The golden blossoms of the crape myrtle tree in Tam Ky

Việt Nam•23/03/2024

Đường Huỳnh Thúc Kháng rợp sắc vàng hoa sưa - Ảnh: LÊ TRUNG — Huynh Thuc Khang Street is covered in the golden blossoms of the crape myrtle tree.

The vibrant yellow blossoms of the crape myrtle

On the morning of March 23rd, many streets in Tam Ky City, such as Huynh Thuc Khang, Tran Cao Van, Tran Hung Dao, Do Quang, Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chau Trinh, etc., were adorned with vibrant yellow blossoms of the Dalbergia tonkinensis trees.

Under the gentle sunlight, the street corners sparkle with the golden hues of crape myrtle blossoms. In Huong Tra ecological village, Hoa Huong ward, some crape myrtle trees have also shown their first signs of yellow.

The crape myrtle trees in Tam Ky bloom in two periods, at the end of March and the beginning of April each year.

The golden rosewood tree in Tam Ky is also known as the Indian rosewood tree, with the scientific name Pterocarpus indicus Willd, belonging to the legume family.

The flowers are bright yellow with long, hairy stems, fragrant, and last for a few days to a week before falling off.

The tree has a beautiful shape and flowers, and is popular for planting as an ornamental shade tree; its trunk is used for making household items and handicrafts.

The crape myrtle trees in Tam Ky originate from Huong Tra village, located along the Tam Ky River. Since the village's inception, crape myrtle trees have often been planted in front of the village gates.

The crape myrtle trees here are also known as "nine-mile fragrance," because the scent of their flowers from this village can travel up to nine miles. Huong Tra village boasts the most beautiful heritage tree-lined road in Quang Nam .

Through surveys, experts have assessed the distribution of the Dalbergia tonkinensis tree population in the village, identifying over 50 trees that are nearly 100 years old or older.

Among them are 12 ancient trees over 200 years old, the oldest of which has a circumference at the base of 2.7m and a height of 9.2m.

Sưa vàng ở Tam Kỳ còn có tên gọi là cây giáng hương ấn — The yellow rosewood tree in Tam Ky is also known as the Indian sandalwood tree.

Since 2010, Tam Ky has had a policy of preserving this tree species, propagating and developing it into an urban tree with the hope of building a brand for the city of golden flowers in the future.

To date, the city has planted and preserved thousands of yellow-flowered crape myrtle trees. Every year, at the end of March and April, this street is covered in the golden color of crape myrtle flowers.

Get ready for the Tam Ky Festival - the season of crape myrtle blossoms.

In early April, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the golden hues of the crape myrtle blossoms in Tam Ky by attending the Tam Ky Crape Myrtle Festival 2024, themed " The Colors of Crape Myrtle and Huong Tra," which opens on April 5th.

The organizers launched a writing contest about the crape myrtle flower and the festival, a "Green Tea - Friendly - Hospitable" contest, and established a crape myrtle-themed photo zone.

From April 5th to April 13th, a series of activities will take place, including the Huong Tra Village Festival, the second season of the Miss Vietnam Modern Era pageant, and the Traditional Ao Dai Festival.

Hoa sưa nở ở làng Hương Trà — The crape myrtle flowers are blooming in Huong Tra village.

In addition, there will be a Huong Tra Discovery Run, a traditional Tam Ky men's and women's boat race, a cycling race, a village chess competition, a calligraphy contest, and a Bai Choi folk art performance.

Besides taking photos with the golden crape myrtle trees, visitors can also experience Huong Tra eco-village, gardens, homestays, and local cuisine.

Recently, a cluster of nine Dalbergia tonkinensis trees, also known as golden Dalbergia tonkinensis, in Huong Tra ecological village has been recognized as Vietnamese Heritage Trees by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment. The city will hold a ceremony to announce the decision and receive the certificate of recognition on April 5th.