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| This temple dragon near Taichung's Botanical Gardens faces a convenience store across the lane |
In public spaces here in Taiwan I frequently see jungle geraniums used as shrubs, squared off as if they were boxwood. I have found vertical gardens in both commercial and park settings, living walls indoors and out. I have witnessed orchid foliage and roots attached to trees along a city street in Taichung and orchids in bloom holding on to temple garden trees above Sun Moon Lake. In a Taipei park I discovered the name of a flowering perennial that blooms wild in my Lowcountry front yard late each August: zephyr lily. Also in Taipei, I attended a bonsai exhibition and was reminded of the tiny pine I'm growing in a styrofoam cup at home, reminded that I need to be more proactive in mapping out its growth. I've come across tree roots that look like a map of unexplored territory. I've visited a flower market, which turned out to be more like a series of connected plant nurseries rather than the florist mecca I imagined. I've enjoyed the perfume of plumeria blossoms. I've walked among treetops in the Xitou Forest Recreation Area and seen tree ferns that delighted the eye. And I'm not done yet. One day soon I'll visit Taichung's Botanical Garden. Perhaps as early as this afternoon.
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| Angel's Trumpet growing near an ancient red cypress tree in Xitou Forest Recreation Area Why don't my angel's trumpets thrive like this? |
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| Inside a vendor's tall at Taichung's Flower Market |
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| Bougainvillea galore |
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| Also at the Flower Market |
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A segment of the Calligraphy Greenway in Taichung
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| A lovely tableau in Changhua |
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| Hibiscus at Xitou Forest Recreation Area |
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| A living wall inside a Taichung shopping mall |
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| Orchid attached to tree |
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| Plumeria blossom |
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| Shopping mall exterior in Taichung |
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| Xitou Forest Recreation Area |
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| Tree fern in Xitou |
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| Zephyr Lily grow in a Taipei park |
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| Amazing tree roots at Shueili Snake Kiln |
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| Luxuriant hibiscus growing near Sun Moon Lake |
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| At the Bonsai Exhibition in Taipei |
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| Taipei Expo Park |
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| Ornamental ginger at Syuanguang |
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| The brand new Ikea in Taichung |
