Their gardens are the prized possessions for some residents of the city. Maintained with tender care,the gardens have won prizes in the Rose Festival. Infact a few gardens have been on the winners list more than once. Winning in this festival gives us not only recognition among people who come in large numbers to see our garden and collection of flowers but also an encouragement to participate again in the coming year. Its just a passion and love for the flowers that keeps me moving. They are my own children and I love taking care of them, informs Abnaz Sethi winner of second prize in the best medium gardens category. A 69-year-old homemaker,Sethi has been participating and winning prizes for her garden for the past 5 years. The first place in this category was bagged by Rupinder Pal and her son Gurleen Singh who have been winning the first prize for their well maintained garden for three consecutive years. Gardening has always been my hobby. I like to collect different flowers and nurture them. Spending time with the plants gives me immense pleasure. I have a multi-coloured tulip whose seeds we have imported from America, said Rupinder. Similar were the words of Dr Manjari Bhargava whose terraced garden won the first prize for the second time this year. Not only this she also bagged another eight prizes in the individual plants like asther,stocks single,candytuft, nemensia,nasturtium,petunia double hybrid,phylox. I like to be surrounded by different flowers. They are both pleasing to the eyes as well as refreshes the mind, she said. Hardeep Kaur,principal of Small Wonder School,Mohali whose collection of flower won eight first prizes in different categories and another four second prizes at the festival strongly believes in the power of the nature in nurturing kids. I want children of my school to bloom like the flower does and that is why I have ensured a beautiful congenial environment for the healthy growth of children amongst the flowers and greenery.
