Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Palms are a fan favourite
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 31/01/2016
» Poonsak Watcharakorn, 63, has the biggest collection of Licuala palms in Thailand. But he is far from satisfied. “I want to have the biggest collection not just in Thailand, but in the world,” he said.
Government stumped on tree pruning
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 18/10/2015
» I had a strange dream last night. The mahogany trees along Rama IV Road from the railroad crossing to the Klong Toey market were so huge that their branches reached to the middle of the road, providing much-needed shade for motorists stopped by the red traffic light. In reality the trees are spindly for their age.
Chasing waterfalls
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 23/08/2015
» It was only 3.30pm but with rain threatening to fall at any time, darkness descended fast on Lam Nam Kok National Park in Doi Hang, Chiang Rai province. It had rained the night before and parts of the trail were slippery. One false move could easily send someone rolling down the steep mountainside to the point of no return.
La vie en rose
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 07/06/2015
» ‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness…” English poet John Keats was not thinking about roses in particular when he wrote that poem in 1818; he only mentioned “musk-rose blooms” in passing. Yet, there is probably no other flower which has given so much joy since ancient times than the rose.
Keeping our orchids in bloom
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 10/08/2014
» Recognised as Thailand's leading expert on orchids, professor Rapee Sagarik devoted most of his life to the study, culture and propagation of orchids. He shared his knowledge by introducing orchidology courses at Kasetsart University in 1952, writing books and countless magazine articles on orchid growing and hybridisation techniques, and founding the Orchid Society of Thailand in 1957 to promote not only the exchange of know-how but also orchid culture as a hobby as well as a source of income.
Fine Feathered
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 16/02/2014
» Unlike other plants, ferns produce neither flowers nor seeds. They reproduce by spores, which appear on the underside or along the veins or margins of mature fronds. Some are elongated in shape while others are round, kidney-shaped, cup-shaped or chain-like, depending on the species. Spores are light and can be easily dispersed by wind. If they fall on a place which is moist, with enough light and lots of organic matter, they will germinate and grow into new plants.
Adenium thrive when thirsty
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 08/09/2013
» Continuous rains brought on by a succession of tropical depressions in the Philippines prompted a friend in Manila to send me a message of distress. "It has been raining for the past weeks and the sun rarely shines for long. I put the plants that you gave me in a dry place but some of the leaves are turning yellow. Help! I'm panicking, I'm afraid they might die. What should I do?", she asked.
Scientists, Step away from the pineapple
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 16/12/2012
» Arose by any other name would smell just as sweet. Similarly, a pineapple by any other name would still taste like pineapple. But what if the pineapple tastes like coconut? According to an AFP report, researchers from Australia's Department of Agriculture in Queensland are in the final stages of developing a new variety of pineapple which has the taste of coconut. The new variety, to be known as the AusFestival pineapple, is reportedly sweet and very juicy.
Outta space? These trees will please
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 08/07/2012
» Last week's ''Green Fingers'' mentioned that mango can be planted in a small yard. This is possible only if you can prune it regularly to maintain its small size. If not, mango trees should be avoided unless you have a large compound because as the tree grows older the sprawling branches spread out laterally. I have seen old trees more than 30m high with a radius of 10m.