Space lotus flowers, which are grown from seeds that traveled in outer space, are the highlight of the Shanghai Lotus Flowers Show.
The exhibition is ongoing at the ancient Guyi Garden in the city's Nanxiang town.
About 50 pots of space flowers cultivated from 13 varieties are exhibited in the east part of the garden. The seeds of space lotus flowers, after experiencing mutation in orbit, produce bigger, more colorful and long-lasting flowers, cultivators say.
Visitors will also get to bask among more than 350 varieties of lotus flowers and water lilies.
Lotus flowers planted in ponds covering a total area of about 10,000 square meters and in more than 6,000 pots bloom gracefully. It is the largest-ever lotus flowers show in the garden, says Sun Jia, spokeswoman for the 500-year-old garden.
Strolling down the winding path among the ponds, one will feel so relaxed viewing the flowers, purely white or flaring red, alluringly open or bashfully in bud, joggle amid tiers of green moon-like lotus leaves in the breeze. The gusts of fragrance do a good job in blowing away all the tiredness.
And there are those tiny charming "bowl lotus" from Li Garden, a Jiangnan (southern Yangtze River) style garden in Wuxi of Jiangsu province.
The garden has been famous for cultivating the small-sized lotus flowers since ancient time. Normally planted in a bowl or coconut shell, they require much more care, Sun said.
In August, the water lilies from the United States and Thailand are in full bloom, Sun says.
The garden has opened six ticket offices to shorten the waiting time for visitors. There is also a temporary booth at the Nanxiang Station of Metro Line 11 that sells tickets on weekends.
Lotus flowers are hailed as a faithful and unyielding flower in Chinese culture as they rise above the muddy waters and bloom under the burning summer heat.
The seeds and roots of lotus can be made into delicious dishes, and the leaves are traditional Chinese herb capable of treating sunstroke, fever and diarrhea.
The park has also prepared other treats for visitors to beat the summer heat. Some 130 electric fans have been installed in its 12 verandas in the park to cool down the air. Cold beverages are also available.
wuni@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 08/04/2013 page15)
