From the lush landscape and rice paddies to the intricate floral arrangements, the resort’s gardening team brings a true sense of community to the countryside idyll
What seems like effortless beauty is truly a work of art, and a labour of love at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Enveloped in bountiful rice paddies and teeming with tropical flora, the resort’s premises is a haven of wellbeing, nurtured carefully by an expert team of gardeners, led by the inimitable Chief Gardener, Pondkaran Kantha.
Pondkaran’s philosophy is simple, “hands-on artistry rooted in tradition and expertise.” Intentionally crafted by skilled gardeners from the community, the emphasis is on technique, rituals, seasonal knowledge, and visual design. “We want our guests to feel at one with nature, where the landscape and floral aesthetics blend seamlessly with the day-to-day existence of the resort,” she smiles.
Nature’s Rituals: A Day in the Life of Our Garden Team
The gardening team begins their day at dawn – watering moisture-sensitive plants and supporting the visual aesthetic across the different areas including the urns, along the walkways and the pond edges. “This ensures that the first impression of the day is fresh and intentional,” says Pondkaran. By midday, when the sun is high, the focus shifts to soil conditioning and nutrient support to nourish plant health from within, preparing them for long-term vibrancy. “The team also spends their afternoons trimming, pruning, and reshaping the landscape, ensuring it maintains a balance,” she observes. “Shadows fall gracefully, and each corner of the resort retains its immersive calm.”
The Art of Floral Mindfulness: Floating Blooms and Guest Rituals
Not just the landscape, the resort’s floral décor also aligns with the overall design philosophy: a seamless integration of nature, culture, and emotional resonance. “Every element – from the rhythm of rice paddies to the quiet elegance of the urns around the resort – is deliberate and evokes a sense of seasonal harmony,” shares Pondkaran.
An artist in her own right, Wanla Chuenjee – fondly known as Mother Wanla – takes the lead in arranging the floating flowers around the resort. With a deep understanding of seasonal blooms, her arrangements often feature marigolds, asters, ixora, orchids, pandan leaves, and rose petals in delicate compositions that drift gently on water, inviting moments of pause and reflection. “Though it is part of her daily routine, this act often draws the curiosity of guests,” comments Pondkaran. “Without formal scheduling or ceremony, the spontaneous interactions become one of the resort’s most heartwarming scenes – guests selecting petals, layering blooms, and floating them with quiet intention.”
Living Design: Seasonal Blooms and the Guest Emotional Journey
As co-creators in the resort’s visual and emotional identity, the gardeners are involved in not only selecting flowers but also growing them in seasonal cycles. Highlights such as pandan leaves, marigolds, asters, ixora, chrysanthemums, roses, portulaca, plumeria, and orchids that thrive naturally at various times of the year are chosen carefully to ensure a vibrant colour palette and texture that evolve with the changing season. “This thoughtful, seasonally attuned selection plays a crucial role in shaping guests’ emotional experience,” reflects Pondkaran. “As the floral displays shift with the season, they subtly influence mood and perception: bright marigolds, asters, and vibrant portulaca bring warmth and vitality during the sunny months, while the delicate plumeria’s fragrance adds a soothing, tropical softness throughout the year.” The deeper hues from roses and chrysanthemums evoke comfort and introspection in the winter months, while the natural freshness and evolving textures invite mindfulness and a sense of renewal, helping guests feel more deeply connected to the rhythms of Northern Thailand’s landscape. “By engaging guests’ senses with these living, seasonal narratives, our gardeners cultivate an environment of calm, harmony, and emotional balance that enriches every moment of the stay,” she smiles.
