The China Flower Expo blossoms with success

An aerial view of the venue for the 10th China Flower Expo on Shanghai's Chongming Island.[Photo/China Daily]

Rare plants and international garden designs dazzle the senses

The rich variety of flowers and garden designs by international masters at the 10th China Flower Expo has offered visitors a feast for the eyes and unparalleled sensual enjoyment.

The expo, running from May 21 to July 2 on Shanghai's Chongming Island, is one of the largest and most influential national flower events in China. Started in 1987, the expo is held every four years.

The theme of this year's expo "Blossom with a Chinese Dream" celebrates the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

With a total planning area of 10 square kilometers, the expo has attracted 189 exhibitors, the most in its history. They include flower and horticulture enterprises from both home and abroad and branches of related associations and institutions.

The expo also invited a host of world-leading flower enterprises to participate, such as Syngenta and Dummen Orange from the Netherlands, Benary from Germany and Danziger from Israel, according to the organizers.

At the expo, they are displaying the latest breeds of flowers and plants as well as advanced cultivation technologies, said Yang Zhimeng, an official from the exhibition service center.

"At the expo, visitors can have a close view of a wide variety of flowers and plants, in which a substantial portion is relatively rare species in China," Yang said.

According to the organizers, nearly 30 million pots of flowers, including more than 1,000 breeds have been displayed at the expo.

For example, the Dutch company Dummen Orange brought a slew of red flowers to the expo, such as calla lily, anthurium, dahlia, Dutch chrysanthemum, bird of paradise and poinsettia.

These are the company's latest breeds and the bright colors fizz with enthusiasm, adding beauty to people's daily lives, the organizers said.

A prominent feature of this year's expo includes international gardens and the gardens designed by masters from both home and abroad.

According to the organizers, the expo this year has arranged 12 international friendly city gardens, such as the Seogwipo garden from South Korea and the Quebec garden from Canada.

It also set up 10 international master gardens designed by well-known garden designers.

About 180 outdoor gardens and 64 indoor exhibitions were arranged during the expo. About one-third of these outdoor gardens combine international elements, an official said.

Each garden has its own feature. For example, the Seogwipo garden from South Korea showcases the local conditions and customs of Jeju Island and it includes volcanic rocks.

At the Auckland garden, New Zealand, visitors can view its national flower, silver fern, which is rarely seen in China.

The international master gardens also attracted wide attention. "These designers come from different countries and regions, bringing in diversified garden design concepts and expertise," said Cai Xiangyang, vice-president of Hongyue Seed Co.

The company was responsible for the execution of these international designers' plans at the expo.

According to Cai, these designers delivered their concepts through the use of various elements. For example, the Malaysian garden innovates in its use of space. Tall stone columns used on water surface produce a sense of being surrounded. Other elements include big trees at the top.

A designer from South Africa created a different sense of nature through the texture of earth walls and African pattern elements.

At the New Zealand garden, the designer used red bricks in an artistic conception of nirvana of the phoenix, and explores the transformative relationship among soil, fire, wood, charcoal and bricks.

The Japan garden tries to increase the use of color through border plants, according to Cai.

"All of these gardens have unique stories and novelties, and deeply explore the sense of space, materials and charm they produce," Cai said. The organizers said they hope the different styles of gardens and flowers from all over the world can be exhibited, creating a magnificent "world garden". This year, the expo expects to receive some 3 million visitors, according to the organizers.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the flower expo is a push for the city's green development and it is expected to become an example of sustainability and cooperation between domestic and international parties.