A host of golden daffodils
More than 300,000 daffodils from Play La Ploen Flora Park in Buri Ram Province have been transported to the Emporium mall in Bangkok to form a sea of yellow in remembrance of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On show through Tuesday (October 17), “Dararat, the Daffodil of Memories” features an installation in the shape of Thai numeral 9 beautifully decorated with golden yellow Grand Soleil d’Or daffodils.
The daffodil is one of the seven symbolic cremation flowers. The late Monarch always gave this flower to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit when he was a student in Switzerland. Daffodils represent unconditional love, honour and bravery and are symbolic of hope. The word for daffodil in Thai is dararat, which combines dara meaning “stars” and ratana meaning “valuable crystal”. The yellow colour of the flower also represents Monday – the day on which the King was born.
“Three daffodil species have been selected for the event. The Grand Soleil d’Or is golden yellow and has a light fragrance. The Erlicheer is white and cream while the Avalanche species is white with yellow crowns. Play La Ploen planted these flowers 45-50 days ago and they are now is full bloom. The Carlton species imported from the Netherlands is also used,” said Porntip Atsadathon, chairwoman of Play La Ploen Flora Park.
A pop-up flower shop also allows visitors to take the flowers home at Bt250 a plant or Bt50 for the bulbs. Part of proceeds from sales will be donated to Siriraj Foundation to help build a new complex of Siriraj hospital, dedicated to the much-beloved King.
