Bangalore's flower show begins

Bangalore's flower show begins

Staff Reporter
Tickets are priced at Rs. 30 on weekdays, Rs. 40 on weekends for adults; Rs. 10 for children

Schoolchildren to get free entry on August 13 from 8 a.m. till noon

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Special event: Over two-lakh roses have been used to make the India Gate replica at the Independence Day Horticultural Show at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
Bangalore: A miniature version of India Gate, the monument in Delhi, is the special feature of the annual Independence Day Horticultural Show, which commenced in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens here on Friday. It has taken over two lakh roses and several creative hands to create the replica of the monument especially for the Flower Show 2010.

Around 260 varieties of plants painted a palette of incredible colours in the Glass House. Out of the 1,200 participants, it was Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Development Authority that walked away with the honours in most categories. Speaking after inaugurating the show, Minister for Horticulture and Prisons Umesh V. Katti said the flower show was the only live flower show in the world. Transport Minister R. Ashok and Mayor S.K. Nataraj also participated in the inaugural function.

Exotic orchids as well as export variety of anthoriums are a visual treat. Vying for attention of visitors are several varieties of roses, daisies, corn flower, zinnia, petunia, cockscombs and phlox. Impressed by the display, a flower enthusiast from West Bengal Piyali Ghosh said, “I can spend the whole day here”.

Director of Horticulture and Chairman of the Mysore Horticultural Society N. Jayaram said there was no single main attraction at the flower show this year.

According to Mr. Jayaram, over five lakh people are expected to visit the annual extravaganza organised by the Department of Horticulture and the Mysore Horticultural Society.

For the smooth management, the Department of Horticulture has deployed close to 150 home guards in addition to the police and traffic police personnel to take care of the safety and security of the visitors to the garden during the flower show.

On Saturday, an ikebana show will be inaugurated.

The Independence Day Horticultural Show is open till August 15 at the Glass House, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.The entry tickets are priced at Rs. 30 on weekdays and Rs. 40 on weekends for adults and Rs. 10 for children.

Schoolchildren will get a free entry on August 13 from 8 a.m. till noon.