You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Plant' category.
My GI Joe sister was telling me about a plant that the flower only blooms once a year, she said that a Lao lady, her Laotian neighbor called her over when it started to bloom in September of last year, it started at 9 p.m, and was fully bloomed by midnight, the flower then died by morning, and the exotic blooms would be soup for the Chinese. The Laotians believe that it only blooms on ‘wan sin, 15 com’, which I don’t know how true this is.
It’s called Broad-leafed Epiphyllum Emiphyllum, also known as Queen of the Night, or Tab Hua kai Lei in Chinese. If I remembered correctly, I thought Salat wrote about this flower at LP forum that her mom has one, I’m not sure what it’s called in Lao, but I will find out. My GI Joe sister said that Lao people called it Dork Phoy Sien, and watching from the video is not the same as being there in person because of the aroma of the flower, when it opens, the flower sways back and forth as if it was breathing, I’m not sure if the one that she saw was so huge and it was heavy, she was there for 3 hours and feels as if it was alive, moving, and breathing flower. I think for plant lovers, this might be exciting to watch it blooms, but for some might not be, so don’t expect a rush of adrenaline when watching the Youtube video (time: 6.28 mins)
As I watch the Queen of the Night Flower blooms, a Cinderella Story comes to mind where the fairy godmother transformed her into a beautiful princess ‘with a wave of her wand, she turned Cinderella’s rags into an exquisite gown. On Cinderella’s feet were tiny glass slippers. “Remember,” the fairy godmother said, “you must leave the ball at midnight. That’s when the spell will be broken and all will be as it was before.”’ And sure enough, the flower starts to close its petals after midnight.
This post is for Darly, my GI Joe sister picked these Water Lilys for you. 
Water Lily Pond at Wat Lao Buddhavong of Washington DC July 2007
Related Posts:
Wat Lao Buddhavong of Washington D.C.
Art Works At Wat Lao Buddhavong
Recent Comments