Showing 1 - 10 of 40
Worthy of a name
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 04/12/2016
» Piya Chalermglin, PhD, intrepid plant explorer and extraordinary researcher at the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, recently retired. He spent 20 years of his career surveying the country's plant genetic resources, particularly Magnoliales, which includes the custard apple family Annonaceae and the magnolia family Magnoliaceae. In the process, he earned the distinction of having discovered 17 species new to science, joining the likes of famous botanist Carl Linnaeus and other plant explorers who immortalised their names by inspiring the names of some plants.
All I need is the air that I breathe
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 20/11/2016
» 'Please introduce air plant farms in the Bangkok area," an email I received recently requested. I am sure there are hobbyists growing air plants in their gardens or balconies, but because of high land prices, I doubt it if there are plant nurseries in Bangkok. Be that as it may, I went to my favourite haunt, the Chatuchak midweek market, last Wednesday to ask around.
Seeds of change
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 16/10/2016
» There is a question asked time and again on Facebook: "Should children be taught how to grow their own food as part of their schooling?"
Let the sunshine in
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 02/10/2016
» A Filipino friend of mine who lives in the US was enamoured with a plant he saw on Facebook. It was rather expensive but he bought it anyway. The seller was in the Philippines so he had it delivered to his sister, with whom he stays during his visits home.
Prickly customers
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 28/08/2016
» If the number of stalls selling a plant can be an indication of its popularity, then cacti and succulents are clearly back in favour. At Chatuchak midweek plant market there are certainly more vendors selling these miniature beauties than ever before. Many are species and hybrids newly introduced from other countries.
A welcome that neverwears out
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 19/06/2016
» It is common knowledge that the Philippine national costume, the barong Tagalog, is made from the fibres of pineapple leaves. Lightweight, embroidered in front and worn untucked over an undershirt, it is worn by both men and women as a formal attire.
Sleep has never been this appealing
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 12/06/2016
» When a friend learned that I have trouble sleeping, she told be about an article she had just read recommending banana tea for those suffering from insomnia. "All you have to do is boil an unpeeled banana, with both ends cut off, in a small pot of water for 10 minutes. Pour the water through a colander into a mug, and drink it one hour before bed," she instructed.
Turn over a fresh leaf
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 08/05/2016
» If you have tasted the Thai traditional snack mieng kham, then you know how Piper sarmentosum, or cha phlu in Thai, is eaten. Mieng kham is a concoction of one or two pieces of diced ginger, shallots and lime, a slice or two of chilli, one or two pieces of dried shrimp and roasted peanut, and a pinch of toasted shredded coconut. All of that is topped with a sauce made from palm sugar, fish sauce, galangal, lemongrass and ginger, and wrapped together with a cha phlu leaf. Eaten in one bite, the different flavours blend perfectly, like different musical instruments played harmoniously together to create a beautiful melody.
Getting it all ship-shape
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 28/02/2016
» Sean G wrote to ask for help with contact information for a phytosanitary certification. “I hear that it is done at Kasetsart University but I can’t find anything online and this is the only article I can find that is relevant,” he said, referring to the May 17, 2015, Green Fingers page titled “Have plants, will travel”.
Colour for all seasons
B Magazine, Normita Thongtham, Published on 20/12/2015
» Academy award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o made headlines recently for wearing a bright green sweater. Apparently there’s an arbitrary rule in the West that one must not wear bright colours in winter. Bright greens and reds are frowned upon by fashion critics; for them these colours are strictly for summer only. In winter people are supposed to wear only colours that are dark, darker and darkest, in deference to the death of flowers in parks and gardens.