KARACHI: The three-day Pakistan Annual Flower Show 2023, organised by the Horticulture Society of Pakistan (HSP) opened on Thursday at Seaview’s A.K. Khan Park, named after legendary Abdul Karim Khan who founded HSP in 1948 and started the annual Flower Show.

This 72nd edition of the show also celebrates its 75th anniversary.

It won’t be wrong to say that citrus fruits stole the show at this year’s flower show. There were lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits of several varieties hanging from their little trees still in the pots to be bought and transplanted into gardens or bigger pots maybe. People interested in buying citrus fruit trees were pleasantly surprised to learn that the fruit can do very well in Karachi.

“Just make sure they get plenty of sunlight and water. But lessen the watering somewhat when the trees are flowering,” advised Mohammed Hasaan at the Garden Solutions stall. A medium sized potted Australian lemon tree was selling for Rs3,000 and Rs3,500 while the same growing out of plastic bags and also flowering were available for Rs750 each.

There were plenty of seasonal flowers, such as marigolds, chrysanthemums, violets, daffodils, irises, lilacs and forget-me-nots, displayed here and there as well as selling very well at quite reasonable prices. There were also various roses, anthuriums and other flowers needing care and nurturing selling at not so reasonable prices.

The Orchidium Nursery was only selling pretty orchids. This shade-loving flower only grows well in coconut shells and coal. One small orchid plant was selling at Rs2,500. “People are complaining that they are very expensive but they are all imported,” said Saleh Mohammed at the nursery.

A customer, Joyce Arthur, said that she wanted to buy an orchid but was afraid that it wouldn’t do well, also not being native to Pakistan. “I need someone to guide me as to how to take care of my orchids because I have not had good experience growing it at home,” she said.

Another plant, also not native to this country, were the air plants, not needing watering at all as they absorb moisture from the air. A small air plant fitted inside wind chimes was selling at Rs2,000. “It’s a no-pot and no soil plant,” said Sahar Ahsan, who sells exotic plants she imports from Thailand and China online.

Another plant that does very well without much moisture is the succulent cactus. There was a huge variety of cacti selling at many stalls from inexpensive tiny cacti to big and expensive ones, too.

One very wise customer also noticed among the plants selling at the stalls that some of them seemed to have been replanted in new baskets or pots just ahead of the flower show. “Just look at their frizzled leaves. Plants should look fresh and happy but some plants here look sad to me, she said.

Another even wiser customer was there with her granddaughter Barirah pestering her to buy her a lemon plant. The grandmother explained to her granddaughter that they can also buy seeds to plant lemons and grow them at home. Barirah was next seen selecting seeds from a stall selling them.

There were stalls selling herbs and vegetables also. The healthy egg plants resembling boiled eggs growing out of small pots was a happy sight for any kitchen gardener. The Healing Garden stall was also informing about the benefits of herbs such as basil, rosemary, parsley and of vegetables ground underground such as turmeric, ginger, etc.

The Karachi Sogetsu Study Group stall had many beautiful arrangements, but only to admire as none were for sale according to the study group director, Shaheena Zuberi.

Truck art was the theme at the Indus Sogetsu Study Group stall. President Salima Feroze said that they have combined ikebana and truck art. “So besides having a Japanese touch it also has our traditional art,” she said.

Mohammed Owais at the Sustainable Gardening stall of the Amateur Gardeners’ Club had a very interesting stall putting to good use all kinds of scrap very creatively to make garden ornaments, fences, seating, bird houses and what not?

The Ladies Horticulture Club of Karachi was everyone’s favourite stall with some very pleasant people both educating you as well as selling you things such as honey, homemade berry, carrot and lime pickles, jams and marmalade made from organically grown fruits. Nothing in their stall had been sprayed with any kind of pesticide and they were also using recycled stuff for the sake of a clean environment. Their edible plants included not just herbs and betel leaves but also flowers.

Fathiya Abdul Qadir, one of the club’s members, said it was her job to raise awareness about plants. “Grow your own plants and eat their produce. To keep them safe from getting infected and pests, we water our plants with diluted stale lassi that is extra bitter, onion water, garlic water, soda water, vinegar, neem oil, etc.” she said.

There were the ancient little bonsai all looking majestic at the Pakistan Bonsai Society Stall. There were plenty of very beautiful life-size arrangements beckoning visitors at the Gardenia Society. The Ikebana Karachi Chapter too had some very beautiful arrangements where the colourful Japanese umbrellas added so much cheer to the mood of the place.

Many stalls were also selling garden furniture, decorative ornaments such as wind chimes, hanging baskets, decorative pots, pesticides, fertilizers and even artificial flowers.

Earlier, HSP chairman Fahim Siddiqui spoke at length about the important role of horticulture in improving the environment and slowing down the effects of global warming and climate change.

Sardar Yaseen Malik of Indus Hospital Health Network also spoke on the occasion before the distribution of trophies, shields and certificates to winners of the various competitions including best home, office, school, mosque gardens, best arrangements, etc.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2023