malvernmugadzikwa
Andrew Mangwarara
IT was all fun and pomp at the Zimpapers and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Healthy Homes and Garden Show.
The event was hosted at the Zimparks head office from September 22 to 23.
Various exhibitors showcased their work, which was all related to the theme “Healthy homes and gardens”. Nurseries had a variety of plants for sale to the public, and others they use for personal landscaping purposes.
Amazing Grace Gardens showcased an astonishing collection of plants that were neatly displayed.
Having been in business for years, the nursery has a wide range of shrubs, succulents and annuals.
Grace Taibu of Addicted to Gardening Nursery said she was enlightened by the event. She came all the way from Chitungwiza to showcase the nursery’s Italian cypress, which can be a centre of attraction in any garden, forming a six-metre-tall Christmas tree-like shape. Other nurseries included Tru Nature Landscaping, trading as Lomagundi Nursery; Crowhill Gardens and many others that offer picnic or outdoor event venues.
Shilades Flowers, on the other hand, specialise in floral arrangement for all events, with landscaping as a side project.
Other exhibitors of note included Friends of the Environment, a non-profit organisation that promotes the regreening of Zimbabwe through tree planting. The projects officer, Augustine Mukaro, gave an insight into their work, which involves awareness campaigns, tree seedling nurseries and tree planting.
He said the group was hosting a walkathon from Harare to Guruve, which started last Friday and runs up to December 2. The event will combine awareness campaigns along the way, culminating in a field day at one of the schools in Guruve, where a tree planting nursery will be established.
Companies like Splash Paints, AE Electrical and Bhola Hardware showcased their wide range of products that are mainly used in gardening.
The Farm and City Centre stand was well-designed, with a variety of home and garden accessories on display, from fragrant soaps to chemicals, garden tools and furniture.
Apart from the displays, there were a number of food outlets and jumping castles for the visitors’ enjoyment. Another option was to explore the Zimparks gardens, where a large pond with cascading waterfalls is the major highlight.
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Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu