| The Center for Ornamental Plants: A Floral Feast For The Eyes | |||
| UPDATE : 22 January 2010 | |||
Whether you're aiming to develop an existing garden, or turn an unused area into a space devoted to the cultivation of plants, you really ought to pay a visit to Bangrak Noi, a subdistrict of Nonthaburi province's Mueang district, which is located just a few kilometers north of Bangkok. This area plays host to a plant market called the Center for Ornamental Plants at Soi Chang, which offers a wide variety of ornamental plants for sale. It's an ideal location in which to browse and locate that 'perfect' plant to meet your individual needs. The market features up to 90 outlets, providing a range of horticultural services, including nursery facilities and landscape design services, while some stores sell sculptures, ceramic dolls, along with other decorative items, including earthenware pots and other containers used for cultivating or storing plants.
Among the wide variety of plants for sale at the market are ornamental and perennial plants, along with those commonly used for landscaping. Several stores manage to draw the attention of shoppers by displaying a number of tiny plant species that feature extremely colorful flora, such as Dreamland, Marigold, Vitesse, Gerbera, and Gazania, which is available in several different colors. Ferns are another popular form of plant among horticulturists. While they neither bloom nor produce any seeds, the impressive shape and form of their leaves is what leads many gardeners to save a special spot for ferns. Indeed, many store operators dedicate their display areas to various kinds of fern. Some ferns are imported, and the most popular source countries for these plants are Australia and Indonesia.
If you're fortunate enough to have a spacious garden, you may be able to consider planting some trees. Several stores offer varieties that are considered to be auspicious among Thai people, such as the Golden Shower Tree, the Indian Coral Tree, Golden Bamboo, Tembura, Siamese Rosewood and Jackfruit. Some of these stores also stock several tall varieties that feature scented flowers when they bloom, such as Ylang-Ylang, Cork, Bhandari and White Meranti. Hemps and sedges, known as wan in Thai, feature leaves that appear 'stained' or 'blemished'. These varieties are also considered to be auspicious, according to Thai culture. Some of these plants bloom, while others don't. Most of these varieties also feature names that are loaded with the promise of good fortune or prosperity. For example, Mahachoke means 'great luck', Kwak Thongkam 'gold beckoning', Phya Changpuek 'the Great White Elephant', and Mahaniyom 'to be appeciated'. Community enterprise Most of the stores and stalls at The Center for Ornamental Plants at Soi Chang are run by horticulturists and landscape gardeners. Many had previously made a living by growing fruit in nearby orchards. However, following heavy floods in 1995, which were among the worst ever to hit Nonthaburi, many of the growers faced an uncertain future as many of their trees were destroyed. At that point they decided to turn to the horticulture business as a form of diversification and to help them make ends meet. The Center for Ornamental Plants at Soi Chang opens daily from 8 am-6 pm. For further information, call the Public Relations Department of Nonthaburi’s Muang district on Tel: +66 (0)86 522 3682. Transport connections: Car: Soi Chang is off Rattanathibej Road a few meters before it joins with Rachapruek Road. Bus: Regular (non-air conditioned) bus numbers 134, 388, 203 and 13, all run along Rattanathibej Road. | |||
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Center for Ornamental Plants: A Floral Feast For The Eyes
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