Thai Garden Style. William Warren
took place in 1994-95 involving a number of locally-based landscape designers, among them the Bensley Design Group and Reimund Reisinger. The wild Ficus were removed, along with their invasive roots, a task that left the main garden virtually bare except for a few palms and smaller trees. New laterite pathways were then laid in this area, older ones in areas along the klong were reconstructed to create raised beds, and large quantities of fresh soil and fertilizer were brought in to enrich the entire garden.
Around the terrace, over which the Rain tree still spreads its branches, raised beds have been replanted with a variety of foliage specimens that include Codiaeum, Cordyline, Aglaonema, variegated Alpinia, Dieffenbachia, self-heading Philodendron (P. bipinartifidum) and Calathea, while a fence added for security reasons along the canal has been covered with Thunbergia grandiflora, a fast-growing vine, as well as a screen of fragrant Murraya paniculata (Mock Orange).
New laterite pathways have been laid in the main garden, where the sunlight that now streams through the remaining trees has facilitated the growth of many more blooming shrubs. Among those used prominently are Hibiscus, Ixora, Heliconia, Caesalpinia (the Peacock Flower), Alpinia purpurata (Red Ginger), Duranta repens (Golden Dewdrop) and flowering Bananas. In areas with more filtered light, Scindapsus and Spathiphyllum are used as ground covers, with colourful accents provided by Codiaeum, Cordyline and a variegated Crinum. A jungle-like effect is produced by Alocasias (Elephant's Ears) and ornamental palms. Throughout the garden are displayed old water jars and sculpture from Thomson's large collection.
Once again the Jim Thompson garden complements the elegant lines of the old Thai structures he put together with such discerning taste and left as a memorial to an extraordinary career.
The ornamental leaves on the left are Heliconia indica, while the variegated ground cover is Acorus gramineus.
Along a laterite pathway lined with Ophiopogon grow red Ixora, green and yellow variegated Alpinia and, behind the water jar, a stand of Golden Bamboo. In the background can be seen the staff quarters, also in Thai style.
Spathiphyllum (front left) and Dieffenbachia with white leaves (right) bring variety to this predominantly shady part of the Thompson garden; in the background is an antique water jar.
A pond lined with laterite in the centre of the garden: Low-growing Cuphea softens the edge in the foreground, while other plants include Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata) variegated Alpinia zerumbet, Pandanus amaryllifolius, Crinum Lilies and red Ixora.
A laterite pathway leads through densely-planted beds of Dieffenbachia, Spathiphyllum, Cordylines and self-heading Philodendron.
Tall palms and flowering Bananas rise above the mass of tropical greenery in the Thompson garden, which now looks much as it did when the owner lived there.
The luxuriance of fan palms can be seen through the windows of the elegant panelled teak drawing room; a Khmer-style head stands on top of a cabinet with gold and black lacquer paintings on the right.
THE REGENT HOTEL: INTERIOR GARDENING
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