Floral fantasy
Themed gardens and a plethora of blooming flowers at a farm in Taiwan enthrall Elaine Yim
Sunflowers planted en masse for their yellow colour. Lovely backdrop for wedding photos.
FIRST of all, I would like to wish all Muslims and happy holidays to everyone. This long weekend is great for spending quality time with family, friends and loved ones. Why not head to the countryside for a breath of fresh air and enjoy some calm and tranquillity with nature or visit a public garden or flower farm?
Studies have shown that flowers have beneficial effects on people. They make people happy and feel better, and they relax the mind.
Today, I would like to share some highlights of my visit to a flower farm in Taiwan.
THE FLOWER FARM
The Chung-She (Zhong-She) Flower Garden is located on a six-hectare site in Houli district of Taichung county in central Taiwan.
It features themed gardens with a plethora of blooming flowers planted by professional growers.
The landscape designs and floral displays change with the seasons. It is ideal for wedding shots, selfies and group photos. Many of the plants are labelled, hence this flower farm is also an educational experience for everyone.
The area is divided into three sections comprising flower gardens, a nursery selling potted plants and gardening products, and a food court.
Several bread fruit trees (Artocarpus altilis) are planted near the main entrance. These tropical trees produce edible fruits that not only taste like bread but also look like loaves of bread hanging on the tree.
The walkway to the flower gardens is covered with Indian clock vines (Thunbergia mysorensis). This species is native to India and named after the city of Mysore.
The flowers are borne on pendent inflorescences that hang down dramatically. Each flower is uniquely shaped like a red and yellow slipper, hence the names Lady Slipper, Doll’s Shoes or Brick vine. Spectacular Asiatic lilies and Easter lilies. OUTDOOR PHOTO STUDIO
The outdoor flower gardens are breathtaking. There is an amazing number and variety of spectacular flowers in full bloom in all colours of the rainbow. These include zinnias, petunias, gerbera daisies, torenias and celosias.
I was ecstatic and excited to be surrounded by so many gorgeous flowers.
The whole area looked like a big outdoor photo studio complete with all the props and settings to capture some of life’s memorable moments.
Flowers arranged into Cupid’s double hearts and wedding arches provided an excellent backdrop for love birds and wedding couples to express themselves in romantic poses.
STAR OF THE SEASON
Certain zones were like a European fairy-tale. There was Snow White’s seven dwarfs to welcome visitors to the hollihocks (Alcea rosea) garden complete with white swing, cages, benches, horse carriage, English cottages and a Dutch windmill.
The star of the season was the very fragrant and enchanting Asiatic lily hybrids (Lilium x hybrida) and Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum).
Those who prefer some tranquillity and calm can visit the Pavilion of Happiness where graceful koi fishes swim in ponds amongst lovely water lilies against a backdrop of colourful flowers, blue skies and scenic mountain views.
COLOUR SCHEME HIGHLIGHTS
I love the sections where a single species of plant was planted to create a stunning colour effect.
I enjoyed myself tremendously waltzing through the sea of purples, reds and yellows while posing for photos pretending to be a musician playing the grand white piano, cello and drums.
I felt like Alice in Wonderland, a little girl in a land of magical flowers.
The dramatic effect of the coloured landscape was created using several species of plants.
For the cool blue and purple theme, Salvia farinacea and Liatris spicata were planted.
Salvia farinacea is also known as mealy blue sage, mealy sage, mealy cup sage or simply blue salvia.
It is native Texas to Mexico. The leaves are shiny grey-green while its many tiny flowers are arranged on long fuzzy flower spikes. The seeds are available here and sold in seed packets.
Liatris spicata a.k.a. button snakewort, blazing star, Kansas gay feather is native to eastern North America.
Foliage is grass-like while the flowers are purplish-pink and borne on flower spikes that look like little bottle brushes. The flowers open from the top down.
For yellow, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and Argyranthemum frutescens were planted. The sunflowers were huge and gorgeous.
Argyranthemum frutescens (Chrysanthemum frutescens) a.k.a. Marguerite Daisy, Boston Daisy, Paris Daisy or qing ren ju (lovers chrysanthemum) is native to the Canary Islands. The flowers are bright yellow and very showy while the leaves are lacy and attractive.
For red theme,Salvia splendens a.k.a. red sage or scarlet sage, which is native to Brazil, was planted. Foliage is dark green while the flower spikes are brilliant red.