nature
Recently, a four-day long flower show took place
in Karachi. You! takes a look...
Let’s face it, there is hardly anyone who does not like to be around mother nature. Plants instantly enhance the beauty of a place, as well as spread an aura of peace and tranquillity. And the love for flowers and different kinds of plants that Karachiites possess becomes evident every year as people from all over the city head to Seaview to be a part of the much awaited four-day long flower show by the Horticultural Society of Pakistan. Read on to find out more...
The organisers
The Horticultural Society of Pakistan was established in 1948 with the aim of assembling like-minded people who could share ideas on various horticulture related problems. The society then decided to take a step further by spreading the knowledge among plant lovers.
During the years, the Horticultural Society has helped in beautifying the country in many ways. They were responsible for the first Pakistan flower, fruit and vegetable show that was organized in 1950 and then moved on to do bigger things. Their first effort towards a greener city was made in 1953, when they helped government agencies in converting big parks like Burns garden, Frere Hall and Zoological garden into a botanical garden. This was the first time new plant species were introduced to the public. In 1962, the society began to hold gardening classes for men and women and furthermore, initiated several campaigns - ‘Save and Plant Trees’ - in various schools and colleges.
Now, the society not only works to facilitate the nature lovers by providing technical guidance, they also hold classes, provide imported plants and organize flower shows - the Karachi flower show being one of the most awaited events of the year. Here’s more about the show.
The exhibition
The Pakistan Flower Show is an annual flower show and a festival, which is held every year in Karachi. This time round, the 65th Pakistan Annual Flower Show 2016, blew away everyone’s mind with an amalgamation of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. Hundreds of floral exhibits turned the Seaview Park into a kaleidoscope of splendid colours. Not only that, the festival also included numerous food stalls. This magnificent show displayed a wonderful variety of plants, flowers, garden decorations and various artistic installations. The garden decorations included pots, figurines, as well as a variety of tables and chairs that ranged from modern to classic. There were several garden furniture stalls as well as outdoor lighting for sale. The plants and flowers available at the premises included bonsai, cactus, orchids, roses, tulips, money plants, chrysanthemum etc.
The bougainvillea, were also a delight to see as the show exhibited the plant in numerous colours apart from the typical white and magenta pink that we usually spot in gardens all over town. These ornamental vines were available in colours such as orange, peach and light pink. The colourful and oddly shaped cacti were also a treat to view. Beside local plants, many of the nursery stalls at the show also had foreign plants from China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
However, this year was a bit different from the rest. Apart from stalls displaying exhibits of commercial nurseries, allied accessories and stuff for home decor, visitors this time had the opportunity to see the work of specialised horticultural clubs and societies such as the Ladies Horticultural Club (LHC), the Floral Art Society (FAS), the Ikebana International, the Ikenobo Study Group, the Amateur Gardeners Club, the Orchid Society of Pakistan, the Pakistan Bonsai Society, the Cactus & Succulent Society of Pakistan and the Sogetsu & Floral Art Study Group.
Other relevant features of the exhibition included a garden designed for people with special needs, floral exhibits made with the help of trash and broken pots, orchid varieties, blooming cacti and aesthetically designed arrangements set up with lightning effects by specialised horticultural groups. Titled ‘It’s a fantasy world’, the stall set up by the FAS had on display some unique floral exhibits, all made from natural material.
The flower show on the whole was a successful attempt in a bid to promote the love for plants and make people realize how a greenery filled city would appear to be like. Also, it provided a platform for people to exhibit their work and introduce striking plants to the public.
Events like this should not be missed as a typical flower show not only offers exposure to exotic plants but also provides a respite from the hectic city life and brings one close to nature.
Photography by: Zahid Rehman
