerful agenda in mind. We followed them and they in turn were in fast pursuit of dinner.

Within minutes of awakening the pack found the scent. It will take them only 15 minutes.

The pace picked up as they reach the Savanna where the woods thinned out. The chase was on despite our not seeing the target. The walk turned into a fast trot as the team members took their strategic positions; two groups in flanked positions and a lead attack group. In their favor the dogs had nose work, group communication, pack coordination, speed, endurance and survival instinct.

The chase is on. Impala are in the area. Long shadows suggest that we are nearing sunset.

Distracted by the action of the group one of these Impala will be split off and isolated.

For the Impala fast and agile gets you far but the dogs are made for endurance and have the power of the pack. They use a strategy of three groups one on each side and one down the middle of the run.

Then it was a full running chase of their prey through the deep brush. The impala had no chance to outrun the pack. They had it cornered in a dense brush area where the speed and agility of the lone impala couldn’t help. We were in the chase vehicle riding over the rough terrain with no road at about 25 mph. We lost sight of them in the bush for a minute.

When we finally caught up with the lead group the impala was half consumed. The lead dogs finished eating and the remaining carcass was devoured by the other chase members of the pack. The total running and eating time was about 15 minutes. It was a sight of efficiency defying the imagination. (Faster than a drive through for a burger and fries)

The dog hunt compared to the lion hunt: (CAUTION ! If you don’t want to know, don’t read. I did not publish the more graphic scenes.)

The hunting patterns of the dogs was different from the lions in two specific ways; attack and kill. The lions arrayed the pride in a rough semicircle around the target . They had a specific female led attack crew of three that was headed by one lioness. The remaining members of the pride sat or stood watching the action and the young in the rear appeared to observe and hopefully learn. The dogs had another attack method. Their hunting team worked like a trident. The three phaylanxes approached in parallel. There were no watchers and all were running in hot pursuit. In the kill the lion grabbed from behind and brought the prey down. Then the lion bites into the throat to asphyxiate the prey. Once the catch is dead then the feast begins where the lead male to eats first. The dogs behaved differently. The first-to-catch team downs the prey and begins to eat indifferent to the kill. In this instance the prey was eaten to death. The catch was devoured boarding house rules, first-come-first-get. There was no hierarchal devision of the catch.

In the previous description of the lion hunt they were not successful. In this dog hunt they were very successful.

We were an 90 minutes from the camp and it was nearly dark already. There was no light left when we arrived.

We departed the area as the full moon was rising in the east. We began the one-hour race back to camp across the Savanna and through the woods at 45 mph to beat the setting sun. This was despite the lessening visibility, deeply rutted roads and sloppy creek bed crossings. We were to be back before total darkness. When we were two miles out of camp riding the deeply rutted road, twilight nearly over, we were nearly run over by a herd of 8 Cape buffalo running at full gallop through the dark dense woods. They crossed our road 20 feet in front of us escaping from a pride of lion in hot pursuit. Then we rolled into camp fifteen minutes late. Our driver was skillful, with quick reactions and strong hands. He could give endurance race drivers a few lessons. The dogs ate. Now it was dark as a black hole and time for our dinner.

#dogs #antelope #hunt #Africa #Kenya #Maasai Mara #Wild dogs #endangered #pack #hunt #painted dog #

References:

Wild Dogs Journey

Wild Dogs Environment

Wild Dogs special anatomy

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3 responses to “African Wild Dogs – Hunting”

nicholaswittner1069

January 15, 2023

This was my absolute favorite part of the safari. Great write-up. My adrenaline rushed as I continued to read. Trident yes! “Dogged precision” – you are indeed a punster.

Nick

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John

January 15, 2023

When we return to Africa we can include more video with audio. That should bring it even more to life.

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1. John Knapp
  
  June 8, 2024
  
  Yes! the new camera body will provide the options for more videos.
  
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January 15, 2023

Antelope Species of Botswana and Kenya

The antelope species make up the vast majority of Africa’s wild mammal population.* There are millions of them grazing across the land. They are vegetarian. Grazing animals consume the annual growth of the Savana and woodlands. They trim the grass, shrubs and trees. They are prey for the carnivores and spread the seeds of the plants. They are an integral part of this great ecosystem.

The feature image is a magnificent male Greater Kudu in a forested area of the Okavango Delta

These animals are part of an animal clade called Ungulates^(**) because of their toes with hooves. The ungulates also have horns that are bilaterally symmetric without branches but with variations such as twists, spirals, rings and flutes. These appendages are bone covered with keratin. They are well adapted to their coarse vegetarian diet and have a specialized digestive system which allows them to digest cellulose.

They all move together in groups because safety is in numbers. Part of that behavior includes mixing with a herd of other similar grazing animals for added protection. Included in this group are Gazelle, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Eland, Reedbuck, Gerenuk, Dik-dik, Kudu (lesser & greater), Wildebeest, Ayala, Bongo, Oryx and Impala.

My first introduction to the antelopes was a charmer. The little doe wandered into our campsite and simply walked in front of me as if by magic. Fortunately, I had my camera and like it was by plan she waited and posed for me for this portraits.

Cape Bush Buck faun. This animal is usually shy but will become habituated to humans and stay near the lodge. A real cutie!

These animals had the most interesting behaviors, colors and horns. I found the Impala to be the most beautiful. They have such large eyes and their coats are gorgeous; so shiny and without any blemishes. The distinctive markings on their rumps are narrow vertical black stripes. They are also very busy. Unlike the big cats, they are always involved in some activity. Since they are grazers they eat the low grasses. This unfortunately distracts their attention and they can’t look up for dangerous prey like lions or dogs. Therefore, when you see them, there is a rotation of grazers and sentinels with their heads up. When they are chased or pursued they are extraordinarily fast and agile. When fighting for dominance in their herd they use their horns, sometimes with deadly precision.

Female Impalas (*Aephyceros melampus*) in wooded area of the Okavango. Note their shorter horns compared to the males.

Two male impala dueling with interlaced horns They were probably sparing and not fighting for dominance because the males were not separated from the females. Boys! Be careful when you play with those sharp things!

Male and female Impala drinking from a small creek in Maasai Mara. These antelope were everywhere. They were probably the most numerous and sometimes they herded together in groups of 50 or more.

Hoof print of an antelope. Probably Impala. Note the “split” of the keratin hoof, showing the characteristic two toes. (***)

Impala and Lesser Kudu sharing space at the riverside in Chobe National Park, Okavango, Botswana. Check out the Impala scouting the background.

Perhaps one of the remarkable features of the giant Kudu antelopes was their spiral horns. Spiraled but nearly straight, the antlers of the Kudu were the most distinguished. The white stripes of their coats were also easily recognizable.

Greater Kudo, *(Tragelaphus strepsiceros)* with beautifully spiraled horns

Greater Kudu mixed with a herd of Zebra in the marshland of Okavango Delta of Botswana. It was easy to identify these large animals. Birds on the bodies of the Kudu eat the insects that are a pest for the large mammal.

Tsessebe are sometimes called the “Blue Jeans antelope” because of its distinctive leg coloration.

Lechwe (*Kobus leche*) Standing in front of our tent in late afternoon.

During a game drive through the shallow swamp the water buck obliged us with his massive ringed horns.

Water buck (*Kobus ellipsiprymnus*) In the Okavango Delta marsh.

If our guide had not pointed it out I would have easily missed seeing the Dik-dik. It is so small and blends so easily with the ground color that it was almost invisible. It was smaller than the tiny doe that visited the camp site on another occasion.

Dik-dik (*Madoqua kirkii*) Smallest of the antelope species is only18 inches tall.

Gerenuk (*Litocranius walleri*) standing on its hind legs eating leaves. This is a typical behavior.

Oryx (*Oryx beisa*) Long straight ringed horns and painted face are signature trademarks for this large animal.

Thompson’s Gazelle *(Eudorcas thompsonii)* Straight horns with rings dark band along the lateral aspect of the ribcage. Smaller than the Impala and the Grant’s gazelle. Almost as fast as a cheetah and very numerous.

Grant’s Gazelle (*Gazella granti*) (*Nanger granti*) White rump, straight horns and black facial patches. Beautiful dramatic evening lighting.

Hartebeest (AKA Kongoni) (*Alcelaphus buselaphus*) This is a very rare finding because this animal is facing imminent extinction. A five party group of them was grazing in the Maasai Mara.

Roan antelope (*Hippotragus equinus*). One of the largest of the antelope with a roan color or a reddish-brown coat.

Wildebeest (*Connabaetes taurines*). We have previously posted on this species of antelope and the Great Migration.

Along with the general mix of the population, the antelope species have an important and sometimes grim role in the African landscape. They are the object of the predators. We have already reviewed the predators of this region. Check out our blog site that describes the wild dogs of Africa.

References:

* Uganda antelope

** What is an ungulate?

*** African Animal Tracks

#antelope #Gazelle #Bushbuck #Waterbuck #Gerenuk, #Dik-dik #Kudu #Wildebeest #Oryx #Impala #Africa #Botswana #Okavango #Kenya #Maasai Mara #horns #hoof #ungulates

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January 7, 2023

The African Great Migration and Its Significance

The last few days of our expedition gave meaning to our adventure. We were in the Kenyan Maasai Mara, thrilled by the larges animal migration of on Earth.

On the cover photo is a group of blue Wildebeest. AKA the common wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus) it is a large antelope found in Kenya and Tanzania.

One wildebeest is not photogenic. There is never just one. Tens of thousands of them live and move together as one massive organism. Hundreds of thousands of mixed species of animals move with them and between each other during the great wildebeest migration.

Migration map We were in the Maasai Mara during the last four days of August.

The Maasai Mara of Kenya is contiguous with the planes of the Serengeti National Park and the Tanzanian National Park. All are part of the Serengeti plane. These images are from the Kenyan Maasai Mara National Reserve. It was the most favorable point to observe the Great Migration when we were there. As the weather changes from dry to the rainy season the grass regrows. It is the grass which provides food for the grazing animals. This is irresistible to the wildebeest, zebra, impala, buffalo and other animals who follow this growth by the millions. The dead grass remains after the tops have been eaten to the ground or burned off. The rain brings a fresh regrowth. This regrowth replaces the razor-sharp stubble with soft young plants.

One of the most thrilling wildlife spectacles on earth was spread before us like pepper on a salad. We stopped to watch this ancient migration sight that this area supports. You can see in every direction that the savanna is covered by hundreds of thousands of animals. It is hard to comprehend that they actually number in the millions. They are visible to every horizon, slowly moving to follow the fresh growth. They meander about eating and mingling, occasionally fighting and challenging one another for mating or protecting one another from the daily challenges of survival, reproduction, and predation. For reasons unknown to us they may gallop along following some instinct or stamped when startled or frightened. It is this cumulative picture of integrated behavior based on soil, seasonal weather, prolific plant life and a massive accumulation of thousands of animal species which underscores the interdependency of this huge ecosystem.

Migrating animals wandering from one side of the horizon to the other. View of the north.

We did cross the Mara river and its tributaries where crocodiles and hippopotamuses were swimming or simply resting. The hungry crocodiles were ready at a wildebeest crossing to take advantage of the weakest or most vulnerable animals. We did not see this classical behavior but none-the-less the trap was set. Predators and scavenger animals follow this migration in the ladder of primacy with the lion at the apex.

The Mara river teeming with crocodiles waiting for the stampede.

The blue wildebeest, keystone animal of the Serengeti, Maasai Mara. Running with the group on its way into the future.

The wildebeest is the keystone animal of this ecosystem. It is the primary consumer of the grasses. It has a high reproductive rate. It is the resource upon which all of the carnivores and scavengers depend. They till and fertilize the soil. A single calf is born after 8.5-month gestation. Bands of female wildebeests are in control, leading the entire herd towards new grasslands. In the mid-20th century, the wildebeest population was decimated. The herd was cut down to one third of its normal size because of the rinderpest viruses (a variant of the measles virus). It originated and was spread from domestic livestock. As a result of loss of the grazing animals the grass lands grew uncontrolled. This over-growth subsequently changed the natural fire regime to an intense wildfire which burned nearly the entire Serengeti. This was an ecological disaster. Millions of domestic animals also died. Plant and animal species collapsed. Because of a massive human intervention including vaccination and quarantine the wildebeest population has been transformed. The Serengeti and Maasai Mara have been magnificently rewilded and the population of these animals is back to a stable 1.5 M with no disease detected in the last 8 years. Perhaps my 30 year wait to go was helpful because it allowed the wilderness more time to recover.

View to the south where the spread of animals seems endless.

Mixed wildebeest with zebra was a common observation

Animals on the move for the last hour and will probably continue for the next hour (My first video)

The sight of all these animals and the resource to feed and accommodate all of them provides a small but expanding view of the might of the ecosystem. At one time in the distant past this view would have been quite prosaic. Imagine Neanderthal or possibly the older Cro-Magnon people living with this type of annual migration. They would have been part of it. They would have been much earlier than our current view of history, but it probably looked like the American Great Basin to the First Peoples and early settlers of the Americas. We must appreciate that this area is just a few hundreds of miles from the Olduvei (Oldupai) gorge where Lewis and Mary Leakey (beginning in 1937) found fossilized hominoid remains dating back hundreds of thousands of years. (Pronconsul 25 million years old). What were those people thinking when they saw this sight? The ancient hominoids and modern tribal peoples were and still are intimately connected with this environment. Their moment-to-moment survivals depended upon understanding this grand recipe and also the small, intimate details of their surroundings. The people of the Maasai tribe move their domesticated herds in synchrony with the wildlife, plants and rainfall. They know this because of their exposure to a multigenerational experience. They now participate in separation of their herds of domestic cattle and vaccination from Rinderpest and Foot and Mouth disease. We were so poorly prepared to comprehend systems as complex as this in just a few days.

I think that there are many lessons to be learned from this. For at least a million years hominoids and humans have learned that living in harmony with the constantly changing environment is a prerequisite to survival. The environment changes including geologic-like continental drift and volcanism. Weather changes, due to wind and rain/snow, land slides and floods, drought, temperature and storms. Species changes with mutations and natural selection. Human behavioral changes including perception and interpretation of surroundings, the value of group behavior and behavioral adaptation by creation of societies. Society changes with development of institutions like religion and governments. Behavior changes lead to exploration, discovery, invention and industrialization. The nomadic herders of today who live in near Stone Age conditions with cell phones will change. What changes will Space Age people make? We, the people of the space, information and atomic age have the ability to affect all of the aforementioned changes. We have the opportunity to do so because we live with disposable wealth and a discretionally directed time.

From the successful story of the rewilding of wildebeests in the Serengeti we have started on a new path. The wildebeest story is considered one of the most successful rewildings of our time. Rewilding efforts have been remarkably successful in Yellowstone, Spain, Argentina, Switzerland, ocean reef areas and many more. These efforts can not only save species and restore habitats but also fight the climate change crisis. Rewinding Florida is an active effort and a topic worthy of further exploration and discussion.

#Africa #wildebeest #Great Migration #migration #Maasai Mara. #Serengeti #rewilding #Mara river #stampede

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January 5, 2023

Zebra

When driving across the savanna of Africa you may hear galloping of hooves behind you. Don’t expect horses. It will be zebras!

The featured image is a portrait of a plains zebra.

There are several theories about the stripes on the hides of zebras which include ease of identification for foal, camouflage, and to chase flies away. None of these are proven. So why do zebras have stripes? Because they can.

There are three subspecies of these aquus, Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi), plains zebra (Equus burchelli) and mountain zebras. They differ in size and coloration. Grevy’s, are a subspecies sometimes found at the Maasai Mara. They are the largest, at about 900 pounds, 5 feet tall at the shoulder, and 8 feet long. Plains and mountain zebras (Equus zebra) are 1 to 2 feet shorter and about 200 pounds lighter. The Grey and mountain zebras are found in the North African regions like northern Kenya. The males and females of the same species are about the same size. The gestation period is about 13 months. These horse like animals can’t be used as draft animals, can’t be crossbred, and can’t be domesticated. They are just wild, free-spirited animals living life to the fullest and on the edge.

The Planes Zebra is the national animal of Botswana. These are by far the most frequently seen species on our safari.

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Zebra in the Delta

Zebras are comfortable with drinking when giraffes watch for predators in the Delta

This little mama was about 10/13 months pregnant and was a real beauty. Her coat was shiny and unmarked and her mane was full and stiff. She looked like she just came from the beauty parlor. With pregnancy she weighs about 800 pounds. She had plenty of grass and water to sustain herself in the Okavango Delta. She was rubbing against the tree to scratch an itch. (Perhaps it was a bug bite.) Note the light brown stripes alternating with the black stripes. This marking is characteristic to the Planes Zebras.

Graves Zebra in Kenya Maasai Mara. Check out the difference in striping between the two varieties. C;oser and no brown.

All together, the stallion, three mares and one foal with two on the way. No need to migrate in the Delta. One foal in the troop of three females and one male zebras walking and grazing their way through a wooded area of the Okavango Delta.

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Zebra in the Mara

The zebra are herbivores that eat mostly grasses and some leaves. They are usually prey to the carnivores especially the big cats. The Maasai Mara has significantly less water and fewer trees than the Okavango. The zebras seen here were part of the great migration and as you will see had a different behavior. They were more social, there was more competition among the male zebras and they were co-mingled with the other grazing animals like the wildebeests and African buffalos.

These girls were in the Maasai Mara savanna and looked quite healthy.They are looking in opposite directions which helps to watch for predators. They may be Gravy’s subspecies. They were a bit larger and there were no light brown stripes alternating with the black stripes. The stripes seem to have a higher frequency on their coat.

Caring for the little ones is just a fact of survival.

Nothing like rolling in the dirt to keep the bugs off. (I’ll stick with my Deet.)

What if … (Photoshop is such a fun tool)

At the Naples Zoo there are a few Planes Zebras. Note the variation in stripes and colors.

Seriously …? I don’t know why I always get this pose when I try for photos of them at the zoo. Is there a message?

If I had to pick an animal that comes first to mind when I think of Africa I would be torn between the zebra and the giraffe. They are both such a visual surprise. We saw them throughout the day and in most locations. The stripes did not significantly contribute to their camouflage. As mentioned earlier the sight of many of their predators may interpret them differently than human perception. Just for fun, you should read “West With Giraffes” by Linda Rutledge

#Africa #zebra # Zoo # Botswana #Kenya #Maasai Mara # Okavango #

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7 responses to “Zebra”

Hemmingway Melissa

January 3, 2023

Beautiful Zebras! I love how they look out for each other…we saw a lot of them and it never got old! Always happy to see them

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1. John Knapp
  
  January 3, 2023
  
  The zebra never got old. I was hoping to see them really run but never did.
  
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2. John Knapp
  
  January 5, 2023
  
  I added two pictures to the Zebra blog, There is a story to them as well. they are competing for dominance and you can see some of the action. Go back to it and check it out.
  
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Anonymous

January 12, 2023

Ode to Zebra
Across the African shrublands,
savannas, mountains & plains
Stripes full of eye candy
Flirting with nature
A dazzle of wonder 🦓

Thank you for the outstanding photography & catalog of knowledge John !
J. Owen

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1. John Knapp
  
  January 12, 2023
  
  JJ I love your Ode. Keep it up !!
  
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2. John Knapp
  
  June 8, 2024
  
  We should include a posting with your Ode to Zebra. Do I have your permission?
  
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John Knapp

January 14, 2023

I added a new image of a Grevy’s zebra. Take a look at it again!

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January 3, 2023

Lions in Africa – Sunrise Hunt for Cape Buffalo

The lions working as a pack can take down a very large animal like a buffalo. The prey needs to be an animal big enough to feed the pack of as much as twenty members. Each of the members may weigh as much as 400 pounds. The lions depend on coordination, speed and strength. The lions communication among each other with roars, cries, yelps, bellows, and groans along with body expressions and pheromones to express a wide variety of thoughts. You may be aware of the difficulty in “herding cats” so you can imagine a herd of 18 cats organizing and executing a Cape buffalo hunt. Each bull may weigh up to 2 tons, running at 40 miles per hour on the open savanna. These images tell the story of the hunt. They were captured in low light and foggy conditions at considerable distance while the animals were in full running motion. It was impossible to make a video of this with the limitation of the photo equipment at hand.

The featured image is a male lion, “King of the beasts”. See our previous post on African Predators.

—-+—-

THE HUNT

There were 18 lions strategically placed on the plane. There was a small herd of 9 adult male Cape buffalos grazing at the shore of the river.

The lions included about 8 female, three male and the remainder adolescent and young. All would feed or go hungry depending on the result of this hunt. Three females were in the lead for the hunt with one singled out to do the take down. The pride of lions was spread across the plane between the river and the hills.

Two of three female lioness planning the take down.

In the theater of the hunt the lead three females were closest to the buffalos while the young are farthest. The middle space has the slow-moving remainder of the male and female adult group. The herd of eight Cape buffalos were all male, moving eastward, parallel to the river, grazing in the grass and already angry. There were no surprises as they are always alert and always angry. Easily visible were their heads with their massive horns slashing like a sickles, side to side, as they foraged. This was a bachelor group, boys only, who could no longer keep up with a full herd; no longer able to compete with the younger males for dominance and mating. The cattle egrets had already flown off their backs.

It was morning twilight. The sun was just about to rise and there was a low fog caressing the grass on the plane. We had been waiting for about an hour. The bulls were slowly moving east and the lions were moving west camouflaged in the back light of the sunrise, the tall grass and the low fog.

The cats began to spread out making pincer formation. It appeared that they would have a lead group on the attack from the south driving the buffalo along the river into the pack. Just as the fog was ready to evaporate and as the sun sparked a finger of light over the horizon the approach begins. The prime huntress crept rapidly toward the rear of the prey.

The lead buffalo bolted to a gallop, the others immediately followed suit in a straight line. The lioness was immediately running at full speed charging into the middle of the group. The buffalos all seemed to be in good condition; fast and powerful. In a second, the lioness, now at the end of the line, reached out to grasp the hind quarter of the slowest animal.

Lioness at full run stampeded the buffalos

Still running the buffalos were in better condition than she thought. She was in the middle ready to lunge. The group of bulls split!

She missed! Now she was then out of pace with the line of the departing dinner. They outran her and she has no backup! All that work was without reward. The opportunity was lost.

All were scattered and lost to the chase.

“Darn buffalo ! What am I going to tell the others?” (They already know.)

The pride, depending on this effort for this meal, watched it evaporate with the fog. I guess that this was not unusual. The buffalos were gone, and the pride began to regather as the harsh sun rose fist high above the horizon of trees miles in the distance. The long shadows of the highlands and the light fog still obscure the details of the undulating plane.

Cape buffalos escaped this time and as the sun rose they were safer in the full light of day.

The sun now fist high in the eastern sky burns off the fog as the heat rises.

The adolescent lions who were watching and learning the skill of the hunt began to rough play as they ran in from the eastern fields. They knew that in the evening twilight of the day there would be another show and hopefully dinner.

We did not see the next take down but you can see the result. The dominant male ate first until it could eat no more. The others then dove in to feast. The other members of the pride then devoured the carcass until it was bare bones. When they were finished they slept which may be for days.

Any remaining scraps were the choice of jackals, hyaenas and buzzards. The only remaining signs after the kill was blood-stained grass, teeth, horns, bones and the smell of death.

This Cape buffalo was not fast enough and was invited to dinner by the pride of lions. The carcass was ready for the scavengers.

Life and death on the African savanna is fearsome and pragmatic. This show of cooperative group behavior and sheer power demonstrates the reason for the title. “King of the Beasts”.

#Africa #lions #Cape buffalo #buffalo #hunt #king

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5 responses to “Lions in Africa – Sunrise Hunt for Cape Buffalo”

nicholaswittner1069

January 1, 2023

It was amazing to see how fast they ran away

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Cindy Wittner

January 1, 2023

Your prose is as engrossing and entertaining as the pictures. Well done! Cindy

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1. John Knapp
  
  January 1, 2023
  
  I’m so happy that it pleases you.
  
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Dave Smith

January 2, 2023

I’m really enjoying all of your posts. The African articles are really interesting. Your photography is always “top-shelf”.
Must admit you are a grand storyteller as well. The li

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1. John Knapp
  
  June 8, 2024
  
  Thanks Dave See you soon.
  
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January 1, 2023

LEOPARDS

This posting focuses on leopards of Africa. We saw them several times during our safari and each time was a special event. They are magnificent animals and are among my favorites of the trip. Leopards are mentioned a previous posting on predators.

The leopard in the cover picture is one of a series at one location.

Leopards are not pack animals but like the lions they are maternal family providers. Yep, momma brings home the antelope. She is out there birthing, nursing, protecting, chasing, fighting and guaranteeing that there is enough for all or else there is no next generation. Except for the lions, male cats are solo actors coming together for mating during estrus season.

Leopard stalking through the woodland of the Okavango

It was easier to watch the leopards than the cheetah because they were more frequently found in areas that we visited. Their visually attractive spotted coats and near proximity to our vehicle made the desire to touch/pet them very strong. As they moved through the underbrush, grass and trees this provided an opportunity to see them from all angles. Only the single female cats were seen but our guide insisted that a single kitten was placed in hiding. We never saw the little ones.

The coloration of these animals is not as diverse as pedigree house pets, but they are so impressive. The cheetah and leopard pelts are similar, however, the leopard spots are more distinctive because of their increased pattern diversity. The patterns on the cat coats make them very difficult to distinguish from their surroundings. It is easy to see that the value component of color helps to break up the visual image.

Leopard with all 4 paws in the air leaping to the next tree

Watching them was like watching water flow. There was no resistance to their smooth movements as they slipped through the grass or leaped through the tree canopy. Their eyes were so brilliant, they were a dazzling attraction better than a “cat eye” agate.

Leopard prepared to make the jump to another higher branch.

No need to go up that tree to rescue the cat. She can take care of herself.

—-+—-

False Color Image

Perception used for hunting by humans is mostly by visual search. This includes shape, color, movement and patterns which attract attention. For most other animals the visual cues that attracts attention are movement and shape. Animal vision sensitivity, focal point and wavelength is different from human. Cats share a common visual perception of the world. Their eyes have a physiology and anatomy very different from humans. Their eyes are exceptionally large making close focusing difficult. The light receptors in the retina of the back of the cat’s eyes don’t have the receptors for red and blue. They best see yellows and greens. A sub-retinal reflective layer increases sensitivity. This layer is what makes the cat eyes look bright when reflecting a pointed light in dim setting. These adaptations are best used for vision at twilight and night. During the daylight hours the coat colors and patterns may make them seem nearly invisible.

No red or blue image. Perhaps this is a cat’s eye view.

Normal view with human retina sensitivity.

—-+—-

A Few Notes About Cat Physiology

Odors for animals are also very different from humans. It has a much broader range for which there are no clear terms. The world experienced by differing species may result in vastly divergent perceptions and experiences. It is difficult to describe a multi-dimensional odor and sound world. We simply don’t have a vocabulary to express our understanding of these concepts.

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#Africa #Okavango #Maasai Mara #leopard #vision #spots #perception

December 31, 2022

Geography – Okavango Delta and Maasai Mara Savanna

UNDERSTANDING THE TWO ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS BY COMPARING THEM FROM THE GROUND UP.

To help understand what is happening in this system it may be made easier by look at its parts. There may be some errors in this method but at least this is a reasonable hypothetical start. Let’s begin with the idea that every detail is important and that everything is interconnected. Also, if a part of the system is lost the entire system is compromised. See the map at the end of this posting.

The featured image shows one of thousands of termite colony mounds

The Okavango and Mara locations are very different not only in location and elevation but also in geology. Two soil samples were taken from typical road side areas in the savannah-like landscapes away from human traffic areas. Under the microscope you can see that the individual sand grains are transparent, something which is not obvious when looking at the sand with the unaided eye. The sand of the Delta (Fig. A1 & 2 is made up mostly of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is completely glassy. It is not soluble and has no mineral content. Volcanic pumice Fig B1 & 2 is a complex particle aggregate of ash feldspar. It is an incomplete glass with other minerals at the particles’ surfaces. The Mara soil has a much higher metabolizable mineral content which makes the soil more fertile than the Delta.

Fig A1. Sand particle sample from Okavango Delta. (20X) Completely translucent. Illuminated with transmitted plane light. This is nearly pure silica.

Fig. A2. Sand particle sample from Okavango Delta. (20X)
Completely translucent. Illuminated with transmitted *polarized* light.

Fig.B1
Sand particle sample from Mara.
Note the surface’s complex micro-porosity. Illuminated in dark field with direct lighting. This amorphous, opaque particle is definitely volcanic in origin. (20X)

Fig. B2.
Sand particle sample from Mara. (20X) Completely opaque. The red color is iron oxide. Illuminated in dark field with direct lighting.

–—+—-

OKOVANGO DELTA

The Delta is flat but it is cyclically flooded and the colors are green and tan. The islands of the Delta were built by the humblest of creatures. The termites as architects, engineers and builders have created a landscape of unbelievable variety. They harvest the dead plants and with the sand of the Kalahari desert and they build massive, nearly indestructible castles reaching meters into the sky. The nest height is determined by the water level. The higher the water level, the taller the nest will be. When the population reaches a critical mass, a new colony is initiated. With erosion by water, wind, and the burrowing of animals the mounds collapse and islands grow. As a result of centuries of this cycle the islands provide a collective of soil used by the large mammals, birds and fish. The aquatic plants are supplemented by grasses, brush, bushes, and trees. These form savannas in the Delta for non-migrating herds of grazing land animals and the creatures which accompany them. They also encourage aquatic animals like fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals which are supported by the aquatic environment.

Termite mound on savannah island of the Okavango Delta

Pampa Grass (*Niscanthus junceus*) Assists in forming islands by trapping sand and with decaying plants supports rooted water plants such as water lillies.

Blue Water Lilly (*Nymphea* *nouchali*). These also assist in the formation of islands and support protective areas for aquatic animals.

Marshland in the Okavango Delta with grazing zebras. The trees in the background are on the island that emerged from the work of the termites and plants.

Impala roaming through of the woodlands of the Okavango Delta. This land is based on the foundation of sand deposited by wind and water sediment which is fixed and enriched by termites and plants.

These zebras are grazing on a very large island in the Okavango Delta. It appears like a classic savannah landscape.

Tree covered island succumbing to salt accumulation in the Okavango. The islands dehydrate and accumulate salt at the periphery. When high water returns and infiltrates the interior of the island the salt enters the soil. Plants, weakened by drought, are further dehydrated and die.

The water levels rise and fall because of the flow of several rivers that end in the Delta. The water never reaches the sea; hence the Delta. Water is lost by evaporation and transpiration. The animals have a reliable supply of water and plants. They do not migrate.

—-+—-

MAASAI MARA

The Kenyan savannah is so starkly different from the Okavango Delta they seem worlds apart. The Serengeti plane colors are tan and beige. The Mara land is flat and dry. In contrast to the Delta, the Maasai Mara is the result of volcanism and rain. Dominating the landscape is the ancient volcano of Mt. Kenya along with the range of uplands that are a result of the enormous energy expended in tectonic plate collision and the spread of the great Rift Valley. It stands as a plateau at an elevation of about 1,480 to 2,280 meters. The volcanoes of the area have created a mineral rich soil which when watered by the seasonal rain provides an opportunity for lush grass to grow. There are few trees growing on the savanna of the Mara making it seem like a great lake of soil dressed in golden grass. The Mara also has riverine forests. The seasonal rains are predictably distributed regionally causing the rotation of the animal migration. The people of the Maasai tribe move their domesticated herds in synchrony with the wildlife, plants and rainfall.

Mara river cutting through the savannah. The river is a limited but reliable source of water. Seasonal rain is the major water resource however it is variable and recently very deminished.

The massive savannah of the Serengeti plane supports an animal migration that may be the greatest seasonal movement of animals on earth. The grass is lush and green.

Mount Kenya off in the distance as part of the Great Rift Valley. No migratory animals here.

This map* of the central eastern sextant of the continent of Africa shows the relative position of the two areas of our grand safari.

These two systems are much more complex than this simple description. This only becomes apparent after returning from there, collecting and organizing observations, and reflecting on the diversity and life forms and cycles. This leads to many more questions such as: Where did the glassy sand come from? Why do the two areas share so many identical species? Why are there so few cactus or pine species? How would you summarize the comparison of these two areas? Perhaps these questions can stimulate discussion in our comment section.

* Modified from African Safari Planning Map, 3rd ed. African Adventure Company 2018

#Kenya #Botswana #termite #savannah #sand #Kalahari #desert #map #Africa #great rift valley #Serengeti #Mara #Okavango #woods #marsh #zebra #impalla #great migration

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December 27, 2022

Monkey Business

Monkeys are always amusing to watch and in Africa there were no exceptions. Here are a few images that captured my attention in Chobe National Park, Botswana. Most of these were Chacma Baboons.

Please take my picture while I’m not scratching myself.

Looking out for one another. Baboon and Impala.

These animals are smart, agile and prehensile. Always lock your tent or cabin because these little rascals will open the door and look for food making a mess as they go. There were so many opportunities to photograph the primates and so little time.

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#monkey #behavior #primate #Africa #Botswana #Chobe #mom #monkey business #daily activities

December 19, 2022

Category: Art

Exploring the Elements of the Classical Japanese Garden. Part 4

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Cover Photo Published !

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