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The Hong Kong Flower Show 2013 organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) opened at Victoria Park today (March 15) with more than 350,000 flowers on display, including 10,000 pots of dendrobium. Featuring the dendrobium as its theme flower and "Kaleidoscope of Spring" as its main theme, the show runs for 10 days until March 24.
Officiating at today's opening ceremony were the Chief Executive's wife, Mrs Regina Leung; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Jasper Tsang; the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui; the first runner-up of Miss Hong Kong 2012, Miss Jacqueline Wong; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung.
This year, the event has attracted more than 200 organisations from 18 countries, namely Australia, Belgium, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Delightful floral carpets extend from Sugar Street to Hing Fat Street while floral displays of jovial clowns, carnival masks and giant mushrooms at the showground entrances greet visitors with fun and colour.
The LCSD is presenting a spectacular exhibit, "A Kaleidoscope of Spring in the Vibrant City". The design is a gigantic flower in bright and beautiful colours, symbolising Hong Kong as a gleaming Pearl of the Orient. The main body, which includes the calyx, the corolla, the stamen and the pistil of the gigantic flower design, is made up of 50,000 stems. The corolla part uses mirrors strategically placed to reflect the calyx section to create a kaleidoscopic effect. The centre of the flower design comprises two revolving parts moving in opposite directions, with the stamen and pistil forming one, and the corolla forming the other.
Special plant exhibits include:
* Dendrobium officinale: Its vernacular name, "iron-skinned orchid", is derived from its distinctive metal grey-green epidermis. With a slow growth cycle, it is difficult for Dendrobium officinale to survive in the wild. Due to its dwindling numbers, Dendrobium officinale has been classified as an endangered species. It has curative properties.
* Dendrobium huoshanense: It is found mainly in Huoshan County of Anhui Province. It grows in extremely harsh conditions, often co-existing with epiphytic mosses and tongue ferns on cliffs by streams or creeks, where shaded, cool, humid and misty but well-ventilated spots present the optimal microclimate. The plant also has medicinal value.
Measuring 34 metres in length, 18m wide and with a multi-tiered design, the crowd-pleasing sea of flowers is bewitchingly beautiful this year. With tulips at the centre, a variety of colourful flowers at different tiers enliven the entire floral display, providing an opportunity for leisure viewing and photo-taking.
Other main attractions include a mosaiculture display entitled "Nature's Kaleidoscopic Beauty", showcasing an insect world in spring with flowers in bloom; the Brand Hong Kong floral wall made up of colourful plants; a fun display of lovely farmers together with their agricultural produce; a wish-making corner with a vibrant floral display; and interactive photo-taking booths.
The displays from the Mainland are equally spectacular, including the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks' "Dancing in Spring"; "A Quality Life - Slow Living in an Urban Environment" by the Administration Department of Landscaping and City Appearance of Minhang District, Shanghai; Hangzhou Children Park's "The Dreamy World of West Lake"; and the displays by the Administration of Forestry and Gardening of Guangzhou Municipality and the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Parks.
The dendrobium, a herbaceous perennial of the genus Dendrobium in the family Orchidaceae, is found throughout Asia, Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand, from tropical forests to the Himalayan highlands. It comes in a great many species. There are approximately 1,200 species of dendrobium worldwide.
The dendrobium is noted for its attractive flower with colours ranging from yellow, white, orange, yellow-green and pink to purple-red. Unique in form, the flowers are zygomorphic with three sepals at the outer layer, three petals at the second layer and one column in the centre.
In horticulture, the plant is generally divided into two groups, namely spring-flowering and autumn-flowering, according to growth habits and flowering seasons. Some species have fragrance. They can be used as cut flowers or grown as potted or hanging plants in the house. Certain species even have medicinal value.
A rich diversity of educational and recreational fringe activities will also be organised for the enjoyment of visitors of all ages. They include music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, plant maintenance workshops, green stalls, guided visits, recreation programmes and fun games.
Admission tickets are being sold at the entrance to the Victoria Park showground throughout the show period. Octopus cards can be used to pay for admission. Admission tickets are also available at the LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices and leisure venues with Leisure Link services, except for water sports centres.
Admission fees for the flower show are as follows:
* Normal rate: $14
* Children, students and senior citizens aged 60 or above: $7
* Persons with disabilities and their minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only): $7
Concessionary rates from Monday to Friday:
* Free admission for senior citizens aged 60 or above.
* Free admission for persons with disabilities and their minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only).
* Adults in a group of 30 persons or above will be admitted at half rate.
For enquiries, please call 2601 8260, fax 2691 7264 or visit the LCSD webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/green/hkfs/2013/en/index.php.
Ends/Friday, March 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:21
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