The Elusive Orchid: A Wild Elephant Chase.

On August 29, the People’s Committee of Buôn Ma Thuột City (Đắk Lắk) organized the 1st Exhibition and Competition of Ornamental Plants in 2024.

The event attracted nearly 50 units and individuals from provinces and cities across the country, including Đắk Lắk, Bình Định, Lâm Đồng, Phú Yên, Đắk Nông, Bình Phước, Long An, Vĩnh Long, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, and Ho Chi Minh City. Nearly 5,000 unique and attractive artworks in various forms, such as bonsai, stones, driftwood, and wooden crafts, were displayed at the 10/3 Square of Buôn Ma Thuột City.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Phạm Tiến Hưng, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Buôn Ma Thuột City, stated that this event is a practical activity to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2024).

It also looks forward to the 120th anniversary of the establishment of Đắk Lắk province, the 120th anniversary of the formation and development of Buôn Ma Thuột, and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Buôn Ma Thuột and Đắk Lắk province (March 10, 1975 – March 10, 2025).

The activity aims to provide an opportunity for locals and tourists to admire the artistic ornamental plant creations and facilitate an exchange for members of the ornamental plant associations within and outside the city to learn and share experiences in plant care, ensuring aesthetics, technique, and economic efficiency.

This will contribute to the development of models and craft villages, connecting the market for consuming products, spreading the movement, and attracting more members to join the association, thereby promoting the development of the ornamental plant hobby in the city.

As part of this event, there was an auction of various ornamental plant artworks, including a giò lan (orchid) called Hoàng Nhạn Tháng Tư (April Yellow Swallow-tailed Kite) by Mr. Nguyễn Văn Long from An Nhiên Orchid Garden in Khánh Xuân Ward, Buôn Ma Thuột City.

Mr. Long shared that he had collected this particular species of orchid five years ago when he accidentally stumbled upon a herd of wild elephants in Yok Đôn National Park. He ran for his life and, in his escape, discovered the April Yellow Swallow-tailed Kite orchid in the middle of the park’s dry forest.

“It is called the April Yellow Swallow-tailed Kite because this flower blooms only in April. This particular species is unique to Yok Đôn National Park. After collecting this orchid, I grafted it onto a tree branch to take root. Now, I am donating it to the organizers for auction to promote the development of the city’s ornamental plant hobby,” said Mr. Long.