Neelakurinji - 12-year wonder

Neelakurinji - 12-year wonder

You may visit Munnar now and enjoy the scene of millions of Neelakurinji flowers in bloom or wait till 2018 to see it again. Thousands of tour-ists are flocking to Munnar in Kerala to have a look of this massive flowering of Neelakurinji, which happens once in 12 years. It's a festival time for the environmentalists as well as the common people in the area. The environmentalists and similar activists project Neelakurinji as a mascot in their efforts to preserve shola grassland ecosystem in the Western Ghats of South India.

Unique Species
You may ask, what is this Neelakurinji. It's a little mauve flower. But the individual flower is not at all attractive for an ordinary man. You cannot attribute any particular charm or fragrance to this little flower. However, the massive flowering is really a feast to the eyes of beholders.

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Dried flower and wreath sale

Dried flower and wreath sale

Wonderful holiday decorations and gifts will be available from the UCSC Arboretum at the annual Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale on Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and 12. Exotic dried flower arrangements, living succulent wreaths, rare and unusual succulent plants, and materials for making your own gifts are among the offerings at this year's sale.

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North Palm Beach County events calendar: November 8

North Palm Beach County events calendar: November 8

Palm Beach Atlantic University Bookstore Book Club: Weekly sessions continue with the next event set for Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., at the bookstore, 1000 South Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. Speaking on Nov. 8 is Dr. Mark Buechsel, assistant professor of English, on "The Folks" by Ruth Suckow. On Nov. 15, Dr. David Horkott, assistant professor of humanities, will discuss "On the Geneology of Morality" by Friedrich Nietzsche. The topic of discussion on Nov. 29 is "Immigrant Faiths" by Karen Leonard and Alex Stepick, which will be led by Dr. Velmarie Albertini, associate professor of Christian social ministry. On Dec. 6, Dr. Susan Jones, associate professor of English, will end the year with "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. Admission is free. Call the bookstore at (561) 803-2180 for information.

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Floods dampen Loy Krathong festivities

Floods dampen Loy Krathong festivities In Chiang Mai, people packed the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 as the exhibition's compound remained open until midnight for the occasion. In Bangkok, thousands of people swarmed to the Dusit Zoo to float their krathongs (decorative floats) in a large pond. The krathong contest for Their Majesties the King and Queen's plaques also took place at the zoo's compound, which was open until midnight as well. The contest had two categories: fresh flowers and a "creative", or free-style category. The zoo hosted many other entertainment activities, including a show by night predators such as owls and binturong, also known as Malay civet cats. The Royal Thai Army's disaster mitigation centre brought 400 children from flood-hit zones to visit the zoo.

New twists for Agrofest 2007

New twists for Agrofest 2007 An opening ceremony with a parade from the Princess Alice Highway in the City to Queen's Park, a Behind-The-Paling exhibition and an Agrofest version of Caribbean Cuisine are some of the innovations added to Agrofest 2007. The largest agricultural event in Barbados is scheduled to start from Friday, February 23, to Sunday, February 25, 2007. It has as its theme, Agri-tech: The Agricultural Language Of The Youth. Over 100 exhibitors are targeted to utilise Queen's Park to display livestock, fruit and vegetables, plants, flowers, art and craft, hydroponics and a butcher's market, among other things. Co-ordinator Merle Niles, speaking at the official launch at Manor Lodge, Lodge Hill, St Michael, yesterday, said the Barbados Agricultural Society was proposing to host the event.