Imsil Cheese Theme Park Prepares for Winter... Hydrangeas Dressed in Rice Straw Coats

[Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik] Jeonbuk Imsil Cheese Theme Park is busy preparing for the winter season.

The county announced on the 9th that it is conducting winter protection work by covering hydrangeas with rice straw clothing until the 11th to prevent damage from cold winter frost, which causes poor flowering.

Last year, 1,200 hydrangea plants of the Endless Summer variety, known for their strong colors and abundant flowers, were planted in the Water Flower Wind Garden and in front of the Jijeonghwan Hall, attracting much attention from tourists.

Since hydrangeas require a lot of water during their growing period, the county installed sprinklers and drip tapes to manage them conveniently with an automatic watering system.

Additionally, marigolds, cockscombs, and other herbaceous flowers were planted around the hydrangeas to create a harmonious landscape.

However, although the hydrangeas planted in the theme park belong to the dicotyledonous family Hydrangeaceae and are of the ‘Endless Summer’ variety, which is hardy for outdoor wintering and withstands subzero temperatures well, there was much regret this year as flowering was poor due to Imsil’s harsh cold.

Hydrangea flowering occurs when flower buds on two-year-old old branches bloom the following year, and the Endless Summer variety is one of the types that blooms on both old and new branches.

However, if flower buds are damaged by frost in winter, the process of producing branches and leaves the following year cannot overcome the low temperatures, preventing flowers from blooming.

Imsil Cheese Theme Park is a representative tourist destination of Imsil, featuring the taste and charm of Korea’s representative cheese, Imsil Cheese, as well as an experiential education venue set against vast grasslands and beautiful European-style scenery.

It was established over a period of eight years starting in 2004 on a vast 150,000㎡ grassland.

The park consists of sensory satisfaction facilities where visitors can experience, taste, and learn, including a cheese experience center, survival game field, history promotion hall, and cheese restaurant, receiving great responses from family travelers.

County Governor Shim Min said, “We hope that next summer, when hydrangeas bloom in full glory at Imsil Cheese Theme Park, where beautiful flowers and trees harmonize through thorough winter preparation.”

Imsil=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Nosik baekok@asiae.co.kr