HT-PACE, NEWSPAPER in Education Programme of Hindustan Times, conducted the third annual workshop for schools on ‘Best Gardening Practices’ on Wednesday at Lake View Nursery, Bhadbhada Road.
A precursor to the annual Inter-School Garden Competition, scheduled for January 30, and 31, 2007, the workshop was held in association with Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO) and Lake View Nursery.
About 40 school gardeners as well as horticulture teachers’ in-charge participated in the orientation workshop to enable them to prepare their gardens for the annual competition. A panel of renowned horticulture experts including EPCO Director (Training and Development) S Sudhakar, Sarda Plywood Ltd Regional Head Dr U R Singh, IIFM Horticulture Officer D K Verma, Lake View Nursery proprietor Ravindra Singh and Laxmendra Maheshwari, were present on the occasion.
Addressing gardeners, D K Verma explained the parameters for the Inter-School Garden Competition. He said assessments will be made on layout and planning of the garden, cleanliness, health and maintenance besides blooms and flowers. Elaborating on the same, he stated layout vis-à-vis presentation of plants in a decorative as well as planned manner was the most important constituent. Dr U R Singh, stressed on integrated gardening techniques, the need for self-sustenance of schools with regard to water harvesting, vermi-composting and plantation of adhesive plants.
He cited interesting examples of reuse of drinking water in schools, which could resolve problems pertaining to water paucity. He also emphasised that school gardeners should be self reliant in terms of resources to maintaining school gardens. He said schools adopting self-sustenance techniques must be appreciated for the same.
{{/usCountry}}He cited interesting examples of reuse of drinking water in schools, which could resolve problems pertaining to water paucity. He also emphasised that school gardeners should be self reliant in terms of resources to maintaining school gardens. He said schools adopting self-sustenance techniques must be appreciated for the same.
{{/usCountry}}In his address, Laxmendra Maheshwari spoke about important constituents of a perfect garden and various areas that needed to be worked upon in schools before their participation in the Annual Inter-School Garden Competition.
He said, the lawn was the most important constituent of the garden, without which any of the gardens would be incomplete. Lawns are judged on the basis of its richness, greenery, well-mowed grass etc. Other elements include potted plants, seasonal plants, well-pruned hedge and creepers as an additional feature.
Ravindra Singh spoke about pesticides, which offer protection against mites and various other diseases. Gardeners also posed queries, which were addressed by the experts. Participants also visited select gardens of Carmel Convent S S School, BHEL, Sagar Public School and Maharishi Vidya Mandir, to understand layout, designing and planning of perfect gardens.
General Manager HT Media Ltd Fehmi Hussain was also present on this occasion. PACE Manager Alpana Mishra accorded a warm welcome to all the participants and also conducted the workshop.