A Tropical Break From The Cold

January 29, 2025
Larry Hurley
Inspiration
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Dusit Park, in front of the Vimanmek Mansion 2006

It’s winter, and I’ve been having “snowbird” thoughts of times spent in warmer climates. One photo is from Bangkok, Thailand. It was not only warm, it was very hot and humid, and this from a guy who was living in Maryland at the time.

The photo was taken in November, 2006, in Dusit Park, in front of the Vimanmek Mansion, a 20th century palace the upper levels of which are built of teak. According to Wikipedia, it has been disassembled so that repairs can be made to the foundation. The arrangement of container plants is typical of public areas all around Bangkok, although in this case the pots were particularly attractive.

In addition to potted plants, it’s common to see pots filled with water and flowers floated on the top, often pink or white lotus flowers. (See photo of lotus flowers at Wat Arun temple.) Cut flowers are very cheap in Bangkok, and walking through some of the flower markets is a good way to spend a morning. Thailand was one of our most interesting trips, and if you have the opportunity to get there, I recommend it. Being primarily a business trip for my wife, we were focused on two cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

In the latter, we happened to be there during an immense flower show, with exhibits from numerous countries so I had plenty to do while my wife attended lectures all day.

Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley worked at Behnke Nurseries from 1984 until the business was composted in 2019, primarily with the perennial department in growing, buying and sales.

Before landing at Behnke’s, he worked as a technician in a tissue culture lab, a houseplant “expert” at a florist shop, and inventory controller at a wholesale nursery in Dallas. With this and that, ten years passed.

When his wife Carolyn accepted a position at Georgetown University, Larry was hired at Behnke’s for the perennial growing department and garden center at Behnke’s Largo location.

In 2021, Larry and Carolyn moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and further from traffic. After 37 years in a shaded yard in Maryland, he is happy to have a sunny lot where he can grow all sorts of new perennials, if only he can keep the rabbits at bay. He also enjoys cooking, traveling, and the snowblower.