In a city of Dong Nai, the "billion dollar tree" is blooming and there is no way to stop it. Why does it like the sun and hate the rain?

Durian flowers love the sun but are indifferent to rain. During the blooming season, just a sudden downpour of unseasonal rain can mean a loss of harvest for the year. After a few weeks, the young durian fruits sway on the branches like little hedgehogs.

On the weekend, my colleague invited me to Long Khanh fruit garden (Dong Nai province), known as the capital of the most delicious tropical fruits in the Southeast region.

Taking me to visit the durian garden, I immediately fell in love with this strange flower. Durian flowers grow in clusters from the trunk to the skinny branches stretching out in the southern sunlight.

Look closely at the pale blue white flowers, small, fragile petals, tiny pistils between the petals. The flower fragrance is very pleasant.

The flowers only bloom at night. When the sun sets, the weak sunlight of the day quickly leaves. The darkness falls.

In the quiet darkness, the gentle moonlight shines, which is when the durian flowers bloom. What a strange flower that chooses the darkness to show off its beauty, or a humble flower that does not seek attention, does not need praise, but only quietly spreads its fragrance, waiting for its confidants, the diligent farmers, to come and enjoy it.

After dinner, her mother went out to the garden to “marry” the durian flowers. Lost in the fruit garden at night, she felt the moisture of the soil and the cool air.

I followed behind her and my uncle to help shine the flashlight on the bare branches of blooming flowers, her mother skillfully used a feather duster to help pollinate the flowers. At night, the durian flowers bloom, under the light, their pure and elegant beauty is enhanced.

In Long Khanh (Dong Nai province), the famous fruit growing capital of the Southeast region, durian flower season is here. For durian growers, durian trees are like "billion-dollar trees" because of their high economic value.

Probably because the flowers bloom at night, insects are not as active as during the day. The night is quiet, there are no fragile butterflies fluttering, no buzzing of bees diligently collecting nectar… so although durian flowers bloom a lot, if left alone, the pollination and fruiting rate is not high.

Durian flowers love the sun but are indifferent to rain. During the blooming season, just a sudden downpour of unseasonal rain can mean a year of crop failure.

After a few weeks, the young durian fruits look like little hedgehogs swinging on the branches. If a branch has too many fruits, it is not a good solution. Therefore, durian growers choose the most beautiful and best fruits to keep. Her mother said that taking care of durian is like taking care of a baby, always busy.

Not only do flowers bloom at night, but even when the fruit ripens, it also falls at night. Unlike jackfruit, when it smells good, children often run out and pat the jackfruit with their hands, or put it close to their noses to distinguish between ripe and unripe fruit.

Ripe durian fruit will fall off the tree at night. The tree seems to have a mind of its own, only when it sees no human presence will it choose the right time to fall.

The durian shell is very thick, so even if it falls from the top of a tree to the ground, it will not be damaged. It is like the life of a farmer, the cycle of creation, a drifting life, on the outside "scratched and peeled" but still maintaining its elegance on the inside.

People compare durian to Southern people, and there must be a reason. Not concerned with external appearance, but inside is sweetness, a passionate heart, warm feelings and generosity.

Early in the morning, stepping out into the durian garden, you will see petals and pistils falling all over the garden. The life of a flower is so short. But behind the withered petals are countless sweet fruits that durians have given to life…

Source: https://danviet.vn/o-mot-thanh-pho-cua-dong-nai-cay-tien-ty-dang-tro-bong-can-dau-co-kip-sao-no-ua-nang-ghet-mua-20250328094937292.htm