The Hong Kong Flower Show 2017 is currently running at Victoria Park. Apart from appreciating beautiful floral arrangements and gorgeous landscape displays, visitors can also learn about rare rose species at the corner for special plants and edible plants located near the showground entrance at Sugar Street.
 
     The uncommon species on display include the green rose (Rosa chinensis var. viridiflora) and Rosa sertata x Rosa rugose of China, Edith of the United Kingdom, the meteor shower rose cultivated in the United States, and Cameroon of the Netherlands. The uncommon green rose is a rare species of extant ancient Chinese rose. Rosa sertata x Rosa rugose is abundantly grown in Kushui Town, Yongdeng County, Lanzhou City of Gansu Province and is the emblem flower of Lanzhou City. Being prolific in flowering, this species has been cultivated for over 200 years. Its rose oil is pure and lightly fragrant, and is often used as an ingredient in food and refined as essential oil.
 
     Meanwhile, the winning entries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) Oriental Style Garden Plot Competition and Western Style Garden Plot Competition are also being displayed at the showground. Sai Kung District's "Hanami with Love" and Yau Tsim Mong District's "Redouté's Flower Sanctuary" have won the Oriental Style Garden Plot Competition and Western Style Garden Plot Competition respectively. All entries in the Garden Plot Competitions are designed by staff of the LCSD's District Leisure Services Offices.

     The "Hanami with Love" garden, bearing the hallmarks of Japanese landscaping, portrays a love story of its owner and his blind wife. The loss of eyesight took away the lady's cheerful smile. Trying to bring her smile back, the owner filled his garden with colourful and fragrant flowers. Although the lady could not see the beautiful garden, the scent of the flowers conveyed the love and care of her husband for her.

     "Redouté's Flower Sanctuary" is inspired by the rural garden of Petit Trianon in the Palace of Versailles of France. Sitting at the centre of the garden is a small cottage and the walls are graced with a rose painting and the famous painting "Marie-Antoinette Holding a Rose". The exterior of the cottage and the trellis are covered with creeping fig and roses. Other elements include breccia-paved steps, a wooden bench and a pebble-studded pathway leading to the cottage door. The flower bed is luscious with a variety of flowers such as lilies and roses, recreating a vibrant scene from Redouté's "Choix des Plus Belles Fleurs".
 
     This year the winner of the Environmental Cup for an Oriental Style Garden is Tsuen Wan District's "Japanese Zen Garden". The landscape of the garden is simple and features a wooden bridge and stone lanterns while a great variety of plants in the surrounding area create a sense of pristine tranquillity. The winner of the Environmental Cup for a Western Style Garden is Tuen Mun District's "Paradise of Love". The garden features a small bridge made of recycled wood running above a lake planted with aquatic perennials. Lining the lake are vividly coloured blossoms that add colours to the soothing scenery.

     This year's flower show is one of the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Running until March 19, the flower show is being held from 9am to 9pm daily (the opening hours on March 17 and 18 will be extended to 10pm). Admission tickets will be sold at the entrance to the Victoria Park showground throughout the show period. Octopus can also be used to pay for admission.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2601 8260 or visit the LCSD webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/hkfs/2017/index.html.
 
     The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the fifth consecutive year, and has been the Major Sponsor of the flower show since 2014.
 

Ends/Thursday, March 16, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:45

NNNN