KARACHI, March 6: The 57th Pakistan Flower Show 2008, representing over 100 floral varieties, opened on Thursday at the DHA Seaview Public Park. The show, organised by the Horticulture Society of Pakistan (HSP) in collaboration with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), will continue for four days, open daily from 8am to 10pm.

The exhibits include many indigenous seasonal and perennial floral varieties as well as a large number of local and imported plants. The show is an annual feature of the city’s horticultural scene.

“This is the largest flower show in the country and the best-ever in Karachi. More than 60 stalls have been set up this time as compared to last year’s 40. Though the number of categories is the same, participation has increased and students from different colleges and high schools have also put up displays,” said Abdul Karim Khan, the HSP’s founder and president.

It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and the level of excellence shown by all participants, professionals as well as amateurs.

Aesthetically designed on the theme of Palm Forest with Orchids and Ferns, the orchid stall was decorated with cattleya, known for its large showy flowers, dendrobium, popular for its adaptation to a wide variety of habitats, phalaenopsis, sometimes called moth orchid, native to Southeast Asia, and oncidium, a plant usually found in seasonally dry areas.

“Less known in Pakistan, orchids are among the most diverse species in the world. Some of its species can easily be managed at homes. Orchids generally require small space, can be grown in coconut shells, need liquid diet and flower three times a year. The flowers can sustain the whole month if they are protected against water,” said Ashraf Aftab, a member of the Orchid Society, manning a stall.

Some attractions at the bonsai stall included a 30-year-old desert pine, 15-year-old karonda, 10-year-old samanlu and different species of juniper, most of them indigenous. Miniature plants and trees of bougainvillea, kikar, dum dum, ficus, imlee and chiko were also on display.

More creativity could be seen at the stalls for floral arrangements in which women’s participation was huge. With the help of some seasonal flowers, simple decorative accessories, some real excellent work had been produced. Not far behind in skill and craft were a large range of plants on sale at the stalls of commercial nurseries, offering imported indoor and outdoor varieties.

They included lucky bamboo (the plant is not a bamboo but a resilient member of the lily family that needs little care), 30-year-old Australian grass tree, double-shaded Kanghi palm, ficus in many twisted forms, miniature roses, air creepers, hoya (tropical climbing plants), azaleas (flowering shrubs) and lagerstroemia, which was shaped into various animals.

The show was inaugurated by Defence Minister Syed Salim Abbas Jilani in the evening. Ticket is Rs20 and Rs10 for adults and children each, respectively.