The chinaberry tree that stands in front of the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence is one of the few exquisite chinaberry trees to be found within Tainan City’s old district. This year’s blossom is particularly luxuriant and last week the whole tree was blanketed in tiny mauve-colored flowers, as if it had been turned white by the spring breeze. Last Saturday, the tree’s pretty blossom attracted many members of the public to take photographs.
Five years ago on the eve of National Arbor Day, this very tree narrowly avoided being chopped down by workers. There were originally two chinaberry trees at this location and every year in spring a beautiful blossom would burst forth from each tree. However, the other tree’s roots had scurried into a nearby neighbor’s house, and — following petitioning from the neighbor — the tree was felled. Fortunately, just as workers were about to chop down this tree, a tree-loving member of the public and environmental groups intervened at the eleventh hour and stopped the tree from being cut down.
Aside from the chinaberry tree in front of the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence, the blossom is also out on chinaberry trees on Tainan’s Linsen Road beside the old Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Tainan City Stadium and also on the Mountain and Coastal Green Canal Path within Taijiang National Park.
Photo: Tsai Wen-chu, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者蔡文居
(Liberty Times, translated by Edward Jones)
台南市州知事官邸前的苦楝樹,為台南舊城區少數優美的苦楝樹之一,今年花開得很茂盛,上個禮拜紫白色小花開滿了整棵樹,像是被春風吹白了頭似的,十分漂亮,上週六假日吸引不少民眾前往拍照。
這棵苦楝樹,在五年前的植樹節前夕,差點慘遭工人砍除。當地原本有二棵苦楝,每年春天都開得非常漂亮,另一棵因樹根竄入緊鄰的民宅,經民眾陳情而遭砍除後,當工人準備砍官邸前這棵時,幸被愛樹人士及環團在最後關頭阻止。
除了州知事官邸前的苦楝樹外,台南市林森路舊農改場旁的苦楝樹、體育場及台江山海圳綠道也正值盛開。
(自由時報記者蔡文居)
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