Flowers help various cultures blossom

Here they are - perfectly exquisite flowers in carefully coifed arrangements, accompanied by the sight of ladies in marvelous hats - with the grand launch of the annual Chelsea Flower Show in late May, Britain's gardening season has begun.

Living in London over the years, I have grown to appreciate how important gardens are in British culture.

One close friend, Sally, always passionately tells me what plants she has been watering or trimming in her garden at the beginning of every conversation. John, another friend, says the first thing he does when reaching home after work is to sit in his garden for a while, so he can "find" himself.