SHILLONG: Dancing Lady to Lady’s Slipper, the variety of orchids displayed during the three-day Autumn flower show in the city from Wednesday saw the participation of florists and enthusiasts.
A keen participant was the city-based lawyer Anil Agarwal, who nurtures many varieties of orchids at his Bihsnupur residence.
Growing orchids is a hobby for Agarwal as he does not sell them for profit.
“I am not selling the orchid flowers though they may fetch good money”, Agarwal said.
Agarwal told The Shillong Times, on Friday, the last day of the flower show that he has seven to eight varieties of orchids at home.
Orchids from Tolumnia species and oncidium varieties were on display at the show. Dancing Lady is from the oncidium family.
Lady’s Slipper is a local variety and Dancing Lady is also now available in the state, he said.
The name Dancing Lady was given since the yellow colour orchid flowers dance even in breeze while a portion of Lady’s Slipper has the shape of the heel of the footwear.
Agarwal, who has been nurturing the orchids for the last 10 years, secured cash prizes and mementoes during the show for the varieties of orchids displayed.
“I am growing them in a green house at Bishnupur”, he said.
He had even brought orchid plants from Darjeeling and Sikkim besides purchasing them from others who sell them.
As the venue was the premises of State Central Library compared to All Saints Hall in the past, the show grew bigger this time as more space was allotted for the display of flowers in addition to other horticulture and agriculture produce in small quantities.
General Secretary of Shillong Agri- Horticultural Society Andrew Dkhar said the response was good and this was a boost to the participants.
