It was a veritable feast; a spread of such gargantuan proportions as would satisfy gourmet and gourmand alike. Wherever one's gaze rested, the beauty either caressed or stunned the senses. Flowering plants of petunias, pansies, poinsettias, verbena, begonias, dahlias, peace lilies, marigolds, cannas, zinnias, gerberas, single and double asters, etc, in both soft pastels as well as bold, vivid hues, decorated the magnificent grounds of the Empress gardens, and perhaps even the ancient, gnarled trees that looked on them so benevolently from above, sighed in pleasure. Not only was every open ground, path and curve filled with thousand of blooming plants but even the many tanks reflecting the majestic trees, as well as the fountains and the small curling waterways. with their pretty white bridges, were all used most aesthetically as a backdrop for the splendid hues. The weather too was most agreeable, as soft breezes played all day. One eye catching display was of two Christmas tree like shapes, one decorated mainly with red roses and the other with many different flowers in bright colours, placed strategically beside a small tank, whose water then fell gently into a meandering waterway.
The exhibition itself consisted of different parts. There was an open air display of potted flowering plants, foliage, as well as beautiful bonsais that showed the perseverance, love, care and creativity of their owners. Flower exporters had donated exotic blooms often not found locally, in imaginative and gorgeous arrangements and one tent was used exclusively for these. In another tent a group called Mehak, which consists of very inventive and talented youngsters, displayed their creations. They usually focus on a theme and this year it was 'Save the Planet'. The displays which concentrated around concepts of minimal pollution, alternate sources of energy, population control, etc were a showcase of their ingenuity and skill. Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers in a balanced composition, too found its place here. To become fully proficient in this, it requires a person to give six exams over a period of twenty years, the last of which is in Japan. The last part was the flower competition, where many different kinds of flowers as well as a variety of roses were shown. One of the most beautiful flowers was a lovely orchid. The loveliest among the roses were the ones of two or more shades. A large red rose was named Queen of the show, sadly by evening Her Majesty looked quite fatigued. Besides these, there were a variety of vegetables and also a few cleverly designed exhibits using them skillfully cut. There were also many stalls selling plants and other gardening related products. People come from as far as Darjeeling to display their wares. One nursery stall that sold only dahlias was an absolute treat of astounding colours.
The Flower show has been organized regularly for the past ten years by the Agri -horticulture society of Western India. It is held any week end in January for three days and regular participants are invited a month and a half in advance. This time it was held from 25th-27thJanuary. It attracts about twenty five to thirty thousand visitors, including students from many Pune colleges as well as nearby districts. The show is held beside the playground so kids can be happily occupied while parents enjoy the various offerings. Magic shows, puppet shows and other entertainments are also arranged for them. The flower competition is judged by experts from The Agriculture College Pune, Botanical Survey of India and the Rose Society of Pune. A week before the flower show, a drawing competition is held on a Sunday morning at the Empress Garden, where school children under fifteen years are invited to participate. Their drawings are exhibited at the flower show.
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