Nature's art on show

Colourful petals and sweet flowery scents will greet visitors to the Penang Botanic Gardens in conjunction with the Penang Floral Festival 2011 taking place from today until June 5. Stall operators have been busy preparing for the festival, such as setting up flowers and plants of all shapes, sizes and colours to be sold at the entrance to the gardens.

Green fingers: Oh Foon May, 15, pruning plants in preparation for the Floral Festival at Botanic Gardens

A stage has been set up for the opening ceremony today by state Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law. The festival’s organising chairman Ooi Eng Choon, who is from the Penang Arts Society, said that the festival was held to encourage the locals to appreciate nature. “We want people to develop a love for nature, as nature has the ability to lower stress levels,” he said. Twelve Penang Arts Society committee members have been preparing for the festival since February.

Professional look: (From left) Judges Anek (from Thailand), Chartee (Thailand), David Goh (Penang), Lee Tang Wei (Taiwan) and Imam Wiguna (Indonesida) evaluating the adenium plants.

“We have been holding meetings to plan the event, including arranging with the stall operators and judges for the bonsai and adenium competition,” said committee member Pong Kok Kiong, 37. Australian tourist John Grafitti, 71, was admiring the flowers at the stalls. “The flowers on display are stunning. The Botanic Gardens is a beautiful place,” he said.

Ready for business: Nursery operator H.G. Tan arranging plants in his stall at the Botanic Gardens.

There will also be a stall by the Friends of the Botanical Gardens selling T-shirts with prints of leaves. Also on display throughout the nine-day festival are 150 bonsai and adenium plants from the competition. “The response to the competition has been encouraging. It shows that there is a great interest in bonsai and adenium plants locally,” said committee member Chuah Yeh Pow, 50. The Floral Festival is from 10am to 7pm daily, and entry is free.

-thestar online.