Floral Eiffel Tower at Kadri Park’s Annual Flower Show expected to attract over 2 lakh visitors

Mangaluru: The 22-feet tall and 12-feet width Eiffel tower made of two lakh flowers with other attractions like selfie point, mushroom, canon ball, honey bee, mickey mouse and swan, all made of flowers, will attract the visitors during the fruits and flower show organised by the horticulture department, district administration, zilla panchayat, Kadri Park Development Committee, and Siri Thotagarike Sangha, at Kadri Park from January 23 to 26.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr Anandh K said to promote millets, a model of Kambala buffaloes made of millets and ornamental leaves, two art works of Yakshagana, fisherman and Kambala jockey are other attractions at the show.

As a part of fruits and flower show, the Horticulture department has cultivated 20,000 plants of more than 30 species of flowers, including marigold, Salvia, chrysanthemum, Zinnia, Dianthus, aster, Vinca rosea, cockscomb, Dahlia, Petunia, Torenia, Geranium and American Daisy. Further, the show will have fruit and vegetable carvings, said the CEO. An exhibition of Ikebana and ornamental plants will also be part of the show.

The show will have stalls on endemic species of plants from Western Ghats developed at Pilikula, medicinal plants and its uses, exhibition of seeds, and products from farmer producer organisation. Around 100 stalls will have plants of exotic fruits and flowers, vendors selling fertilisers, manure and farm machines. Priority has been given for organic products, he added.

The entry fee for adults is Rs 30 and for children is Rs 20. The entry will be free for schoolchildren in uniform arriving with their teachers between 9 am and 4 pm.

Horticulture department deputy director Manjunath said to promote apiculture, a stall will exhibit and sell Jhenkara brand of honey. In addition, the stall will also showcase the processing of honey. Variety of honey produced by the farmer producer organisation, and its value added products will also be exhibited. The progressive farmers will come up with a variety of fruits, vegetables and spices cultivated by them. Farmers who wish to exhibit the produce should reach Kadri Park on January 22 at 10.30 am. About 50 varieties of tubers will be exhibited and sold by Desi Seeds Producer Company, Mysuru. The products prepared by self help groups under National Rural Livelihood Mission will also be exhibited.

The deputy director said that about 1.5 lakh seedlings of tomato, brinjal, chilly, okra, long yard beans and bottle gourd raised by the horticulture department will be sold to the public at Rs 1 per seedling. A model of a vegetable garden has also been developed.

Automated irrigation system

Manjunath said that an automated irrigation system for garden is being developed at Kadri Park. The work will be completed shortly. With this, the park will be lush green throughout. Further, a fountain area inside the park will be developed to grow flower bearing plants.