ORCHIDS that are resistant to the economic downturn are the highlight of the 2009 Phuket Flower Fair, which runs until August 2 at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City.

Huge crowds packed the opening on the evening on July 24, emphasising the popularity of flowers, through thick and thin.

Even imported insect-eating plants are for sale, but they cost 250 baht a pot. Look for giant mangoes, too, capable of feeding a whole family.

Numbers are up on previous years, beginning with the biggest number of all: 50 million baht, the anticipated in revenue from the sales of pots and plants.

There will be 50 types of orchids this year. This compares with 20 types last year, says Somchai Hangwatcharapaiboon, director of the Phuket Farmers' Cooperative.

Stalls selling trees are also shooting up, from seven last year to 17 this year.

Flower shops? You can count them for yourself if you wish, but we are told there will be 70 shops from all over Thailand represented at the fair.

That's quite a boom, from 20 last year.

''People see plants as an affordable investment to improve their lives and their properties,'' says Khun Somchai.

And apparently that applies just as much in not so good times as in good times.

Apart from beauty, that other constant in peoples' lives, food, is also going to be present in profusion.

There will be 30 booths selling local food (it's amazing how hungry people get watching plants grow.)

And for those inclined to benefit the Thai economy, about 50 one-village-one-product stalls will be in operation.

The fair this year is attracting green-thumb farmers from all 14 southern provinces. Their secret plan: to turn the entire country the color of their preference, rather than red or yellow.

Thais and expats keep coming back. This year the fair opened on July 24 and now it's on every day from 10am-10pm.


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