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Back in my younger days when I used to spend summer afternoons sat on the lawn contemplating ‘what I want to do when I’m older’ (something I’m still prone to doing, I must confess), becoming a gardener was definitely not on the list.
My green-fingered experience extended as far as occasionally mowing the grass in our back garden back in England for a bit of pocket money, an affair which usually ended up with my dad hurriedly rushing to grab the runaway motor as it scythed up turf and soil alike, or re-arranging the chrysanthemums during a particularly energetic game of football with my next-door-neighbour.
Now a bit older and somewhat wiser, I can appreciate the finer points of horticulture and its beauty even if my idea of landscaping is leaving cricket ball-shaped holes in the fence as I try and coach my young nephew to be the new Kevin Pietersen via the technical artistry of wild slogging.
So it was with quiet anticipation that I trotted down to the Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS), held at the Bahrain International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sanabis, to sample the displays on show from exhibitors.
This year’s theme was ‘Tree Care’, and so the show focussed on agricultural skills for the proper maintenance of trees including land preparation, irrigation, fertilisation, trimming, pruning and safe ways of transplanting ‘baby trees’ (I’m sure there’s a more technical term, but I’ll go with that).
It was quite fascinating learning about the various facets of maintaining a pristine garden and how the secret to strong, healthy trees was so much more sophisticated than ‘dig hole in soil, plant seed, sprinkle with watering can, prune the odd branch, spray with hose, wait 20 years, voila!’
Sam, from Thailand, was one of the exhibitors displaying his neat arrangement, and he offered some sound advice for the kingdom’s keen cultivators who want to stain their fingertips green.
He explained: “Through our display, we are trying to elicit the primary emotion of caring for nature, especially the trees but also plants and water. Our profession, landscaping, is exactly this; to take care of these beautiful creations and get the same message across to regular folk.
“I’ve met many people here at BIGS who have walked around and said: ‘Oh, this is incredible, I wish we could have something like this’, and I’ve told them that they can easily do it with a bit of effort and attention.
“We’re here to eliminate that defeatist attitude. Even a small idea can be a seed that blossoms into a beautiful tree. Some simple designs and the mixing of hardscape and softscape elements can be done at minimal cost.”
Sam’s display was one of more than 155 exhibitions on offer at BIGS which concluded on Monday. There were two main sections, the first being ‘The Market Zone’ which was dedicated to the marketing of various agricultural products such as flowers, plants, agricultural tools, pots, garden furniture, machinery, lighting equipment, and more.
The second was the ‘Awareness & Design Zone’ which focussed on raising awareness and educating visitors about agriculture while showcasing innovations in the horticultural field.
Among the throng of public and educational institutions and organisations, I was particularly interested in seeking out the Electricity and Water Authority’s booth so I could quiz them about their recommendations in the face of the massive utility price hike which hit the kingdom’s expat residents yesterday.
Mohammed Hassan, the amiable chap who managed to get a quick word in with me in the midst of flogging a range of sprinklers and taps with the guile of Del Boy, believed that the new charges won’t affect the kingdom’s lawns and flower beds that drastically.
He explained: “Of course, it’s more important than ever to save water. However, this isn’t a case of just using less and hoping that your plants won’t wilt, but more a case of good irrigation.
“With a good water system in your garden, using various tools like sprinklers and timers will limit the use of water but distribute it evenly across your garden and at regular intervals.
“Despite our climate being very hot and the ground very sandy, gardens in Bahrain don’t actually require that much water as many of the plants that grow here have adapted to the conditions. So much unnecessary wastage occurs when it doesn’t have to, so hopefully with the latest advances in technology and a more aware public eager to conserve their usage, interest in gardening will continue to surge and displays get more attractive.”
After an hour or so of traipsing round wondering whether I’d ever own a garden as pristine as any of these on display, what with five giant huskies running around all the time in the garden of my family home in Saar, I left safe in the knowledge that I now knew a little more about this most dedicated of pastimes.
Despite the lies fermented on the school playing field, putting a buttercup under your chin and seeing if your skin glows is not actually a realistic indicator of whether you are a fan of cholesterol-filled spread, and a hoe is a useful tool to make the world prettier rather than something to avoid on my rowdy Friday nights in Juffair.
