Mettur dam, Barbie doll exhibits wow visitors at Ooty flower show

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurated the show, a major summer attraction for tourists.

Visitors were charmed by the floral replica of the Mettur dam made with more than one lakh colourful carnations. The floral dam was about 60 ft in length and 20 ft in height and was made to resemble water flowing with the use of flowers.

The floral model of a Barbie doll, made out of 3,500 orchids, turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes, especially children. For those with a selfie craze, the show offered a selfie spot with an image of Mickey Mouse made of bright-hued flowers. Youngsters and several families flocked to the spot to click selfies.

The glass house at the GBG, renovated at a cost of Rs 2.61 crore, featured a variety of flowers in full bloom. It was also thrown open by the Chief Minister.

A large variety of flowering plants like Inca marigolds, French marigolds, petunias, salvias, begonias, asters, balsams, oriental lilies, chrysanthemums, gladiolus and gloxinias were kept around the GBG premises.

Thousands of flowering plants, comprising 185 varieties, have blossomed in the park. Tourists entering the GBG were welcomed by 10 floral arches made of flowers like marigold and lily.

Attractive flowers imported from countries like Japan, America, Germany and Netherlands turned out to be the highlight of the show. Floral decorations were also put up on behalf of Wellington Defence College, Horticulture and Forest Department in as many as 15 stalls.

Thousands of tourists visited the flower show during the inaugural day on Friday and it will go on until May 22.

Many tourists, who visited the show, said they were impressed by the flowers on display. “This is the first time I am visiting the flower show with my family. It was a last minute decision as we were a bit apprehensive about rains in the hills. Luckily, the sky remained clear and we thoroughly enjoyed the show,” said R Ramachandran, a retired postal department staff from Palani.

State agriculture minister, R Duraikannu, minister for municipal administration and rural development, S P Velumani, state co-operation minister, Sellur Raja, and Nilgiris Collector, Innocent Divya took part in the inaugural event.