In the seven consecutive years, from 1976-82, when Lekha Nair won the award in the small home garden category competition at the Cochin Flower Show, her husband former Justice K.A. Nair held a grudge against the garden. If only he was the garden, his wife would tend him more; he is believed to have fussed.
Jasmine Thomas, participating for the third time in the same category at this year’s Flower Show that begins today at the Ernakulathappan Grounds, too, finds her family sharing a similar grudge. “They are not interested in the garden as I am,” she says. But all, the Justice and the Thomases are proud of the beautiful gardens they have.
So are Rani Jose and her husband Jose Thomas proud and delighted about their garden that has been on a winning spree for the last ten years at the Flower Show competitions.
Dixon Devassy, horticulture officer at CIAL has entered the roof top garden category competition. He is showcasing a spectacular terrace garden, replete with palms and a variety of foliage on the roofs of the city’s prestigious airport.
Jayaraj Perijanam has imported a variety of exquisite phalaenopsis orchids from China for the show. A farmer from Adimaly is showcasing a 70 kg tuber.
These are just some of the many passionate green thumbs excited at the commencement of the flower show, one of the city’s most awaited events in its annual calendar. Along with them are city folks keen to experience natural flora and fauna at its contemporary best.
The event that began in 1976 has grown bigger attracting and encompassing many more in its fold. Except for one year in its 33 year long history when it had a loss the flower show has had a good run commercially and socially. Arguments about its old world presentation and its relevance in a city that is redefining its image prop up from time to time. Can the popular show afford to continue presenting itself in its old format? Does it need to reinvent itself to draw more crowds and fence in people from outside the green realm?
“The Cochin Flower Show is one of the bigger and the best shows in Kerala,” says Paul George, Secretary, Ernakulam District Agri-Horticultural Society.
V.I. George, founder member, speaks about the tightrope walk they take when putting together the show given the allocated budget. According to him there are ideas galore but basic modalities like renting a ground, setting up air-conditioned pavilions, conducting competitions, and raising the event to international standards prevent them from going beyond the set format.
Yet within the given framework the organisers this time round have several novel elements to charm visitors.
“There is a major change in presentation this time. One will get a sense of entering a garden,” says George. Unlike previous shows there are no fixed routes for visitors this time, giving them ample freedom to “stand and stare” at flowers they wish to. “If they want to spend half an hour looking at the orchids they can do so,” says George, pointing that previously crowds moved in straitjacketed pathways.
Zeritta Meritta Abhilash of Fonix Florist is making a debut with her flower sculptures and a photo booth, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. In the space allocated she has set up models in floral costumes.
Her design concepts draw from rustic and eco-friendly themes. She is reusing discarded cycle rims, coir, jute and imported flowers for her creations. “We are using rare and different flowers so that visitors can see something fresh and different,” says Zeritta, disclosing that a single stalk of a certain orchid costs Rs. 850. She is using stalks of Hybercium berries that come at Rs.130 for the decorations, to introduce new and the latest trends in international flower décor. The photo booth, with entry only for couples, has floral symbols of love like heart and white peacocks.
Dixon says that the Cochin Flower Show is one-of-its kind activity in the city and should be supported wholeheartedly, because “the world is thinking of green concepts”. His garden has a variety of palms, foliage and flowering plants.
Besides flowers, a variety of fruits and vegetables too are exhibited. “We present large tubers, like a 70 kg elephant yam, snake gourd, and spice plants; a separate area for imported plants like orchids is there,” says George.
The event, thus, says George ropes in different bodies and peoples under a floral umbrella. “Our city is filled with concrete structures; we have to inculcate the need for going green among people,” he says pointing that this event has gone a long way in doing so. A gesture of gifting a banana sapling or vegetable seeds to the first 25,000 entries is to motivate people into turning green. Some other initiatives done together with the State Horticulture Mission like terrace vegetable gardening have converted 12,000 homes to go green. “We are very proud of such achievement,” says George. “Our work is for all to see. Soon there will be more flowers in the city with the beautification of the National Highway medians and with plans to have more flowers at the traffic islands. Maintenance is the catchword but we will rope in the PWD and the Corporation in this mission. The Cochin Flower Show is one of our main shows,” he says pleased that the event draws as many as one lakh footfalls, which is only growing.
