**********************************************************
More than 350,000 flowers at the Hong Kong Flower Show will transform Victoria Park into a colourful floral wonderland from Friday (March 11).
The annual spectacular, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be held at Victoria Park for 10 days between March 11 and 20, from 9am to 9pm daily. This year's flower show features the Primula as its theme flower and "Symphony of Spring Flowers" as its main theme.
The event has attracted over 200 organisations from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas to take part in showcasing exquisite potted plants, beautiful floral arrangements and gorgeous landscape displays. There will also be commercial stalls selling flowers, horticultural products, fast food and other items.
More than 50,000 pots of Primula of some 50 cultivars will be on display at the showground.
Primula, a member of the genus Primula of the family Primulaceae, is a herbaceous perennial, though usually grown as an annual or a biennial. As the word "Primula" and its Chinese equivalent suggest, the flower is one of the earliest blossoms, blooming between December and March and heralding spring.
There are about 500 species of Primula, found mainly in the temperate northern hemisphere and high mountain areas. Of approximately 300 species of Primula in China, most grow in Sichuan, Yunnan and southern Tibet.
The flowers of Primula come in a myriad of colours, from red to yellow, orange, blue, purple and white. Some horticultural species have two-tone petals, making the flowers more colourful and attractive.
The elegant forms of Primula make it an ideal choice for potted flowers. The more cold-tolerant species can be cultivated outdoors, including rock gardens or flowerbeds in warmer regions. Some larger species can be used as cut flowers.
A rich diversity of educational and recreational fringe activities will also be organised for the enjoyment of visitors of all ages, including music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, tree demonstrations, plant maintenance workshops, green stalls, guided visits, recreation programmes and fun games.
Admission tickets to the Hong Kong Flower Show 2011 are available from now until March 20 at the LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices, and leisure venues with Leisure Link services. Tickets will also be sold at the entrance of the showground at Victoria Park throughout the show period.
The admission fee is $14. Children aged between 4 and 14, students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, persons with disabilities and minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only) pay half price. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities and minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only) will have free admission on weekdays. Adults in groups of 30 or more admitted at the same time will pay half price on weekdays.
For enquiries, please call 2601 8260, fax 2691 7264 or visit the LCSD website www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, March 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:50
NNNN