Chiang Mai’s blooming lovely

Pink flowers of Japanese cherry trees, or sakura, start to bloom in the Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang, in Chiang Mai’s Fang district.

The station planted about 1,800 cherry trees after buying seedlings from Japan in 1997 and Taiwan in 2002. The full bloom of sakura is expected next month.

Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station is the first royal research station founded in 1969 by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. The king’s objective was to find alternative crops for farmers, most of whom were ethnic people, to grow and earn incomes instead of opium poppy.

The centre is located 1,400m above sea level covering about 20,213 rai of land.

The station plants many cold-climate fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. It also transfers knowledge to farmers and encourages them to follow food safety standards like Good Agricultural Practices…