More participants and features at this year’s Putrajaya garden show

Bougainvillea will take centre stage at the Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival (Floria) this year.

Themed Bougainvillea — Enduring Beauty, the event will be held from June 30 to July 8 at Waterfront in Precinct 2, Putrajaya. Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, who officiated at the soft launch of Floria 2012, said bougainvillea was chosen because it was attractive and familiar to us. “It is easy to be planted, bred and maintained. The plant is also widely used in landscapes,” he said.

Colourful arrangements: Nong Chik (centre) officiating at the soft launch of Floria 2012. With him are Samsudin (left) and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.

Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said the assembly of 100 bougainvillea cultivars will vie for a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records for the “Largest Cultivar of Bougainvillea Assembled”. There will be seven outdoor gardens, including rose, annual flower, bonsai, temperate flower, heliconia, leafy plants and bougainvillea.

“Fifteen international garden designers, who have never participated in the previous four editions of Floria, will join us this time. They will come from as far as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and China. “They will exhibit the indoor garden, outdoor garden and the indoor orchid garden displays,” Samsudin said. Nong Chik added that he hoped Floria would spark unique and competitive ideas and designs that lead to more economic and job opportunities in the landscape and horticultural industry.

Floria 2012 also recorded an in-crease in participation from corporates, non-governmental organisations, ministries, government agencies, flower growers, higher education institutions, secondary schools and primary schools. Besides commercial products, exhibits and displays, Floria 2012 will feature more than 200 daily activities such as watercolour painting competition, photography competition and a special performance from the Australian Brass Band.

Tourism Ministry will be hosting a Tourism Floral Parade 2012 themed Magic of the Night at the Putrajaya Lake, where decorated boats will meet the visitors every night during the nine-day event from 8pm to 11pm. Floria 2012 will be open to the public from 9am to 10pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9am to midnight (Friday to Sunday). Admission is free.

-thestar online.