A community floral arrangement activity opened at the Waigang town cultural and sports center in Jiading on Jan 11. A number of professional florists taught residents from nearby communities how to make floral arrangements.
As the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan 22 this year, approaches, the venue was decorated with Chinese floral designs to create a festive atmosphere.
Plum blossoms are decorated with small lanterns symbolishing good luck. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
Plum blossoms, a long-loved theme in Chinese traditional painting and poetry, are in bloom during the winter months. An expert florist, Xiao Min, shared some fundamental knowledge about arranging plum blossoms with participants at the event, and she quickly gained a lot of popularity.
Residents actively tried to create their own creations after Xiao demonstrated how to arrange the plum flowers in pots, vases, and baskets. They carefully cut the twigs, covered the flower foam with leaves, and then embellished their creations with small lanterns, which in China have symbolic implications.
Xiao Min (on the right), an experienced florist explains the art of floral arrangements to a resident. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
According to Deng Miaohua, a staff member at the Waigang town cultural and sports center, the activity gave residents an opportunity to enjoy the intense festive atmosphere and express their wishes for the upcoming holiday.
In addition to the floral arrangement activity, there were also a great number of other activities being held at the cultural and sports center, including a photography competition and a plum blossom appreciation event.
A resident shows off his floral arrangement. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]