Chrysanthemum show: My efforts have finally paid off, says gardener

Having won eight awards this year, Vanshraj Yadav has become a tough competitor for all.

His efforts have finally paid off, said Vanshraj Yadav, 41, gardener, who participated by his son’s name Manish Kumar and has won eight awards this year at the Chrysanthemum show in Chandigarh.

AK Sharma and his wife Pratibha along with their gardener Vanshraj Yadav (extreme right) and his son Manish Kumar at their house in Sector 8, Chandigarh on Sunday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

“I got the first prize and ‘Prince of the show’ award in the category of ‘Anymoon variety’, first prize in ‘reflex variety’, the second prize in four varieties – Button, Pompoms, Spider, another and third prize in decorative,” said Vanshraj Yadav.

He had started participating in the Chrysanthemum show three years ago and has become a tough competitor for all. His list of the number of awards has gradually increased from one to eight in three years.

He learnt the art of gardening from his uncle and is now passing it on the skills to his son, Manish Kumar. The boy is pursuing graduation from Panjab University.

“There is an effort of several months behind one flower plant. I had been working on the plant, which won the first prize, since June and it got ready in December,” said Yadav.

He said these plants are delicate and require month’s dedication. “At times, I have to keep planting a flower thrice or four times, but I do not stop trying until I get results,” he said.

Yadav has been working as a gardener for one family –House number 29, Sector 8- for the last 16 to 17 years and has planted hundreds of plants there.

The house belongs to commander AK Sharma (retd) and Pratibha Sharma, a retired schoolteacher.

The owners have at least 1,000 plants in their home. It includes nearly 250 plants of 14 to 15 varieties of Chrysanthemum, over 500 permanent (all season) plants, 60 to 70 Bougainvilleas, medicinal plants like aloevera, giloe, tulsi and many other seasonal plants.

Pratibha Sharma, got interested in gardening during her college days, when she used to study botany. “Earlier, I myself used to do gardening but now I only take a round once in the morning and the gardener looks after them during the day,” she said.

She said that it’s an expensive hobby as the maintenance of plants costs her nearly Rs 4,000 a month (except the gardener’s salary).

“We have bought plants from Assam, Manali and other places, but sadly these plants do not flourish here,” she said.

When asked if he is also interested in gardening, commander AK Sharma (retd) said, “She is the one who is doing all this, I only help her in buying plants.”

First time she had got the plants, Christmas tree and palm tree to the house, in 1992-1993 which are still lush green.

Taking pride, Yadav said, “I planted Christmas tree, palm tree, mango, litchi trees and later avocado, grapefruit in this house. These plants (mango, litchi, and grapefruit) still bear fruits.”