HA TINH – At the beginning of July, the nearly 500-year-old ancient tree of the Pham family in Phuong Tru village, Cam Due commune, Cam Xuyen district is in the ripe fruit season, giving off a fragrant aroma.
Thi tree is located in the campus of the church of the Pham Dai Ton family, in Phuong Tru village, Cam Due commune, Cam Xuyen district.
The tree keeper, Mr. Pham Duoc, 68 years old, residing in Cam Due commune, said that in the 15th century, the ancestor of the family, Pham Cong Lau, settled in Cam Ha land, Ha Phong commune, Phu Phong district. old Ha Tinh province. Many trees were planted by the ancestors in 1559.
“But only this tree survives to this day,” Mr. Duoc said.
The tree is more than 20 m high, the root circumference is 7.5 m, the trunk diameter is 2.3 m, the 5 adults are holding their arms out. In the middle of the body, there is a hollow hole, the inside is nearly 2 m wide, from which you can see through to the top.
The bark of the tree has many tumors, rough veins. The original part creates many mysterious shapes. The position of Mr. Duoc’s hands is shaped like an elephant.
On June 14, the Thi tree was recognized by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree. The family representative said that in the near future when the Covid-19 epidemic situation is under control, they will coordinate with the local government to organize a ceremony to receive the diploma, announce the decision and attach the stone stele to the tree.
For self-cultivated trees, to be recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees, the following criteria must be met: living for more than 100 years, tall and majestic, over 20 m tall, distinctive shape, cultural and historical value. history…
From the beginning of June to the full moon of the 7th month (lunar calendar) every year, the fruit is ripe and golden, giving off a sweet fragrance. Many unharvested fruits cracked on the branches.
In the past month, the descendants of the Pham family often use a bamboo pole about 7 meters long to pick fruit.
Ripe fruits fall easily, only the pole hit will immediately fall into the container made from bamboo. One head can hold 4-5 fruits.
Every day, the ripe fruit falls full of roots and around the campus of the ancestral church, Mrs. Dang Thi Minh Ha (70 years old, Mr. Duoc’s wife) holds a bamboo basket to pick it up.
According to Ms. Ha, the tree produces tons of fruit every year. Dozens of years ago, when the economy was still difficult, in the season, the descendants of the Pham family often came to pick fruits and sell them for money to cover their lives.
“The fruit is no longer as popular as it used to be. Sometimes, I gather to burn incense to worship on the full moon day, the first day, give it to guests as a gift, or give it to neighbors for fragrance,” said Mrs. Ha.
In the rural markets of Ha Tinh, a kilo of fruit sells for 10,000-30,000 VND. If sold by fruit, the price is 1,000-2,000 VND depending on the type.
Many children in Phuong Tru village, Cam Due commune often invite each other to the Thi tree to cool off, pick up ripe fruits that fall under the tree, then laugh and play catch.https://76b038fde3d959a14dc601902b5e56ad.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
In front of the tree with an altar, Mr. Duoc’s family is in charge of incense on holidays, Tet, full moon, first day…
“In addition to the cultural value, the tree also has historical value. According to the Pham family genealogy, during the war years, the local militia and self-defense forces often met under the desk tree because of privacy and secrecy.” , Mr. Du said.
To preserve the landscape, every day late in the afternoon, Mrs. Ha (left corner) and her son Pham Quoc Hung (37 years old, residing in Cam Due commune) come to clean the fallen and damaged fruits at the bottom.
Under the golden sunlight of early autumn, Mr. and Mrs. Duoc lifted the ripe yellow apricots that had just been picked.
Mr. Vo Ta Ky, Secretary, Chairman of Cam Due Commune People’s Committee said that the commune has hundreds of original trees planted by local people, the tree of the Pham family is the oldest and the first tree in the area to be recognized as a tree. Vietnamese Heritage. Follow vnexpress