Seven is a special number for both the European and theJapanese. Days of the week, colors of the rainbow, the seven wonders in the world, lucky seven, seven pillars ofwisdom and the seven deadly sins. Seven is a holy number in Persia. There are many sevens in the Old Testament.

In Japan, the number seven is also respected. It is from　Chinese custom. The Japanese celebrate the seventh day after a baby's birth and mourn seventh day after a person's death. The Japanese often talk about the seven treasures, the seven buddhas, seven wise people. Do you know the saying"White skin hides seven faults".

The Japanese eat soft boiled rice with seven herbs on seventh January. These seven herbs are called "seven herbsof spring". They celebrate the autumn equinox week or the full moon in September with the flowers of seven plants.They are called "seven plants of autumn".

I will introduce you to the flowers of the seven plants of autumn. The Japanese have loved these flowers since the 8th century. These plants all live in Japan, Korea and China. They are Chinese bellflower, bush clover, Japanese pampas grass, pink, patrinia, thoroughwort, and arrowroot.