Millions of seniors from the west flock to sunny Thailand to enjoy their retirement in a warm country with friendly people and a relatively low cost of living. Thailand is an easy place to live with all the modern conveniences but at a much more laid-back pace.
If you are a senior considering making the move to Thailand, you can snap up a gorgeous ocean view villa at a fraction of the price you might pay for anything similar in your home country. One of Thailand’s biggest draws is the mild climate, instead of hunkering down indoors during the winter’s rage, you can enjoy the balmy breeze out on your veranda all year long. While it does rain quite a bit for part of the year, it’s a warm rain that makes the countryside grow lush and green.
One of the concerns retirees have shared with us is whether or not they can continue to do their hobbies here or not? Well, the answer is no if you happen to be a skier, but for nearly everything else under the sun, the answer is a resounding yes! If you are one of the millions of people who enjoy outdoor gardening, the news is really good for you, Thailand’s lack of winter means you can maintain a lovely flower garden all year long, the fall die-off is a thing of the past!
We highly recommend you try out the many attractive native species, they were made to be here and will be sure to thrive under your tender care! The following are a sampling of the species we love to grow in our all-year-long Thai flower garden!
Thai Cosmos – These hardy annuals are tough, you can often find them growing along the roadside! They are available in various shades of sunny yellow and orange. Sow the seeds directly into the soil any time of year, but be sure to provide extra watering during the dry season. Cosmos grow fairly tall, reaching heights between 60 to 80 centimetres so they make a good back planting. Cosmos will often reseed itself, but you can give them a helping hand by grabbing the ripe seeds and sprinkling them around the area you want them to come up in!
Thai Water Lilies – Grow these lovely, sweetly fragrant lilies thrive all year round in garden ponds or watertight urns. The blooms come in a wide variety of colours, yellow, pink, and purple are among the most popular. They prefer full sun and are great for attracting bees!
Mahalab Bulb Plants – These spectacular orange-reddish flowers grow atop long stalks with oval-shaped light green leaves. The name “Mahalab” means “Good Fortune” and “Great Wealth” in the Thai language, which makes them one of the most popular flowers in Thailand, shopkeepers grow them in front of their shops for good luck! They like to live in large pots and require moderate watering. It’s important to snip off spent blooms so that more, fresh blossoms can take their place!
For loads of Thai gardening inspiration be sure to visit the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens in Bangkok! We hope you enjoy your Thai flower garden!
