People select flowers during the flora expo held in Giza, Egypt, on March 3, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

People select flowers during the flora expo held in Giza, Egypt, on March 3, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

A woman selects flowers during the flora expo held in Giza, Egypt, on March 3, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

A boy shows flowers during the flora expo held in Giza, Egypt, on March 3, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
The 89th edition of Egypt's largest and oldest annual flora expo has attracted more than 180 Egyptian exhibitors and is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

The 45-day-long Spring Flowers Exhibition, which opened on Feb. 26, is being held in Orman Botanic Garden in Giza Province near the capital Cairo.

"It is a very important event we wait for eagerly. It helps us get in direct contact with large numbers of customers," Ahmed Helal, owner of a company specializing in growing cactus and roses, told Xinhua.

He noted that the expo is a platform where plants lovers gather to buy flowers and ornamental plants, adding visitors can find a wide range of flowers and plants at affordable prices.

"The visitor turnout is good so far, and it is expected to increase in the coming weeks," Helal said, pointing out that his company has participated in the expo for several years.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in sales, but the expo helps us market our products to overcome this decline," he said. "It is also a good opportunity for companies and growers to exchange expertise and make business deals."

The expo is also the largest and oldest annual exhibition in the Arab region. It is held annually in the Orman Botanical Garden in Giza, which is built on an area of 11.2 hectares, embraces a rare collection of trees and palms, and is considered one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world.

"I visit the expo every year. I can find rare plants at cheap prices here," Nourhan Yahiya, an artist, told Xinhua.

Checking a rare cactus plant, Yahiya said the expo provides thousands of plants including very rare ones.

"I always prefer cactus plants for home decoration as they don't require a lot of care and look great all year long," she explained.

Mona Mahmoud, a housewife from Cairo, is a frequent visitor to the expo where she can find new types of roses and plants for her small indoor garden.

"The show is marvelous. I wish I could have a larger garden to buy more plants," she told Xinhua, flashing a smile.