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THOUSANDS of garden-lovers flocked to the Riffa Views Bahrain International Garden Show 2008 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre to pick up handy tips on keeping the kingdom blooming.
Despite the sand and summer heat many green-fingered residents of the island enjoy tackling the environmental challenges.
Many came to the show to seek new ideas for decorating their patches and plots whilst others soaked in the colours, fragrances and freshness provided by the gardens recreated and on display.
By Monday afternoon more than 10,000 people had attended - well above last year's total of 8,000. Shaikha Maram Isa Al Khalifa, head of RVBIGS' organising committee and director-office of Her Highness, wife of the King of Bahrain, said: "We are delighted and very proud of everyone who has contributed to the beautiful and dazzling results.
"The feedback we have received from visitors has been very positive. People came along to learn and interact with the exhibitors.
"Many took advantage of being able to come back on different days - allowing them to take time to soak up the atmosphere. Some even suggested we should run the show over a longer period.
"We were also very pleased by the growing number of expats who have visited the show for the first time - it appears we are reaching out to everyone."
One Dutch engineer, living in Amwaj Islands, has been missing the tulips from back home but enjoyed the show with his family, saying: "Everyone loves to have a little yard with some green around them although it is very hard to know what grows best in this country."
Baharini Fatima Al Dahaba from Mahooz, said: "I came to buy some new plants and support my cousin Zainab's entry into the flower arrangement competition. I have also been looking for new options for my garden."
One of the most popular sections was the 'Scented Garden' created by Nass Landscapes. It captivated everyone with its amazing arrangement of exotic flowering plants that bordered and brought to life a green expanse in the middle of the hall. The tulips, orchids, lilium star gazers, tuberoses and chrysanthemums simply stole the show.
There were brisk sales at the stalls selling a variety of plants including palm trees, hyacinths, cacti, orchids and ferns. Exotic plants on sale included a 120-year old Ficus bonsai for BD800.
Children also enjoyed the local artists' corner where henna and portrait artists, jewellers, basket weavers and wood carvers demonstrated their craft.
This year's exhibition had the strongest participation in its five-year history with a total of 88 exhibitors - 43 international and 45 local.
RVBIGS 2008 occupied two halls and the Convention Centre of BIEC. Exhibitors came from Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, Syria, Egypt, France, Germany, UK, South Africa, India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE who joined the ranks of Bahrain-based retailers.
The show culminated with the Riffa Views' award of $10,000 to the most outstanding RVBIGS stand which went to the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife which the judges said "portrayed the essence of the Garden Show and the natural environment of Bahrain".
Four additional exhibitors were recognised as 'Highly Commendable'. They were the Royal Court, Ministry of Municipalities, Ministry of Education and Riffa Views' stands - featuring the Eden Challenge Exhibits, Showcase of Local Arts and Crafts and The Bahrain International Golf Company.
