Tecoma flowers wither in two weeks due to hot spell

Too hot: Tecoma trees in full bloom and less than two weeks later in front of the Al-Bukhary Mosque along Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar. — G.C.TAN/The Star

ALOR SETAR: The hot spell saw flowers from some 1,000 Tecoma trees in the Kota Setar district wither within two weeks.

Most of the Tecoma trees, also known as Tabebuia trees, with thousands of white, pink and yellow flowers were in full bloom along Jalan Langgar, Jalan Stadium, Jalan Putera, Lebuhraya Darul Aman, Jalan Alor Setar-Kepala Batas, Jalan Sultanah, Jalan Kuala Kedah and the road heading to Yan two weeks ago.

But a check yesterday found the flowers had withered.

Shutterbugs who are usually around taking photographs of the beautiful blooms, were also absent.

Teacher Tan Lian Choo, 48, of SJK(C) Kee Chee, Jalan Langgar here, said the Tecoma trees would be in full bloom during the months of February, March and April.

“But this year, most of the flowers had dropped probably because of the heat and not enough rain.

“I love looking at the Tecoma flowers but I am sad that this year there were not many on the trees.

“My daughters too love the flowers and they usually come here to take photos, ” she said.

Another teacher Lim Gaik Hoh, in her 40s, said the Tecoma trees were in full bloom in March last year.

“I took many photographs along Tesco Mergong but this year, I am so disappointed to find all the flowers had withered too soon.

“I believe this was due to the hot weather, ” she added.

Zabedah Di, 56, a kuih seller from Kampung Borhan, said the Tecoma trees would usually flower during the dry weather but this time around, in less than a week, the flowers started withering.

“Every year, many people come here to take pictures under the trees but this year, nobody came because the flowers had mostly dropped, ” she added.