FINDING INSPIRATION

You do not have to be religious to appreciate the awe-inspiring details of Thailand

During the winter months, we love to travel, and this year's destination was Thailand. Not only for its amazing food but also for its historical significance and tropical paradise, it delivered beyond my expectations.

From the ancient sites 12th century

Massive old Ficus (Banyons) are protected and honoured.

To modern artistic impressions

Without exaggeration, you will encounter a Wat (temple) on every street, from ancient 12th century (and older) to modern artistic versions. Some small and tucked away, some monolithic and hard to imagine the planning and execution of the building.

Everything honoured, everything is sacred, and everything has a purpose.

Walking along the old city wall in Chiangmai and coming across a shady lane made from a Bamboo archway provides a cool shady short-cut to the next street. Gives inspiration to create shady locations throughout a landscape to provide respite from mid-day heat. Selecting fast-growing species of trees can provide a similar effect backed up with slower-growing trees for a sustainable future.

Creating an archway with trees instead of man-made shade structures is more aesthetically pleasing and, pending your patience, a lot more affordable.

Native Trees ie Fragrant Fragapanni litter the streets and shade the front entranceways to shops. It makes alot more sense than selections of hybrid trees heat-stressed and struggling on the city streets too many scenarios fail when we should be promoting Native species .

Native Mango and Banana trees adorn the front entranceways to restaurants. This can easily be achieved with Apple, Pear, and Cherry, yet you rarely, if ever, see fruiting trees and shrubs for an invitation to a restaurant. Hey, why not have fruit-bearing trees and shrubs around your outdoor cooking and dining areas and some pots of herbs.

Throughout Thailand, city landscapes a theme of naturalization is universally accepted, live and let live lends a carefree backdrop. I think the Ontario cities and towns could learn from this and not be so buttoned up and formal with the city softscapes.

Whether traveling to a tropical rainforest or walking the trails of our Canadian forests, there's always inspiration waiting around every corner courtesy of Mother Nature.