Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 10: The botanical garden at the Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) in the city resembled a paradise of sorts for shutterbugs and picnickers in the city as a two-day flower exhibition comprising thousands of flowers kicked off Saturday.
The exhibition, which received entries from 421 entities that included government and private institutions and nurseries, has varieties of flowering plants such as marigold, dahlia, gerbera, zinnia, aster, calendar, impatiens, petunia, bougainvillea, poinsettia and chrysanthemum. Also, visitors can also buy them at prices ranging from `300 to 1500. By afternoon, 200 samples were sold.
“The plants which are most sought-after are rose, marigold and medicinal ones. Some also prefer foliage for interior decoration,” said a volunteer who was helping visitors choose a flower plant of their choice.
In a corner, there are models of houses surrounded by greenery to demonstrate the concept of ‘mini gardening’ and raise awareness among citizens on the benefits and joys of gardening. Plants, seeds, seedlings, gardening tools, fertilizer and pesticides are also on sale.
Earlier, minister of forests, environment and parliamentary affairs Bikram Keshari Arukha inaugurated the exhibition and navigated through the garden arrangements. He also released an information booklet on activities of RPRC.
On the premises, a centre for rose germplasm was also inaugurated by the forest minister, which will have germplasm collection of 1,084 varieties of roses including hybrid tea, floribunda and polyanthus.
The lists of qualifiers of garden competitions, conducted a few weeks back before the exhibition, were also made public and around 36 candidates will be awarded on the valedictory function. A total of 697 children from different schools in the city had participated in the competition.
The organisers, RPRC and Plant Lovers’ Association, a voluntary organisation that promotes gardening among residents, expect 80,000 visitors during the two days. Susanta Nanda, IFS, director, horticulture and Shashi Paul, IFS, chief executive were among others who visited the exhibition.