Fascinated by the "unique" bonsai garden of Lagerstroemia in Mang Yang

Located about 35 km from Pleiku City ( Gia Lai province), right next to National Highway 19, the garden, spanning approximately 5,500 m2, displays hundreds of crape myrtle bonsai trees that Mr. Hoa has collected since 2010. All of them are ancient trees, ranging from several decades to a hundred years old.

Một góc nhỏ của khu vườn bằng lăng bonsai. Ảnh: Ngọc Duy

A small corner of the crape myrtle bonsai garden. Photo: Ngoc Duy

Upon entering the garden, everyone will be overwhelmed by the unique beauty of hundreds of crape myrtle trees in all sorts of rare shapes, from flying, brotherly, mother-child, to upright forms... All are masterpieces of nature, virtually untouched by human intervention.

Mr. Hoa shared: For over a decade, he and his wife have traveled extensively to hunt for and purchase beautiful and unique crape myrtle trees from various regions such as Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen , Binh Duong, Lam Dong... Sometimes, they even had to travel back and forth and plead many times before the owner agreed to sell.

In particular, among the hundreds of strangely shaped ancient trees, there are two "one-of-a-kind" trees with unique forms. These are the trees shaped like a dragon and a camel, which are extremely beautiful. These are the trees that Mr. Hoa cherishes the most, estimated to be worth around 6-7 billion VND.

Cây bằng lăng có hình dáng tựa con lạc đà được ông Hòa trưng bày tại khu vườn. Ảnh: Ngọc Duy

Mr. Hoa displays a crape myrtle tree shaped like a camel in his garden. Photo: Ngoc Duy

Cây bằng lăng hình con rồng được nhiều bạn trẻ đến check-in. Ảnh: Đồng Lai

The crape myrtle tree shaped like a dragon is a popular spot for young people to take photos and check in. Photo: Dong Lai

“The tree resembles a dragon crawling up a rocky cave, with four supporting legs, and the branches and flowers symbolizing the dragon's whiskers reaching upwards. It's both graceful and majestic. Furthermore, because the trunk is large and sturdy, people can ‘ride’ on the dragon's back and pose without fear of breaking the branches,” Mr. Hoa proudly explained.

Mr. Hoa added: Many trees in the garden have reached the "perfection" of bonsai with their balanced width and height. What's special is the fusion of a centuries-old rhizome with a large, strangely shaped base, grafted with a Thai crape myrtle sprout with deep purple, long-lasting flowers, creating a unique appeal for the tree.

Mr. Tran Quoc An (68 years old, residing in Group 1, Kon Doang town) shared: “Mr. Hoa and I live next door to each other, so we often visit and share experiences in caring for bonsai trees. Mr. and Mrs. Hoa are very passionate and personally take care of their garden. Especially, when they hear about a unique and unusual crape myrtle tree somewhere, they will immediately set off to find a way to acquire one.”

Sharing his reasons for collecting, Mr. Hoa said: "Although it's a woody plant, its flowers are very beautiful and captivating. Especially, the tree blooms regularly twice a year, in March-April and July-August. That's why, even though hundreds of people have offered to buy it over the years, I've resolutely refused to sell it because I've fallen in love with this type of flower."

According to his family, this is not a commercial space but rather a place to create a scenic spot for sightseeing and tourism for those who want a change of scenery after a tiring work week on weekends and holidays. At the same time, it connects people with similar interests and passions for bonsai trees and crape myrtle flowers.

To ensure the garden thrives as it does today, Mr. Hoa has faced numerous challenges in caring for the plants, such as monitoring their growth from root to stem and leaf, and detecting and eliminating pests. Currently, the garden employs four workers daily. Mr. Hoa himself dedicates no less than 10 hours each day to monitoring and caring for the plants, ensuring they grow beautifully and according to his wishes.

A die-hard fan of crape myrtle trees, he said that for over 20 years, his family's main source of income has been stone carving (stone benches, fountains, tombstones, sculptures, etc.). However, he dedicates all his earnings to pursuing his passion for crape myrtle trees.

Ông Hòa chia sẻ nguồn tài chính của gia đình từ nghề đục đẽo đá, làm đồ tâm linh từ đá… Ảnh: Đồng Lai

Mr. Hoa shared that his family's finances come from the craft of carving stone and making spiritual objects from stone… Photo: Dong Lai

"I don't remember how much money I spent buying the trees, not to mention the travel expenses during the search. Not only that, but sometimes I had to borrow from friends and family and pay them back gradually, because I didn't always have the money readily available," Mr. Hoa added.

Reportedly, Mr. and Mrs. Hoa are planning to transform this place into a tourist destination with an open-space design and a panoramic view, allowing visitors to admire the entire garden. Many who are familiar with the colors of roses and hydrangeas can now enjoy a different perspective with a breathtaking panorama of shimmering, dreamy purple crape myrtle flowers.

Mr. Hoa said: “Initially, during the months when the crape myrtle is in full bloom, I will open the garden to visitors for free check-ins. After that, I will continue to improve the garden and facilities to transform it into an interesting tourist destination in the future, combining it with accompanying services that suit current trends. This promises to be a new and unique destination for tourists visiting this billion-dollar garden in the district town.”