Vacation
Thailand - Thai
Orchid ... by
ash-hotel.com
Stunning
wild orchids abound in many isolated, misty valleys of the North.
But an easy way to see these exquisite beauties is to visit the orchid farms around
Chiangmai.
Hav
e you always wanted to enjoy the
beauty, grace and vibrancy of Thai orchids? Although most people settle for color
snapshots or video, the good news is that you can actually enjoy the real thing in
Chiangmai. Some of the best orchids in Thailand are grown right here.
You "orchid tour" should start
from The Royal Family's Winter Palace. Located at Bhubhing Rajnivet, about four kilometers
from Doi Suthep, the palace is splendidly landscaped with the most colorful blooms, and
orchids are a special feature. The hilltop site is open to the public during Fridays and
official holidays when their Majesty the King and Queen are not residing there.
The Maesa waterfalls in Maerim district, 16 kilometers from Chiangmai, will have some wild
orchid blooms in January and Febuary.
The biggest orchid farm in Chiangmai, the Sainampeung Garden, also in Maerim, has just
about every species of orchid in the Kingdom. Orchid lovers shouldn't miss this for their
life! Here, you can get drunken the color, shapes, and the ambience as you decide which
two or three species you like in particular.
Charm and Splendour of Chiangmai Orchids
Exquisite beauty
and an incredible variety of sizes, shapes and colors are the most attractive aspects of
Thailand's national flower, and there is no better place than the North to see all the
charm and splendour of Thai Orchids.
More than one thousand wild orchid species can be found in the hills and
valleys of northern Thailand, and while Thailand is the home of the greatest number of
orchids in all of Asia, the North has them in greatest abundance. Not too long ago these
orchids grew only in the wild. More recently, however, orchids have become a major export
product of the country and orchid farms have sprung up all over the North, especially in 
Chiangmai Province. Chiangmai is
the Kingdom's centre for cultivation, displays and exhibitions of these exotic flowers.
It's surprising to many visitors that these tropical plants can be found flowering
during the winter here, when the weather is cool. January is great month to see the
amazing range of colors, shapes and sizes of Thai orchids. Although the weather is
very dry at this time of year, orchids employ many different method of retaining the
moisture necessary for flowering. Some have spongy roots that can absorb water from
morning mists, other have bulbs that store flower from the previous year's rains, while
other shed their leaves so that none of the moisture needed for blooming is wasted.
Orchids naturally grow on the bark of forest trees and collect much of their water and
food from rain water running down the trunks. They are not parasites, but are classified
as epiphytes because of this way of growing. The orchids will flower again in August, in
the middle of rainy season, and collect water and food during the September rains in
preparation for flowering again the following January.
Orchids are probably the most versatile of
all flowers. They grow in many diverse climates, from the Arctic Circle to the tropical
areas in Asia, Africa and the Americas. In elevation they can grow anywhere from sea
level to as high as 10,000 feet. Each type of Orchids, of course, differs with the
climate, and most are found in the temperate and tropical areas of the globe.
They can be found growing wild in almost all parts of Thailand, from the low plains
of the center region to the highest mountains in the North, from the steamy jungles in the
south to the arid northeastern plateau. Some, ground orchids, actually grow in the ground,
but the vast majority prefer a less competitive environment, growing on trees or in cracks
in rocks, where few other plants can survive. Some live in the permanent shadows of the
tropical rain forest, where sunlight never penetrates, while others thrive in the full
glare of the sun.
The most highly adaptable flowers in existence are probably Orchids. Some type feed
off the air and decayed matter around them. Other create their own micro-organic
atmosphere within a small area and live within those bounds. Some nimic bees and insects
they wish to attrac
t and thus capture
their food and nutrition in this way. Still others give off various scents to attract
their desired prey and repulse unwanted insects from approach.
Orchids may grow s single flowers, or they may grow on stems as long as 6 meters.
The leaves also differ according to area and climate, and they adapt themselves in size
and shape to the needs of water gathering in their specific environment. Because of the
large number of very distinct orchids in so many parts of the wor
ld, the orchid is considered to be the most
highly evolved of plants
The broad family of the plants such as the palms, grasses and lilies also include orchids. A characteristic of this particular plant family is the continual growth of the flower stem, year after year. This is a prominent feature of the orchid that distinguishes it from many other flowers. This is particularly true of the very colorful and showy Vanda Orchids, of which there are more than 60 species, as well as two groups of large, beautiful white tropical Asian Orchids, of which there are more than 50 species.
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