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More than 350,000 flowers at the Hong Kong Flower Show 2009 will transform Victoria Park into a colourful floral wonderland next Friday (March 13).
The annual show, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be held from 9am to 9pm daily between March 13-22, with Cosmos as this year's theme flower to match the theme of the show: "Blossoming Welcome for the East Asian Games".
The event has attracted about 200 organisations from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas to take part in showcasing exotic flowers and plants, landscape and floral art displays.
More than 60,000 pots of Cosmos of about 50 cultivars will be on display at the showground. Common Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) also known as Shanghai Ju, is a herbaceous annual of the genus Cosmos in the Asteraceae family. It is native to Mexico and after its introduction to Europe in the 18th century, it has been widely planted all over the world. At present, there are about 20 species. It is commonly known as "Cosmos" or "Mexican Aster". The former name is derived from the Greek word "Kosmos" (harmony or ordered universe), referring to the flowering form which is arranged in a good and harmonious order. Through natural and artificial hybridisations, Cosmos has now produced many varieties and cultivars that can be classified into a number of series. They are widely cultivated as ornamental plants or cut flowers.
The flowers of Cosmos come in an array of vibrant colours ranging from purple, carmine, pink to pure white, and bicolours such as white petals with coloured edges and red petals with white stripes. There are also rarely seen yellow flowers.
Conventionally, Cosmos is in full bloom from late autumn to spring as the species does not withstand hot weather, but the flowering periods of many cultivars may vary by manipulating the growth cycles, and the flowering period is as long as several months.
The flowers of Cosmos are perfect for decorating flowerbeds, roof gardens, or as pot plants. They are also desirable materials used in flower arrangement. Cosmos can be extensively planted along the roadside or on slopes, adorning the environment with a sea of colourful blossoms. With a slightly bitter taste and a cool nature, the flowers and leaves of Cosmos can both be used as herbal medicine to remove heat.
A series of fringe activities will complement the 10-day flower show for the enjoyment of visitors. Activities include music and dance performances, floral art demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, green talks and fun games.
Admission tickets will be available at the entrance to the showground at Victoria Park throughout the show period. They are also available now until March 22 at LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices, and venues with Leisure Link services.
Admission for adults is $14. Children aged between 4 and 14, students, senior citizens aged 60 or above and people with disabilities pay half price. Senior citizens and people with disabilities will have free admission on weekdays while adults in a group of 30 or more admitted at the same time will pay half price on weekdays.
For enquiries, please call 2697 8030, fax to 2691 7264 or visit the LCSD website at www.lcsd.gov.hk
Ends/Friday, March 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:38
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