Staying awake through the cold night to preserve the beauty of spring.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, when the streets of Thanh Hoa begin to fill with the vibrant colors of peach blossoms, kumquats, and apricot blossoms from all over the country, behind that dazzling display lie the silent, sleepless nights of the plant vendors.

Many central streets in Thanh Hoa these days seem to have been transformed into gardens of ornamental plants for Tet (Lunar New Year). Amidst the pots of fading pink peach blossoms and kumquats laden with fruit are makeshift tents erected with tarpaulins, where vendors take turns dozing off or guarding their goods in the cold winter nights of Thanh Hoa.

As the city falls silent, the temperature drops, and a cold wind blows through the trees, the tree traders begin their night shift.

Ms. Le Thi Huong (born in 1971, residing in Hamlet 4, Xuan Du Commune), who has been selling peach blossom trees in the city for over 10 years during Tet, shared: "Every year, whenever we bring the trees to the city, we have to assign people to watch over them 24/7. At least two people have to take turns staying awake; we can't let go of their watch."

According to Ms. Huong, despite the hardships of spending nights "sleeping in the open air," it was also a time when she placed her hopes for a more prosperous Tet holiday for her family.

Even late at night, the shop owners still take the time to water the plants, adjust their shape, wipe the leaves, and tie up the branches... so that each morning, the gardens are fresh and vibrant to welcome customers.

The workers are shaping and pruning the ancient peach trees. All the final preparations are carried out under the streetlights, ready to welcome the first visitors early the next morning.

Taking advantage of the lull in customers, peach blossom vendors use a technique called "burning the base" with a blowtorch, performed during the night. Using fire to treat the base of the peach blossom helps retain sap, keeping the flowers fresher and more vibrant for longer—a trade secret requiring skill and experience.

Besides facing the cold wind, plant vendors are also worried because purchasing power has not really picked up yet.

Mr. Luong Van Son (on the right, 35 years old, from Hop Tien commune) said that selling ornamental plants for Tet has become a familiar job every year-end. "It's really cold, but as long as I can sell the plants, I'll have extra income to support my family during Tet," Mr. Son shared.

In the misty night, a few customers stopped by to inquire about and look at the plants before leaving. Most only stopped to browse, waiting for the "right time" to make a purchase. Based on experience over the past few years, people only buy in large numbers after the Kitchen God and Stove God festival. Now, it's mostly just people looking around, Sơn added.

Tet is just around the corner. Amidst the vibrant spring colors of the city streets, ornamental plant vendors quietly remain in their brightly lit stalls throughout the night, hoping to sell all their goods and earn a little extra profit to wrap up a year of hard work. The fact that some of the most beautiful plants have already been reserved gives them some peace of mind, providing them with the motivation to persevere until spring arrives, preserving the festive atmosphere of Tet in the city during the cold nights of the year-end.

Hoang Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thuc-cung-dem-lanh-de-giu-sac-xuan-277864.htm