In full bloom

BLOOMS COME into their own in downtown Bangkok this weekend as Central Chidlom transforms its entire six floors into an oasis for urbanites with spectacular tropical flowers and Western gardening ideas. The Bt150 million annual event, which is celebrating the department store’s 66th anniversary, continues through tomorrow night.

Shoppers enter through a hand-crafted archway decorated with garlands, flower curtains and floral pendants made from calotropis gigantean and shaped into stars and circles. The archway also exhibits traditional Thai floral tassels made from orchids, calotropis gigantean and languas galanga. The lobby lounge is decked out with the white and green flowers of rattan palms, orchids and white chrysanthemums in a maze-style arrangement. The traditional floral works on the first floor are supported by teachers and students from Phra Tamnak Suan Kularb, also known as The Women’s College in the Court.

The second floor presents colourful flowers in maroon, purple and orange, bold shades that reflect the beauty of the sophisticated woman. The third floor takes its cue from the teens with blooms in vibrant red and purple woven around Thai birdcages made from thin iron rods and beautiful carved pumpkin carts spilling flowers made from Spanish moss.

The rest of the floors show floral art works through colours that interpret their products and services. The fourth floor uses purple, blue and yellow and a huge birdcage to represent the strong gentleman. The fifth floor uses light purple, light green and pastel petals of flowers for a scent of home sweet home while the sixth floor presents flowers in pink, yellow and peach in various cupcake sizes to delight younger visitors.

The opening on Thursday saw guests being entertained by “The Sound of Paradise’ from the chorus band Bangkok Voices and welcomed by three queens of beauty represented by actresses Pechaya “Min” Wattanamontee as Queen of the Forest, Praiya “Poo” Suandokmai as Queen of the Ocean and Taksaorn “Aff” Techanarong as Queen of the Sky. These elegantly dressed ladies were attired in gowns especially designed for the occasion by leading Thai labels Kai, Lovebird and Anchavika. Much-loved singers Saharat “Kong” Sangkapreecha and Jirayut “Joe” Wattanasin completed the celebration.

Mini concerts by various artists are being held throughout the event and today at 3pm, visitors will meet Kanyarat “Lula” Tiyapornchai.

Central credit card members are eligible to join flower creation workshops run by the teachers from Phra Tamnak Suan Kularb School. The workshops will teach how to create floral pendants and provide instructions on how to prepare mixtures of different flowers in a piece of gauze and fragrances. The fresh flower creation workshops take place on the first floor.