Cairo's annual flower show, which features indoor and garden plants, ends four weeks later on the Eid al-Adha holiday. This year, the exhibition was moved from its traditional location in Al Orman Gardens to the small garden of the Agricultural Museum, resulting in fewer exhibits and fewer visitors. However, dedicated visitor Amal visited the exhibition despite his concerns about its size .
“I needed more plants and ideas to expand my selection,” says Amal, who decided to green her simple third-floor balcony in the Doki building during the first summer of the 2020 pandemic. Even if they had no interest before. Gardening, Amal and her husband went to the nursery for advice and to buy some supplies.
At first, Amal struggles to take care of the plants, but by the summer of 2021, she's got the situation under control. Thanks to the selection of indoor plants, a different and refreshing atmosphere appeared in her balcony and living room. "It wasn't just about looking good, it was about feeling good," she said .
Reversing the epidemic has become a passion for Amal and her husband, Mohammed. Even if their teenage children are not interested in gardening, they love to water the plants. "It's hard to resist the temptation of a beautiful plant," he said.
Over the past three years, Amal's five original balconies have more than quadrupled in size, now taking up space in the living room, kitchen and bathroom. This year, after visiting the exhibition, many more plants entered the house and balcony .
"At first I was afraid to buy jasmine, because it is very weak and requires special attention, but this year I felt that I could take that step, and I wanted to expand my choice of fragrant plants," he said.
Salem Okasha visited one of the booths at this year's exhibition. Middle-aged and older visitors like fragrant plants, while younger visitors prefer plants with colorful flowers .
He said that's one of the reasons some are disappointed with the show, which began its eight-week run in mid-March. "March is not June, but the time when colorful plants grow," he explained .
Dahlia Salem, founder of the House of Dahlias Facebook page, has created a series of videos suggesting indoor plants and decorations to help visitors struggling with this year's display of flowers that last through the winter flowering season .
"We've already passed early spring with a wide variety of bright flowers. However, a selection of summer flowers, from oranges to fuchsias, fills the void for those who like bright-flowered plants; otherwise, there are plenty of other options," he said.
In the year As a landscaper who graduated from the Faculty of Arts in Interior Design in the late 1990s, Amal devoted time and energy to researching native plants and introducing ornamental plant species. Her landscape clients and Facebook followers are introduced to new ideas and options for all tastes and budgets.
Amal believes that people are realizing the value of ornamental plants and garden plants. This trend began in the early 2000s when more and more people moved into homes with gardens and became interested in beautiful landscaping. In addition, more and more people appreciate the pleasant effect of plants and flowers in their homes and balconies. After the January 2011 revolution, positive attitudes have made flowers more popular as a home decoration option. Finally, because of the epidemic, more and more people turned to gardening and growing plants as a source of happiness .
Although the pandemic has revived interest in patios, Amal points out that this is not a new trend. He fondly remembers his grandmother's doki terrace, full of jasmine and famous in the past. "Balcony plants went out of style for a while, but they're back in popularity," he said.
Psychotherapist Salma Tarek believes that planting and growing plants at home brings positive energy, which explains the increased demand for indoor plants in times of stress .
According to Tarek, gardening and keeping plants indoors has many benefits beyond reducing stress and anxiety. He believes it is "a cure for severe depression, low concentration and dementia." Caring for plants helps people focus on their daily lives, find satisfaction in their growth and overcome feelings of loneliness. Seeing plants in bloom gives a sense of confidence and happiness . »
According to Tarek, giving the plant to a friend or family member who is unhappy can help them take action and distract them from their worries, thereby improving their mood. "When we offer a plant to someone, we can do it out of gratitude, kindness, or to distract him. Seeing a flowering plant can also create gratitude," he said .
Another visitor, Farah, was looking for plants to give to her grandmother at this year's fair. Despite the delay, she kept her tradition of choosing a Mother's Day gift. "It will be better if the exhibition returns to the previous date and place, which will be more diverse and fun," he said.
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