Say it with flowers!

Flower and Vegetable Show

Doha March 30: As I entered the massive tent erected at the Al Banush Club, Mesaieed, on Friday, March 30, 2007, I was engulfed by a plethora of colors and sweet fragrance and was transported to Edna St. Vincent Millay?s ?Afternoon on a Hill?.

"I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one"

I felt like a butterfly flitting among the flowers – roses, daffodils, chrysanthemums, carnations, zinnias, sunflowers, gladiolus, and petunias ? difficult to decide which of them was the sweetest. However, a jolt by one of the visitors brought me out of my reverie. I realized that I was not in a wonderland but in fact witnessing a flower and vegetable show. The tent was packed but the number of people entering the hall was increasing by the minute.

This nationally acclaimed annual event is sponsored by Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) with an intention of promoting environmental awareness. Since its inception in 1988, the QAFCO Flower and Vegetable Show has enjoyed an overwhelming response and is looked forward to with great excitement by both participants and visitors alike.

The competition which was open to the general public was held under the following categories:   Flowers, vegetables and fruits, potted plants, flower arrangements ? fresh and artificial, miniature garden, vegetable, fruit and butter carving, arrangement depicting nature among others. Some of the categories were for the Professional level only. The highlight of this  was the live ice carving.

A picture is worth a thousands words, however, my camera was not truly successful in capturing the true essence of today?s exhibits. The flower and vegetable show has to be seen to be believed.

Author: Joyce Alvares- Qatar