THAI GARDEN STYLE
A Water Lily pond at the Royal Garden Village at Hua Hin.
THAI GARDEN STYLE
Photography by
LUCA INVERNIZZI TETTONI
Text by
WILLIAM WARREN
Published by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
Copyright © 1996, 2003 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0723-6 (ebook)
11 10 09 08 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Singapore
Address all enquiries to:
Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 534167,
Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A book like this could not be produced without the assistance of many people. The author and photographer are deeply grateful to all those who kindly allowed their private gardens to be photographed, assisted in making countless arrangements and helped with the identification of plant specimens. We would like to particularly thank Mrs Elisabeth Eber Chan for undertaking the chore of checking plant names and to note that any mistakes that may still be present are our responsibility rather than hers.
We would also like to express our gratitude to Air Bill Bensley of the Bensley Design Group, Khun Chaiwut Tulayadhan, Khun Chare Chutharatkul, Mr Mark Collins, the management of the Dusit Rayavadee Resort, Mr Skip Heinecke of Royal Garden Resorts, Mr Simon Hirst of the Regent Resort, Khun Jirachai Rengthong of the Bensley Design Group, Khun Lanfaa Devahastin Na Ayudhya, Mr Rusty London, Mr Robert McCarthy, Khun Naphalai Areesorn of Chiva-Som International Health Resorts Co Ltd, Acharn Nitthi Sthapitanond, Khun Patrapara Charusorn, Khun Prabhadibhaya Vadanyakul, Khun Phabhakorn Vadanyakul, Khun Prakong Nucharoen of the Royal Garden Village, Mr Reimund Reisinger, Mr Brian Sherman, Khun Sittichai and Khun Tida Tanpitat, Khun Sirichan Phirompakdi, Khun Suchin and Khun Rujiraporn Wanglee, M L Sudavadee Kriangkrai, Khun Sunanta Tulayadhan, Khun Surasak Hutasewee, Khun Tanu and Inga Malakul, M L Tri Devakul, Khun Tongkham Lakthan, Mr Ed Tuttle, Khun Marisa Viravaidya and Mr Douglas Clayton, Mr Yvan and Khun Wongvipa Van Outrive, and Mr and Mrs Dieter Von Boehm.
Terrace of a private villa at the Amanpuri resort, Phuket.
CONTENTS
PART I Introduction
A general introduction to the history of gardens in Thailand
PART II Bangkok and Environs
THE JIM THOMPSON GARDEN
THE REGENT HOTEL: INTERIOR GARDENING
BAAN SOI KLANG
A PALM LOVER'S GARDEN
PART III Southern Thailand
A GARDEN OF UNDERSTATEMENT
THE RAILWAY HOTEL GARDEN
A LANDMARK SEASIDE GARDEN
GARDENING WITH NATURE
A GARDEN ON THE ANDAMAN SEA
PART IV Northern Thailand
GARDENS FOR ESCAPE
A NORTHERN RESORT
A GARDEN OF HELICONIAS
A RUSTIC RETREAT
A COLLECTOR'S GARDEN
TWO NORTHERN HOLIDAY GARDENS
A VALLEY GARDEN
A GARDEN BY A MOUNTAIN STREAM
PART V Gardening in Thailand: A Personal View
Some observations about the author's experiences as a landscape gardener in Thailand
Ideas for Small Gardens
INTRODUCTION
"This country is very fertile and, without needing great labour for its cultivation, anything that one may plant flourishes."
Though some contemporary gardeners might question the lack of effort required, most would agree with Jesuit priest Nicholas Gervaise's 17th-century impression of Thailand's exceptional fertility. Its conditions vary widely, ranging from the cool northern highlands to the steamy jungles of the far south, but nearly all are conducive to rapid plant growth that comes as a revelation to anyone more accustomed to the seasonal pace of temperate countries. To early visitors, this was most evident in the rice fields, orchards, vegetable gardens and other clear signs of agricultural abundance which they saw throughout their travels.
Less well documented—indeed, hardly documented at all—are the uses made of this natural wealth for ornamental purposes. Granted, with certain reservations, that "anything that one may plant flourishes", what sort of noncommercial gardens were created in traditional Thailand? What specific trees and shrubs were used, how were they arranged, and was there anything distinctively Thai about such arrangements?
A stupa rises beside a lake with Water Lilies at Sukothai, the first capital of Thailand.
Two details from Thai murals showing traditional palace gardens. The one on left is from a painted wooden panel. Mango trees—fruiting and flowering—are depicted, with the fruits protected by bamboo baskets until ready to eat, as they still are in many gardens today. A more formal arrangement is shown in