Wood

On another day, on our way home, Vivian pointed to a lovely tree in the garden, "Look at the lovely red flowers !"

I nodded, "Oh yes, it's the season of Phoenix Wood (鳳凰木)."

(The academic name of the tree is Delonix regia, but the direct translation from Chinese is certainly more poetic.)

"And the tree is everywhere," my wife went on, "I can't really understand why the government should not find a place or two in Hong Kong and plant more tree of this kind; it would actually be an attraction to the tourist. You know, after the Fukushima earthquake, some people suggested our government to try growing some Sakura tree - and you can't think of a more stupid idea. Our climate and soil are just not meant for the cherry blossom. Why shouldn't we focus on our strength but have to waste the effort to do a clumsy imitation?"

I cannot agree more.

PS. Delonix regia is actually not our local plant; it originates from Madagascar. But the idea remains: We should focus on something we are good at. As Hercule Poirot once said to Arthur Hastings, "I would like to see you acting as a first class Hastings, rather than a second-class Poirot."

PPS. Just a flight of idea: Has the other phoenix revived? Or, did it dry up and fall apart?