Cochin Flower Show 2009 in full bloom

The Ernakulam District Horticulture Society has opened the Cochin Flower Show-2009. The show will have on display 6,000 flowering plants from Bangalore, and 10,000 ornamental plants, 1,000 plants and 500 bonsai plants from the state.

The Cochin Flower Show is held each year for 5-6 days in February – March.  Since 2007, the venue has been the Marine Drive at Cochin.For the horticulturists and nature lovers-Cochin Flower Show 2009 is on till Feb 26 at the Marine Drive grounds, Cochin. The new participants of the show are the Southern Naval Command and the Hill Palace. There is also an increased participation of nurseries.

Each orchid variety has a story to it–some have scented flowers, others have big  flowers of different hues. The imported ones include new patented varieties like phelenopsis lightning.  People took photos of orchids exhibited at the show.

A floral carpet comprising asters, petunias, marigolds, dahlias and a variety of chrysanthemums is on there. People crowded around the stalls of Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council of Kerala that have been popularising terrace gardens. They also offer grafted/layered saplings of mango, ‘sappota’, guava and lemon.

The main attraction is a double-headed dragon designed by Murali, an LIC employee, using 250 banana pseudo stems, elephant foot yams, cucumbers, pumpkins, beetroots and carrots.

The show is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., up to the 26th. Entry fee is Rs 25 for adults and Rs 10 for children.