SPRING FLING ...

flower show

Spring is here and it’s the perfect time for you to take a moment and reconnect with nature. This week You! takes a look at the 68th annual Flower Show held recently at AK Khan Park, Karachi...

As the temperatures begin to rise, it’s time to usher in a spring awakening! Spring comes with the idea of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth, and most people see it as a time of change. And maybe a little change is what we need these days. Surrounded by gadgets and artificial objects, it is time that we allow ourselves the luxury of being in nature. With spring come the budding leaves and the blooming flowers, which call upon chirping birds and the beautiful butterflies.

To celebrate the arrival of this colourful season, the 68th annual Flower Show was recently held at AK Khan Park, Karachi. The four-day event was organised by Horticultural Society of Pakistan (HSP) in coordination with Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC). It featured hundreds of varieties of seasonal, perennial and rare species, mainly local, were on display at stalls set up by horticultural groups, commercial nurseries, DHA and educational institutions.

Many specialised clubs, societies and organisations participating in the show included Ladies Horticultural Club, Floral Art Society, Ikebana International, Akebono Study Group, Amateur Graders Club, Orchid Society of Pakistan, Pakistan Bonsai Society, Cactus and Succulent Society of Pakistan, World Flower Council, Thar Coal Company to name a few.

The work of the participants was put on display throughout the park so you could view it as you take a leisurely stroll. Also, since the park is just by the sea, it made the stroll through multiple species of annual and seasonal flowers quite enchanting. It truly felt as if one were in the embrace of colours. Another good thing about the show was that it had a wide variety of natural decor ideas to offer that you can incorporate in your homes or living space. Be it castles, mansions or cosy cottages, gardens and manicured lawns always bring life into any home. Even if it is an office space, it will always look bleak without a touch of some greenery in the picture. The festival offered garden tools and supplies to add something unique to your garden aesthetic, which can be personalised in any way you like. Pebble art, along with garden fountains were also available for purchase.

With Feng shui getting popular these days, fountains are amazing additions that can bring life and motion to your yard. They engage the senses with its soothing sound making the space a perfect place to unwind. Apart from the traditional style, there are more varieties available that one can opt for such as the stone waterfall or the Japanese bamboo fountain. Besides these, there were tiny ones on display, which were the perfect size for a working desk. It is quite an adorable paraphernalia to own, especially if one is into Feng shui.

Apart from the nature display, there were food vendors at the event so the attendees could enjoy snacks while enjoying the direct view of the setting sun in the sea. Families enjoyed themselves as they took pictures, chatted amongst each other while the children played. Fortunately, the weather had been kind too, making the environment happy and pleasant.

Horticulture and gardening is often associated with stay-at-home spouses and senior citizens, but that should not be the case. With the fast-paced lives that we are living, it can be challenging to think about keeping single plant alive, let alone a garden. Flowering plants require a lot of love and care, and if you hardly ever have time to spare time at work, adding a cute little cacti or succulent is still an option. But, we also can’t ignore the fact that it is important that we have a little bit of green, wherever we go; which is why events like these are essential to encourage healthy trends in the society. Spring is here and it’s the perfect time for you to take a moment and reconnect with nature.