Given the agro-climatic conditions in Laos – i.e. temperature, humidity, abundant sunshine and fertile soil, everything in this land grows in profusion. Everywhere you look it is green, with every possible shade of the colour visible to the discerning eye. Even within the urban landscape in Vientiane, it is quite common to find shrubs and trees lining the streets in full bloom (of colours such as red, orange, yellow, white, pink, purple, peach, mauve), depending on the season and in some cases laden with edible fruits like rose apple, and custard apple, guavas and jack fruit.
Situated in Ponthan village in the newer part of Vientiane city, our Lao style wooden house has a charming garden with some rather unusual flowering shrubs and trees. I have no idea what the names of most of the flowers are, but I have a sense most of the unusual flowers are from the lily family.
We have recently had a few medium to heavy pre-monsoon showers in Vientiane, which have washed away the dust, revealing the fresh, sparkling colours of nature, as it is in its true from. The overcast sky provided the right lighting for photography.
I am sharing a few photographs of the flowers that grow in our garden. Taken mostly by me in an ordinary digital camera, in terms of quality, these photographs are rather ordinary. Nevertheless these serve to give a good idea of the natural diversity, beauty and abundance that Laos is endowed with. The better pictures are taken by our friend Oniket Alam, who recently visited us from Bangladesh.