Bottle guards and pumpkins weighing 30-kilogram each and flowers like lilium and gerbera with high commercial value-the state fruit, vegetable and flower exhibition 2013 had everything on display. And with the AMC band playing softly at the background, it was a perfect place for Lucknowites to enjoy the lazy overcast Saturday.

The two-day exhibition that kick-started on the lush green lawns of Raj Bhawan on Saturday was inaugurated by minister for horticulture and food processing Parasnath Yadav. Notably, it had at least 4,753 varieties of flora and fauna on display.

State horticulture and food processing department director Om Narayan Singh said through the exhibition, the state sought to display its agriculture and floriculture richness and encourage newer techniques.

“Vegetables and fruits grown in unique-shaped pots was a real feast for the eyes. The light drizzle and the plethora of flowers also set the mood right,” a visitor said.