Work on getting various scenic spots in the district ready for the summer tourist season gathered momentum on Friday with The Nilgiris Collector P. Sankar setting in motion pruning operations at the Government Rose Garden here.
Attractive
He told The Hindu that though it was an annual exercise, this year it would be carried out in a staggered manner to ensure that the garden remains attractive even when the pruning was in progress.
Accordingly, the pruning of bushes would commence at the last terrace and move up. About 27,000 rose bushes, representing about 4,000 varieties, would be pruned. When the garden came into being 20 years ago, there were only 1,919 varieties.
Stating that the entire garden will be in full bloom by the first week of April, he said that arrangements for the 14th Ooty Rose Show would commence soon.
Pointing out that about 60 per cent of planting had been completed at the Government Botanical Garden, which is getting ready for the Annual Flower Show, the Joint Director of Horticulture, N. Mani, said that since the current winter was harsher than usual precautionary measures have been stepped up. Stating that the garden has been experiencing severe frost, he said that the minimum temperature recorded early on Friday was zero degrees Celsius.
He added that beautification works have also commenced at the Arboretum and Thamizhagam garden here, the Sim’s Park in Coonoor, the Katteri Park along the Coonoor - Mettupalayam national highway and the Tea Park on the Ooty - Kotagiri Road.
About 60 per cent
of planting completed
at Government Botanical
Garden
