MC's flower show held after two years gets a good response

As municipal corporation's (MC) much-awaited flower show held after a gap of two years, the city's Nehru Rose Garden bloomed up once again with different kinds of flowers and plants. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed the company of flowers as the two-day flower show commenced here on Saturday.

Residents had displayed various kinds of plants grown by them for participating in the competition. Besides, more than 100 participants, majority students participated in the painting competition during the flower show. The participants were divided into different categories and themes for participants were landscape, female foeticide and global warming.

“I am very happy that MC has organised a flower show. I also got a chance to participate in the painting competition, as the students get a chance to show their skills,” said, Ramesh Kumar, a Class-11 student.

Shubham, 14, said the flower show was wonderful, besides it gave him a chance to showcase his drawing talent.

MC horticulture wing sub-divisional officer NS Grewal said the winners would be given awards on Sunday, adding that a baby show will also be held. He said they were getting good response during the flower show.

MC horticulture wing executive engineer Surinder Sharma informed that a total of 768 entries had come for the events to be held on first day. Of these, 103 entries were for painting competition and remaining were for flower show.

Sources said more students had participated in the painting contest in 2013, but this year they could not participate as final exams were going on.

It is required to mention here that MC used to perform activities to keep city green earlier, as flower show was being conducted annually since 1999, but it was stopped mid way after some years due to lack of staff in the MC.

Policeman's love for Bonsai

Suresh Kumar, reader of deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Ludhiana range, bagged the first prize for his collection of Bonsai tree. He displayed 21 pots in which Bonsai trees were planted.

Though the policemen generally remain busy with their daily schedules, but Kumar spends at least one hour taking care of his plants daily. He told that he had more than 100 bonsai trees of different species.

“Bonsai means a tree in a shallow pot. They are grown in small containers and trimmed and trained in way, so that they remain small.

The Bonsai trees that were displayed at the show were 10-16 years old.”

A visitor, Dalbir Singh, said, “I had not heard about the Bonsai trees. I got a chance to see them as how the trees can be grown in a small pot. Such events should be organised at a big level to motivate residents towards greenery.” harshraj.singh@hindustantimes.com