IT has been a hot and dry season since late last year, but a delicious upside may be coming soon.

Durian trees in Balik Pulau are flowering in all their glory and orchard owners are expecting a bumper crop this season.

“The blooming seasoning is wondrous this year and it’s all because there has been little rain since November,” said durian farmer Chang Teik Seng, 54.

He said that when rain was scarce, pests and damaging fungus would not have enough moisture to thrive and spoil the flowers.

“We also need bees to pollinate the flowers and in this long dry spell, every flower can potentially become a fruit.”

Chang’s Bao Sheng Durian Farm has been producing the king of fruits since 1959 and he estimated that by late May, his farm will be reaping the benefits.

“The next critical stage is the fruiting season.

“I am already seeing a lot of egg-sized durians dangling on the tree branches, and I wish that the dry weather will hold out until May,” Chang said.

Chang expects his fruits to be tastier too and with less precipitation, the durian pulp tends to be denser, sweeter and less soggy.

Even hobbyist farmers are amazed by the flowering season.

Surgeon Datuk Dr Lim Seh Guan has a 1.6-acre farm in Balik Pulau and since early March, he has been taken aback by the profusion of blossoms on his trees.

“I normally don’t pay attention to the flowers when I visit the farm on weekends,” he said.

“However, this time around, I noticed all the flowers on my durian, starfruit, rambutan, jambu air and soursop trees have made my farm look so colourful,” he grinned.

The recent spate of rain since late March, however, has caused the flowers to suddenly fall en masse.

“I pray the flowers had enough time to be pollinated.

“I grow a variety of fruits and greens here for friends and family, and if all goes well, we are going to have a feast,” he laughed.