The season for the Omoi tree has arrived again.

The road is ablaze with the blossoms of the Omoi tree in Phu Hoi commune (An Phu district).

In March, the mist still bathed the land in the early morning mist, and I was slightly surprised to see the purple of the crape myrtle again. At that moment, I whispered to myself, "So, the scorching hot season has arrived again." In the Mekong Delta, there are flowers that seem to defy nature, waiting for the sweltering sun to freely display their colors, and the crape myrtle is a prime example.

For those of us who grew up in the countryside, enduring the sun and wind, our feet stained with mud from trudging through distant fields, like me, the rose apple blossoms were like childhood friends. Children in the countryside a few decades ago mainly played according to the seasons. The sunny season was when there were the most fun. When the clouds drifted lazily across the sky in the March sun, and the cuckoo's call echoed across the fields, the rose apple blossom season arrived, along with kite-flying. Every afternoon, the children would excitedly gather in the fields to fly their kites, their dreams carried by the wind. After playing for a while, they would go pick rose apple blossoms.

Back when I was a young boy with a buzz cut, I didn't know anything about chivalry, but I still climbed up the crape myrtle tree to pick a few branches full of blossoms and brought them down to my little friend from the neighborhood. I don't know what she thought, but her innocent smile with her missing teeth remains etched in my memory. Looking at the crape myrtle blossoms all the time got boring, so we picked the fruit, peeled it, and chewed it noisily, savoring the sweet taste of the countryside. Looking back, that was almost 30 years ago, and the mischievous kids of that poor neighborhood have all gone their separate ways. Only the crape myrtle season remains unchanged, still offering the world its most beautiful days each year.

For the people in the countryside, the Omoi tree (also known as the purple Olea europaea) is still very dear to them. Although this species has gradually become scarce due to its low economic value, its purple blossoms can still occasionally be seen alongside people's lives. Once, when I went to the upstream area of An Phu district, I saw people building riverside docks under the cool shade of Omoi trees. "People still plant Omoi trees to prevent erosion along the canal banks. Moreover, when the flowers bloom, the Omoi tree is very beautiful. If it doesn't cause any harm, people will still leave the Omoi tree; no one would dare cut it down," shared Mr. Tran Van Quy (a resident of Vinh Hoi Dong commune, An Phu district).

Also in the upstream region of An Phu, there's a stunning road lined with flowering trees. If you have the chance to drive along the Tam Som canal, connecting Phu Hoi commune to Quoc Thai commune, you'll be captivated by the vibrant flowering trees. Having experienced that road once, I felt like I was reliving my wild childhood. I met some young boys wandering beneath the bright flowering trees. They played, chatted, and picked the fruit, just like my generation did. Suddenly, I realized that country children, regardless of the era, have always loved flowering trees.

Locals say that even young people from as far away as Long Xuyen City and Chau Doc City come here to admire the crape myrtle blossoms and capture the beautiful moments of this rural flower season. "When the flowers are in full bloom, this crape myrtle road looks stunning. Many people from far away come here, and thanks to that, I also sell ice cream and shaved ice to them!" shared Mr. Tuan (a resident of Phu Hoi commune).

While chatting with me, Mr. Tuan's eyes never failed to glance at the vibrant pink blossoms of the crape myrtle trees. Perhaps, he and I are roughly the same age, and we both had a childhood intertwined with the coming and going of crape myrtle blossoms, carrying with them countless memories of our youth. Now, he is burdened with the responsibilities of making a living, so he rarely has the opportunity to relive the blossoming season of his childhood. Each time he sees them, he still feels a touch of fondness, but it's hard to describe.

Now, the crape myrtle tree is gradually making a comeback in people's lives. People have also recognized the appeal of this tree, so it has been included in the list of urban trees. Some localities plant crape myrtle trees in rows along paved roads. When the flowers bloom, the crape myrtle paints a corner of the sky pink, captivating the senses of visitors from afar. At that time, photographers also have a new creative space, instead of having to travel to some remote rural area.

Summer has arrived again, bringing with it the season of the Omoi fruit, reminding us not to forget a part of the authentic beauty of the Mekong Delta. Hopefully, when you see the vibrant pink Omoi blossoms in the sunlight, you'll smile as I do, remembering those beautiful childhood memories.

THANH TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mua-o-moi-lai-den-a416698.html