Flower show a good draw

Vertical garden is not a new concept. It is a visual treat when flowering plants are used for fencing using vertical garden.

This is the main feature of the 13th Thekkady Flower Show organised jointly by the Kumily grama panchayat, Thekkady Agri-Horticulture Society, and the Mannaratharayil Gardens at the Kallarackal grounds on the Kumily-Thekkady road at Kumily.

German grass, celosia, akaisha, and zeedam are the flowering plants used in vertical gardens. “Any flowering plant can be used for making vertical gardens, though smaller ones with colourful flowers are ideal,” said Jobi Mannaratharayil, a reception committee member. Vertical gardens are movable requiring less space.

“This concept is gaining momentum,” he said. In metro cities, vertical gardens are an important feature. It is made on a movable stand and can be used indoors too.

Large varieties of rose and dahlias have pride of place at the flower show. Rose and dahlia are traditionally planted in gardens here. They provide beautiful flowers comparatively bigger in size, especially in climatic and soil conditions in the high ranges, he added.

Marigold and local varieties are arranged skilfully at the venue. A good collection of foreign plants is also exhibited at the expo, in addition to special stalls for fruits and tuber varieties. Value-added products of jack fruit and banana have many takers.

Farm seminars, entertainment programmes, arts festival, and children’s park are the other features of the flower show.

As many as 4,000 visitors turn up at the venue daily. On weekends, the number of visitors exceed 6,000. The flower show, which began on March 28, will conclude on April 15.