12月1日、今日は朝から散歩もかねて、京都府立植物園へ行ってきました。いよいよ今日から師走。世間は年末に向けてバタバタしていきそうですが、私は相変わらずのんびりモードです。

京都の師走といえば、清水寺の「今年の漢字」や花街の「事始め」などがよくイメージされますよね。でも実は、京都府立植物園にも師走らしい風物詩があるんです。それが、毎年恒例のソテツの「こも巻き」。ソテツを冬の寒さから守るために藁（わら）でぐるっと巻くというもので、冬の準備の証みたいなもの。ちなみに松などのこも巻きは害虫駆除が目的ですが、ソテツの場合は単純に寒さ対策なんだそう。

ソテツはもともと暖かい地域の植物で、寒い京都の冬を越すにはちょっと辛いらしく、そのため冬の間は、藁を巻いてしっかり保温！写真を見るとわかりますが、本当にあったかそうに包まれてます。これでソテツもバッチリ冬支度完了ですね。

京都は12月3日〜4日にかけてグッと冷え込む予報らしいので、私もそろそろ冬仕度を始めなきゃなぁと感じました。12月に入っても、まだ日中はロンTで過ごせちゃってたんですよね。それもそろそろ限界かも知れません。皆さんもどうぞ風邪にはお気をつけください。ではでは。


[December 2025] A Winter Tradition at Kyoto Botanical Gardens: Warming Up the Sago Palms

On December 1st, I took a morning walk to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. The final month of the year has officially begun—while the rest of the world seems to be speeding up toward the year-end rush, I’m still moving at my usual relaxed pace.

When people think of December in Kyoto, they usually imagine events like Kiyomizu-dera’s “Kanji of the Year” or the traditional Kagai Koto-hajime ceremonies in the geisha districts. But did you know the Kyoto Botanical Gardens also has its own seasonal tradition?
Every year, the gardens perform komo-maki on their sago palms—wrapping the trunks in straw to protect them from the winter cold. Unlike the komo-maki on pine trees, which is mainly for pest control, this one is purely for keeping the plants warm.

Sago palms originate from warm climates, so Kyoto winters can be tough on them. The thick straw wrapping acts like a cozy blanket, helping them survive the chilly months ahead. They really do look snug and well-protected—winter-ready indeed!

Kyoto is expected to get much colder around December 3rd and 4th, so seeing the sago palms all bundled up made me realize I should probably start my own winter prep, too. I’ve still been getting by with just a long-sleeved T-shirt during the day… but that likely won’t last much longer!

Take care not to catch a cold—and here’s to a warm start to December. See you next time!