Nagaike Oasis
Nagaike Oasis Maintenance Committee (NOMC), Ms. Hideko Nakashima

Entrance to Nagaike Oasis

Visitors

NOMC Mates

Sightseeing Spot: Nagaike Oasis
Nagaike Oasis, surrounded by water andgreenery, is one of the most popular relaxation
spots in Kumatori Town. It was made byredesigning the old reservoir, which is still
functional.
We named this spot OASIS, preserving its
original meaning, while additionally allocating a
representation for each of its five letters:
O for Osaka
A for Aqua and GreenS for Sensitivity
I for Identity
S for Symbolic Relaxation SpotThe Boardwalk in the Aquatic Plant Field

It is our sincere hope that this name will encourage Osaka prefectural citizens to participate inenvironmental improvement activities around the many reservoirs in the prefecture...

Flower garden
along the walk

Nature trail

Here at Nagaike Oasis:
The promenade extends 1.5 kilometers aroundthe water. The flower garden accompanying itwith its various kinds of seasonal flowers willcertainly be eye-pleasing. Rental farm plots
Lotus flower
are available for the enjoyment of growing
vegetables. Aquatic plants such as lotus
flowers, water lilies and pickerelweed(pontederia cordata) are planted in the water
field and can be viewed while walking along
the boardwalk. Moreover, wild birds such as
the egret, grebe and kingfisher (halcyon) areWater lilies
frequent visitors to the oasis.

Egret

Grebe

In 2009, this oasis was selected as best in thesection of Green and Nature of the Osaka
Prefectural Museum Framework <*1>.

Rental farm plots

In 2010, this oasis was selected as one of 100 Pickerelweed
Best Reservoirs at an event sponsored by the (Pontederia cordata) Kingfisher(Halcyon)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries<*2>.

<*1> Osaka Prefecture regards the whole of its area as a single museum and tries to promote itscharms.
<*2>The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries selected the 100 best reservoirs for farming
purposes along with their special features.

Maintenance Activities
The NOMC maintains daily cleaning, mowing, and growing as
many as 300 different kinds of flowers and aquatic plants(including 20 kinds of lotus flowers bringing 300 into full blossom
daily).
For instance, in growing lotus flowers, we need to level theunderwater soil in March and April, plant the lotus roots in thewater field and grow them. It is pretty hard work. In April and May,
we need to fertilize them, exterminate harmful insects and theirnatural enemy, the crayfish, and catch red-eared slider turtles(Trachemys scripta elegans). Crayfish will damage the stems andtortoises will chew the new lotus flower buds.
Exchanges among local residents are also encouraged. NOMC
Mates (NOMC s subcommittee members) join together twice amonth to maintain the garden flowers.
Twice a year, the members of the residents committees in theneighborhood get together to do the cleaning and mowing.

Cleaning the aquatic plant area

Maintaining the flower garden
Red-eared slider turtle(Trachemys scripta elegans)Annual Events (Lotus Flower Festival, etc.)
July (Lotus Flower Festival): Lotus flowers areat their best in July. Visitors can taste lotus
tea, lotus nut Zenzai (sweet lotus nut soupwith pieces of rice cake), and sake served
through an elephant trunk . <*3>

Views ofthe Lotus Flower Festival

November (Fureai Festival ‒ Let s get
together! Festival -): While visitors indulge in abowl of miso soup with pork and vegetables,
they can participate in a walk rally and enjoy
listening to musical instrument performances
by local residents.

Sake served throughan elephant trunkThroughout the year, Nagaike Oasis serves
the local elementary school pupils as the siteof their field activities.

Field activities ofthe elementary school pupils<*3>Pour sake into a lotus floor leaf, andtaste the sake as it trickles down through its
stem, the elephant trunk . It tastes goodwith the added lotus flavor. When this way ofdrinking sake was first tried, it soon became
popular.

In the same manner,children drink water

When are flowers at their best?
February thru March : Narcissus, Christmas Rose
March thru April: Tulip
May thru October: Water lily
June thru July
: Hydrangea
June thru August: Lotus Flower
July thru August: Sunflower
September thru October : Red spider lily
(Lycoris radiata)
September thru November : Cosmos

Hydrangea

Red spider lily
(Lycoris radiata)

Moreover, as you walk, you can take in theexquisite beauty of a Japanese garden and a250 year old bayberry tree alongside the walk.

Bayberry treeJapanese garden

Views of lotus flowers