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Sham Shui Po District and Kwun Tong District outshone their fellow competitors, winning the LCSD Oriental Style and Western Style Garden Plot Competition respectively at this year's Hong Kong Flower Show. Designed by the staff of the two District Leisure Services Offices, the oriental style garden by Sham Shui Po District and the western style garden by Kwun Tong District become hot spots to visitors, in addition to other attractions of the show.
The oriental garden designed by the Sham Shui Po District uses limited space to create an idyllic Japanese garden. Surrounded by a bamboo fence, the garden features a rock basin (tsukubai) in the centre and the drip-drop sound of water blends into this serene and natural setting. Paved with flagstones and with stone lanterns (ishidoro) for illumination, the garden is planted with verdant trees, ornamental shrubs, young bamboo and moss, which contrast and complement each other in harmony.
Titled "Heavenly Sounds in Tranquility", Kwun Tong District's western-style garden features a refined landscape decorated with flowers in captivating glory. Visitors will see a big harp in the garden with flowing water as its "strings", delivering delightful musical notes. From the centre of the harp hangs a swing with a violin on it, implying the owner is a music lover. A low wooden fence runs around the garden in the form of a curve, which together with the music staves on the planked terrace makes the garden a tranquil place.
Featuring more than 350,000 flowers on display, with Primula as the theme flower, under the main theme "Symphony of Spring Flowers", the Hong Kong Flower Show 2011 runs until March 20.
The Flower Show also features special plant exhibits. The small leaves of Dancing Grass (Codariocalyx motorius) will wriggle when triggered by sound waves under light. Having survived the ice age, Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) is also known as a "living fossil plant". Tigridiopalma magnifica has tiger-striped leaves and Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), which leaves can produce tea tree oil.
Other main attractions include the jumbo floral exhibit "Symphony of Spring Flowers" by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) showcasing about 30,000 stems of Primula of over 30 species; a spectacular sea of flowers made up of more than 15,000 tulips; a mosaiculture display, "Animals in Concert", with a group of lively animals singing, dancing and playing instruments; a fun display on the park's lawn featuring carrots and other produce in the shape of a musical instrument and rabbits; an 8-metre by 3-metre floral wall made up of colourful flowers promoting the 3rd Hong Kong Games and an interactive fun photo booths for photo-taking.
Displays from the Mainland are equally spectacular, including those by Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, Chongqing Municipal People's Government and Organising Committee of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an China.
A rich diversity of educational and recreational fringe activities are also organised for the enjoyment of visitors of all ages, including tree demonstrations, music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, plant maintenance workshops, green stalls, guided visits, recreation programmes and fun games.
Admission tickets are available at the entrance to the showground at Victoria Park throughout the show period. Tickets are also available from now until March 20 at LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices and venues with Leisure Link services.
The admission fee for adults is $14. Children, students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, persons with disabilities and minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only) pay half price. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities and minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only) will have free admission on weekdays. Adults in groups of 30 or more admitted at the same time will pay half price on weekdays.
For enquiries, please call 2601 8260, fax 2691 7264 or visit the LCSD's website www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, March 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:39
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