PUNE: The Empress Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the city, is holding its centenary annual flower show- 'Buds N' Blooms' from this week-end. Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar will inaugurate the show on Friday.

The Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India (AHSWI), which has been managing the garden since last 141 years, had held the first flower show at Empress Garden in 1910 and the tradition has continued. 

Addressing the media on Monday, honorary secretary of the garden Suresh Pingale said, “Several demonstrations, workshops, street-plays and audio-visual presentations have been organised at the show . There will be a talk on 'Wild animals and their importance in our life' by experts and  a puppet show on 'Chipko Movement'.”

The Western India Floriculture Association will display the exotic and exquisite export quality flowers in the show.

 Flower decorations and colourful rangolis by Ikebana Group, Bonsais, flower arrangements and landscaped gardens by the garden departments of both the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations are the other attractions. The three-day  show will be opened at 12.30 pm on Friday and  on the next two days it will open from 9 am to 9 pm, informed AHSWI executive chairman Amit Pokarna.