Flower power coming to Beijing

The Fragrant Hills Park will host the second Gardening Design Contest in April when gardeners nationwide gather and present gardens abounding with flowers.

Participants are required to make a mini square garden measuring 2x2 meters, and submit the design draft together with a photograph of the finished garden, accompanied by a 200-word document introducing the design.

Entrants can choose from the flowers provided for free by the park.

"We have prepared a large variety of flowers to meet the demand of the gardeners, including wax begonia, African touch-me-not, petunia, Iceland corn poppy and Senecio cineraria," says Yao Jiang, who works at the administration office of the park.

After the first round of competition, a total of 15 qualifiers will be chosen to set up their designed gardens in front of the Cuiwei Pavilion in the park.

The contestants will receive advice from experts during the planting period, which is April 12-14. They will be rewarded after the competition with home gardening tools.

The competition is held during the 11th Mountain Flower Festival in the park, which will be from mid-April to mid-May.