The nation’s world-famous orchids have been recognized at this year’s Floralies 2014 International Flower Show in Nantes, France.
This year more than 200 exhibitors from more than 20 countries participated.
A Taoyuan County Government pavilion won “the Best Display for Poetry” award.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan County Government Agriculture Development Bureau
Created with the help of landscape designer Heng Hsiu-wei (鄭秀煒), the pavilion took its theme from Tao Hua Yuan (Peach Blossom Spring), a piece by ancient Chinese poet Tao Yuan-ming (陶淵明) that describes a Chinese utopia.
The display was decorated with moth orchids, dancing-doll orchids and grass flowers.
Orchid grower Joseph Wu (吳祚雄) was awarded a silver medal in the “Best Foreign Individual Exhibitors” category. Wu unveiled a new breed of orchid he had created, named after Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland.
Rolland visited the two Taiwanese pavilions with Representative to France Michel Lu (呂慶龍) and showed special interest in Taiwan’s moth orchids.
Lu told Rolland that the Orchid Research Center at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University has worked with Nantes on cooperative projects since the 1980s.
Taiwanese orchid growers have also invested in orchid farms in southern France, he said.
Of the total moth orchids sold in France, 50 percent are supplied by Taiwan, Lu said.
The flower show has been held every five years since 1956 and is a major horticultural event in Europe, covering a 35 hectare exhibition area.
Running from Thursday last week through Sunday, the event is expected to attract 500,000 visitors.
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