Gardens of Chanthaburi

If May and June are the time of the fruit harvest in Chanthaburi, March and April are the months of the flowers. Apart from the sweet blossoms that dangle from the branches of the pudgy fruit trees, tall elegant trees are swathed in blooms and the home gardens and public spaces are filled with a sea of gold - the vivid allamanda, the national floral symbol of Chanthaburi.

The trees that flower in Chanthaburi in March and April include the pink and white and purple blossoms of the tabaek, delicate mauve jacaranda, the graceful golden tassels of the ratchaphruek (cassia fistula) and the non-si. To add a touch of drama, flame trees line the streets, a tree which is known in the Thai language as the peacock tree due to its flambuoyant red and orange blossoms.

It is true that this lovely show of flowers isn't confined to the province of Chanthaburi but what sets Chanthaburi apart is that it is a province of gardens, greenery and hills. Everywhere you go you can see the pride that the people of Chanthaburi take in their gardens. Almost every shop front and house has a little island of trees and flowers in front, such as the ubiquitious crown of thorns which is considered to bring luck to households, the allamanda and showy gingers. In the city of Chanthaburi there are elegant avenues lined with topiaried rabbits and a lovely lake with green banks which was created in memory of King Taksin the Great and which is the site of the annual fruit festival in May. http://www.faasai.com/

Summer in Chanthaburi

It is coming up to the full bloom of summer in Thailand. This means parched, cracked soil, hot days, fogs and mists and, occasionally, sudden heat showers. Unlike the rainy season these tend not to be accompanied by the ferocious crashes of thunder and lightening. The skies just open up and empty themselves, then it is back to being hot. As the fruit basket of Thailand, Chanthaburi has a special character this time of year. It is greener than elsewhere, thanks to the mists that roll off the hills and mountains and the irrigation in the fruit orchards. Some fruit trees have flower buds coming into bloom, others have tiny bunches of fruit appearing. It won't take long before they are looking luscious and almost ready to eat.
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