Tulips are blooming in Buri Ram. Besides the many archaeological sites and ancient ruins dating back to the Khmer Empire and a famous football club, the province is home to Play La Ploen, a floral destination in the Northeast that showcases a variety of cool-climate flowers.
Set in the atmosphere of the Netherlands' pretty flower fields, the ongoing Tulip Festival at this floral park features more than 4,000 tulip plants of various species including Barcelona, Saigon, Strong Love and Snow Hunt. The highlights are three new species introduced to the Kingdom for the first time at the garden.
Monte Orange is a peony-flowered double tulip with soft orange goblet-shaped gently fragrant flowers with a small yellow heart, on sturdy stems. Its long-lasting and huge blossoms make this species stand out in the garden.
The Columbus tulip is reddish-pink with a creamy white edge and layers of petals that give the appearance of soft-petalled peonies, while the Double Princess is a superb pink tulip variety with short stocky stems.
Besides the tulip territory beautifully decorated with little corners, a small house and replicas of the famous Dutch wooden shoes, the floral park is also filled with many other flowers such as Cyclamen, a popular houseplant native to Europe and the Mediterranean; Begonia, a brilliant flower with fancy foliage; and Daffodil, a yellow flower with a trumpet-shaped corona.
There are also many attractions located across the park's vast area of 400 rai for visitors to explore, including a cosmos field; a seedless grape vineyard; strawberry and mulberry farms; a water park; and a shopping zone offering fashionable clothing, Otop products and Buri Ram's own outstanding products.
The Tulip Festival is running until Feb 18. Admission is 150 baht (80 baht for children). Resort-style accommodations are available. Play La Ploen is in Khu Muang district, around 32km from Buri Ram town.
Visit playlaploen.com or call 044-634-736−8 and 087-798-1039.
