MAKE YOUR ROSES LAST LONGER

Roses are one of the most common valentine’s day gift.

Preserving those rose stalks fresh for a long time is really difficult and all attempts to keep that special gift goes in vain after a day!
To keep the flower vase bright and lively with fresh rose stalks, here are few tips to maintain the rose flowers and make them last longer.

Tips to keep rose stalks fresh:

1. The flower vase should be clean from bacteria. Scrub and wash the vase with hot water and bleach to kill bacterias which reduces the freshness of the rose.

2. It is best to store rose flowers in a cold place. This maintains the flowers and lasts long. You can either store the rose flowers in refrigerator overnight or keep them in cold water.

3. Sprinkle a pinch of bleach in water before putting the stalks. This prevents the growth of bacteria.

4. You can also store the rose flowers in warm water for one day. This keeps the rose flowers fresh for a long time as cut roses easily absorb warm water.

5. Always remove leaves from the from the bottom of the rose stem. Leaves rot and can easily grow bacteria. So, remove all foliage from the bottom.

6. Cut the rose stalk from bottom to keep it hydrated and fresh. You can cut everyday to keep it fresh. Fresh cuts enhances the glow and makes the rose flowers look fresh and last longer.

7. Keep the flower vase in a cold place where there is less humidity and sunlight. This prevents the rose flowers from drying.

8. Change the water everyday to make the rose stalks last longer. Cut the stalk from the bottom regularly to keep the flowers fresh. You can cut at an angle of 45 degree angle to allow easy absorption of water.

Whether the rose flowers are cut from the garden or bought from the florist shop, you would like to spread its smell and aroma in the house for days! Follow these tips to keep the rose fresh and bright for long. Store your romantic valentine’s gift in a cool place and keep in the refrigerator at night if required.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 30, 2012 at 8:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

USA

ROSES ARE THE BEST MEDICINE

As Gail Saivar checked out at Trader Joe’s on Tuesday, the cashier asked how the day was going. “Great,” she shot back, “if you don’t count the guy who took a right turn from the left lane into my car when I was driving home — from my radiation treatment.” Saivar collected her groceries, walked to the parking lot and was backing out in her crippled car when there was a knock on the passenger window. It was cashier Paul Gobel, proffering a bouquet of roses. “We’ve all had days like that,” he said. “He turned mine around,” says Saivar.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 28, 2012 at 7:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CANADA

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ST VALENTINES DAY

On a sunny plateau near the Colombian capital of Bogotá, millions and millions of roses grow.
By Valentine’s Day, they will have been harvested, rolled into bundles, boxed, X-rayed for hidden drug shipments and loaded onto cargo planes destined for Miami.
From there, they’re packed into refrigerated trucks and shipped to wholesalers and distributors all over North America, eventually arriving at the florists, grocery chains and corner delis of Canada.
In 2010, this country imported $23.5 million worth of roses from Colombia. In fact, almost a third of all cut flowers sold in Canada are imported from Colombia—our number one supplier—including $14.1 million worth of carnations and $9.6 million worth of chrysanthemums. Those numbers will likely grow.
Last August, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement went into effect, securing a market for Canadian wheat, pulses and newsprint while eliminating the tariffs on Colombian flowers: It was previously 10.5% on roses. The numbers have yet to be crunched, but by October, 2011—just two months after the agreement came into force—chrysanthemum and carnation imports had already surpassed 2010 levels. For local growers—who cultivate $1.4 billion worth of flowers annually, a large portion in Ontario’s Niagara region—the bloom fell off roses long ago.
Colombia’s equatorial climate, with warm days and cool nights, allows roses to grow year-round.
Moreover, labour costs in the country are so low and roses so durable (they can be shipped without water or soil and last for a week or more after harvesting) that a 4,000-kilometre journey isn’t a problem. Still, local producers worry that the agreement may threaten stronger Canadian categories: tulips, orchids and daisies, among others.

For the time being, at least, they’d love husbands to consider the romantic potential of a gerbera daisy.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 27, 2012 at 8:49 am  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SAUDI ARABIA

TAIF ROSES

In Saudi Arabia, roses are synonymous with the city of Taif, which is internationally famous for agriculture and in particular the cultivation and production of roses, dating back to 100 years.

Stretched along the roads and streets of Taif are many vendors displaying cork boxes full of fragrant home grown roses, fruits and other fresh produce.

In addition, the city produces rose essence and rose water, and every year the municipality and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities organizes a rose festival, which is visited by both local and international tourists.

Despite the difficult conditions, such as scarcity of water and labourers during the rose cultivation season, the number of rose plantations reached 750 during the last year festival. These are mostly located in the cooler Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Dahia, and Al-Ghadeerain areas. Together, they produce around 233 million roses and comprise 34 factories for the plantation of roses and production of 19,000 bottles of rose essence.

The planting of roses usually coincides with the end of the month of January and lasts up to 75 days. Planters start with digging groves in the plantation soil, in which carefully cut rose branches are planted, covered in rich fertilizer and manually watered in times of rain scarcity. They carefully plant the rose branches close to the earth and make sure they do not exceed 1.5 meters in height, which makes it necessary to trim them constantly. Keeping them low encourage the rose trees to produce as many roses as possible each morning. The flowers must be plucked before sunrise, when they are dewy and most fragrant. Every year, harvest time starts during the month of April and goes on until the end of May.

Rashid Al-Qurashi, owner of several rose plantations and rose products, asserts that there is no other rose like the Taif rose because of its strong delicious fragrance. Even the Syrian Juri rose, which is bigger and prettier, has not such a strong fragrant as the Taif rose.

Taif is also considered the favorite city to escape the hot summer days of Saudi Arabia. Situated atop the Sarawat Mountains, the visitors enjoy the cool weather and delicious fruits. They also make sure they don’t leave this cool, green and fragrant area without taking back home boxes of Taif roses, bottles of rose essence and rose water as mementos of a good and relaxing time spent in the pleasant parks of Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Al-Ghadeer, and others.

Production of rose essence and rose water

As a first step, the roses are put into special pots. These are filled with water — the amount according to the quantity of roses used. Then, the pots are securely covered over a low burning fire. When the roses start to boil, the fragrant steam passes through a tube that is surrounded by cold water, so that the steam condenses and starts dripping into a special glass receptacle until a layer of rose oil appears on its surface. This is then carefully skimmed off the surface and quickly bottled. The process usually takes between ten to fourteen hours daily.

Unlike Oud oil, which develops a better fragrance and hence gets more expensive as it ages, rose essence should not be kept for a long time, as that affects the quality and devalues it, especially if exposed to light and heat. In order to prolong the life of rose essence, experts recommend removing the plastic stopper from its glass bottle, because with time the plastic interacts with the oil essence and ruins its purity.

Rose water is usually filled into large 20 liter glass bottles for a variety of uses, especially for the making of Arabic deserts, and can be added to drinking water.

There are two types of rose water: The ordinary kind that is sold in small glass bottles for SR10 in shops and supermarkets, and a more special type that is known as “Al-Aroosa” (the bride), which is distilled rose water resulting from the production of rose essence. This type is sold in small glass bottles that cost around SR30 and is the most preferred in the Gulf. People use it as a perfume at home and sprinkle it on guests, using traditional dainty rose water pewter sprinklers.

Women also use rose water as part of their beauty regime ever since its beneficial qualities where discovered, such as cleansing of the skin and tightening of the pores.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.
Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on January 17, 2012 at 5:42 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ROSE OF THE WEEK

WARM WELCOME

Patio Climber.

1992.  7ft-8ft

A really eye catching rose.

A simple flower of bright red-orange which covers this climber from top to bottom.

Flowers right through the season.

Keep it in a cosy place and you will even have flowers at Christmas.

We have also tried it on a North wall with good results.

Undoubtedly our best selling patio climber.

This range of small climbers have become extremely popular due to their versatility .

Most can be grown in containers and are very attractive either side of the front door without growing too high.

They can be pruned quite low each year to control the height.

Highly recommended.

Fragrant.

Bred by Chris Warner. UK

OTHER SHORT PATIO CLIMBERS

Boogie Woogie.    Cascade.    Cheek To Cheek.   Gloriana.    Good As Gold.    Lady Penelope.    Laura Ford.    Little Rambler.    Merengue.     Nice Day.     Open Arms.     Rhapsody In Blue.    Star Performer.    Tattoo.     Twist.        White Cloud.

Details of all our roses are available on our web site.

Over 1000 varieties to choose from.

www.countrygardenroses.co.uk

Published in: on August 5, 2011 at 11:15 am  Leave a Comment  
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WORLD ROSE SOCIETIES

ARGENTINA   Rose Society Of Argentina    2010

 

Asociación Argentina de Rosicultura, (A.A.R.)
The Rose Society of Argentina

Juan Francisco Seguí 3949 2° D
Cidudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Argentina
Tel/Fax: +54 11-4803-5067
Tel: +54 11-4665-0591
Email: info@rosicultura.org.ar
www.rosicultura.org.ar
President – Mrs. Nilda Crivelli

Members meet once a month. At these meetings a guest speaker gives a talk on a rose-related subject. An annual Magazine is published and, since 1998, biannual bulletins are also published.

The highlight of the year is the Spring Show, which is held toward the end of October. There will be no Autumn Show this year. Instead, in April we will have a non-competitive educational exhibition to show the public how to grow roses here and how to use roses in the landscape. We also offer our members visits to private gardens, nurseries and museums.

To date we have four branches in the interior of Argentina. These are in Córdoba, Mar del Plata, Mendoza and San Juan. They also hold annual shows.

Fees:
Regular Member: $180.00
Associate Member: $50.00
Professional: $180.00
Branch members: $50.00
One time initiation fee: $50.00

 

AUSTRALIA    Rose Society Of Australia.  2010

 The National Rose Society of Australia

82 Para Road
Tanunda SA 5352
Australia
Tel: +61 (08) 8563 0521
Email: frosen@frickfamily.com
www.rose.org.au
Honorary Secretary – Mrs. Mary Frick
President – Mr. Tony Stallwood

The National Rose Society of Australia is comprised of five State Rose Societies. It is the practice for each State of Australia to provide the President of The National Rose Society of Australia in succession on an annual basis.

We request that any correspondence be directed to the Honorary Secretary, who will distribute it promptly to our five State organizations.

Each State Society conducts an annual Spring Rose Show and an Autumn Rose Show. Owing to very wide differences in the climates of our States, the timetables for these events vary as follows:

Spring Shows: Queensland early October
  New South Wales mid to late October
  Victoria early November
  South Australia October
  Western Australia October
Autumn Shows: Queensland May
  New South Wales March and April
  Victoria April
  South Australia April
  Western Australia April

In 2010 our Annual General Meeting will be held October 3 in Spring Hill, Queensland in conjunction with the Austrialian Rose Championships 2010. Please see www.qld.rose.org.au/calendar.html for further details.

There are many gardens in Australia. Some are open from Spring to Autumn. Others open very rarely, and a number are by appointment only. Please contact the National Secretary for lists of Gardens and Nurseries and their open dates.

AUSTRIA.    Rose Society Of Austria.   2010

 Österreichische Rosenfreunde in der Österreichischen Gartenbau-Gesellschaft

Siebeckstraße 14/Top 1.4
A-1220 Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43 1 512 84 16
Fax: +43 1 512 84 16/17
Email: e.kalous@oegg.or.at
President – Herr OAR Ing. Hardo Libowitsky
Secretary – Frau Ing. Elisabeth Kalous

All members of local rose societies in Austria belong to the Austrian Horticultral Society. They receive the society magazine, Garten Haus, and can attend the monthly meetings and lectures held by the “ÖGG-Fachgruppe Rosen und Ziergehölze”. These are held on the fourth Monday of every month and are led by Gerhard Stolz. Members also have free use of the lending library, which contains 7000 volumes, and have access to expert information on roses.

Fees: Regular: € 47,50
Foreign members: € 57,50

 

 

BELGIUM   Belgian Rose Society  2010

Société Royale Nationale “Les Amis de la Rose”
Koninklijke Nationale Maatschappij “De Vrienden van de Roos”

Jesuitenwegel 5
B-9090 Melle
Belgium
Email: lilyvanlaethem@skynet.be
www.rosabelgica.be/uk/home.htm
Honorary President – La Baronne Lily de Gerlache de Gomery
President -Mr. Frans Thomas
Secretary – Mrs. Lily Van Laethem

With the aim of encouraging all activities concerning knowledge and love of roses, Mr. Georges van Oost founded the Society in 1926.

Special events, organised visits to rose gardens and lectures are all communicated to our members via our Newsletters. Members also receive one publication a year, called Rosa Belgica, with many articles and information concerning the Rose.

The Society supports rose trials and all other events concerning the Rose. We were one of the founding members of the World Federation of Rose Societies.

Both professional rosarians and amateurs are members of the Society.

BERMUDA.   Bermuda Rose Society.   2010

 The Bermuda Rose Society

P.O. Box PG 162
Paget PG BX
Bermuda
Tel: +1 441293-2685
Email: ehans@ibl.bm
Website: http://rosesinbermuda.com
President -Mrs. Essie Hans
Secretary – To be advised

We have about 100 active members. Since Bermuda is an island about 700 miles from the U.S. coastline in the Atlantic Ocean, remote from other influences, it has been called a living museum of roses. Roses were brought to the island by ships travelling from all over the world. Our main goal is to protect Bermuda’s rose heritage. We are mainly interested in Old Garden Roses.

Each year the Bermuda Rose Society raises about 500 slips of our Old Garden Roses, which we sell – this is a major fund raising activity of the Society. We also donate some to Government and to the Bermuda National Trust for parks and gardens.

The Society meets monthly from October through May, usually on the first Friday of the month at the Horticultural Hall in the Bermuda Botanical Gardens in Paget. Besides the business of the Society there is a monthly competition of cut roses and rose arrangements, and often a guest speaker. The Bermuda Rose Society usually invites one overseas guest speaker each year. Any rosarian visitors are welcome to attend.

The Society is working on a revision and update of our rose book, Roses in Bermuda, which was published in 1997 and now is completely sold out. The Society maintains a Repository Garden of Old Garden Roses in the grounds of Waterville, the headquarters of the Bermuda National Trust. It is also a participant in the Earthkind Project. The roses we have chosen for this are ‘Vincent Godsiff’, ‘Smith’s Parish’, ‘Spice’, ‘Maitland White’,'Mutabilis’ and ‘Carefree Beauty’.

As a prerequisite for membership, all persons must attend two meetings prior to submitting an application which is supported by two existing members. We do not accept foreign membership. The Society issues approximately four newsletters per session for its members.

Fees:$30.00 per year
Life Membership: $250 (may be applied for after 10 years)

 

CANADA   Canadian Rose Society

 

The Canadian Rose Society  2010

116 Belsize Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 1L7
Canada
Tel: +1 416 485-5907
Email: info@canadianrosesociety.org
http://www.canadianrosesociety.org
President: Shari-Lynn Safir

The Rose Society of Ontario was founded in 1913 in Toronto by a group of dedicated ladies. Men were admitted in 1918, and by 1954 membership had spread across the country. To reflect that fact our name was officially changed to the Canadian Rose Society.

We have members from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the 49th parallel in the south to the Northwest Territories in the north. Because our members are so widely spread out, our publications are a very important link. The Rose Annual is published in September, the magazine, The Rosarian, is published once a year and the newsletter, The CommPoster is published five times a year

Fees
Regular: $20 Electronic – $15)
Family: $25 (Electronic – $20)
Affiliate Society: $30 (Electronic – $25)
Institutes & Nurseries: $30 (Electronic – $25)
US: $35 US funds (Electronic – $30 US funds)
Foreign (other than US): $50 US funds (Electronic – $30 US funds)

   When the Roses Bloom

 

Area & First Bloom Date Main Bloom Date
Vancouver, Victoria and Lower Mainland of British Columbia – May 15 June 18
British Columbia interior – June 10 July 1-9
Calgary, Alberta – May 28 July 1-15
Edmonton, Alberta – June 10 July 1-9
Saskatchewan and Manitoba – June 20 June 30-July 9
Southern Ontario – May 28 June 20-30
Northern Ontario – June 10 July 1-9
Montreal, Quebec – June 5 June 15-July10
Prince Edward Island – June 20 July 8-16
Halifax and most of Nova Scotia – June 10 July 8-16

 

 

CHILE   Rose Society Of Chile  2010

 

Asociación Chilena de la Rosa

Santa Blanca 2181
Lo Barnechea, Santiago
Chile
Fax: +56 2-217.0264
Email: secretaria@asociacionchilenadelarosa.cl
www.asociacionchilenadelarosa.cl
President – Mrs.María Teresa Eyzaguirre
Secretary – Gisela Ávila Solari

The Asociación Chilena de la Rosa was established in 1998. It has about 30 active members, mainly in the central part of Chile. We hope to add more members from other parts of our long country by spreading knowledge about roses and increasing interest in the cultivation of roses around the country.

During the winter of 2000 we planted a large bed of Large Flowered Roses in Rosedal Parque Araucano in the Municipality of Las Condes. This rose garden is mainly maintained and supervised by members of our Society.

 

When the Roses Bloom

 

 

Area & First Bloom Date Main Bloom Date
October

October

 

CHINA.  China Rose Society.  2010

 

China Rose Society

c/o Beijing Botanic Garden
Wofosi Road, Xiangshan
Beijing 10093
Peoples Republic of China
Tel: +86 10 62591283
Fax: +86 10 82596707
Email: zhaoshiwei@beijingbg.com
Mr. Zhao Shiwei – Secretary General

The China Rose Society was established in November, 1986 and is named after Rosa chinensis. It is based in Laizhou City in the province of Shandong, which is located in the central region of China, west of the Yellow Sea. The region has four seasons and the climate is very mild. The city is famous as the home of the Chinese rose, which also grows all over the nation. In fact, 52 cities now have the Rose as their official flower.

The China Rose Society has seven Vice-Presidents, each representing different areas of the country, and one federal Vice-President. It promotes the exchange of scientific information, production and research. More than 700 varieties of roses have been identified in China and the China Rose Society recently published a Rose Directory. A major centre for research and the development of new rose varieties has been set up in the suburbs of Beijing. In addition, five other centres have been set up around the country. Together they form a national system to assist with the registration and identification of roses and with new Chinese varieties entering the world market.

An Annual Rose Festival has been held in Laizhou every May 25 since 1990, and you are all cordially invited to attend. The China Rose Society also publishes an annual magazine.

 

Czech Republic

 

Rosa klub CR/Czech Rosa Club

Ceskomalinská 17,
CZ-160 00 Praha 6
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 226 518 194
Email: josef.thomas@suro.cz OR josef.thomas@email.cz
www.rosaklub.cz
President and Secretary, Dr. Josef Thomas (at above address)

The Czech ROSA CLUB was founded in 1968 in Prague as a specialized group of the Czech Union of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (CUALG). It now has approximately 300 members across the country.

Its bulletin, Zpravodaj, is published twice a year. An Annual Meeting is held in late winter and a Summer Meeting is also held.

The International Contest of New Roses at Hradec Králové is organized by the Czech Rosa Club and financed by the municipal authorities. For more information contact Dr. Stanislav Konštacký at konstackys@seznam.cz

However, we are happy to report that the world renowned Rose Park at Lidice, which is part of the Memorial for the village of Lidice (www.lidice-memorial.cz), destroyed by the Nazis in 1942, was reconstructed in 2002 with the aid of international support.

Fees: 100 CZK,   Seniors – 80 CZK

 

Denmark

 

Det Danske Rosenselskab/The Danish Rose Society (DDRS)

Strandvej 41-1
DK-4220 Korsør
Denmark
Tel: +45 23 110 118
Fax: +45 75 685 746
Email: post@rosenselskabet.dk
http://www.rosenselskabet.dk
President – Mrs. Inger Schierning

The Danish Rose Society magazine, RosenNyt, is issued in March, June, September and December.

Fees:
Single – 290 DKK (plus 50 DKK enrolment fee)
Double – 435 DKK (plus 50 DKK enrolment fee)

 

 

Published in: on November 21, 2010 at 5:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PINK SUPREME WINS TOP HONOURS

Pink Supreme is now the seventh Flower Carpet rose to win the world’s top honor for disease-resistant roses – Germany’s coveted All Deutschland Rose (ADR) designation. One of three new Flower Carpet “Next Generation” roses (with an additional 15 years of breeding for heat and humidity), Pink Supreme this year also scored high in the Dallas Arboretum trial gardens (known for putting plants to the ultimate test in extreme heat and humidity).

“I know of no other eco-friendly, easy-care rose program offering so much scientifically based, unbiased backing and endorsement,” says Anthony Tesselaar, cofounder and president of the Australia-based Tesselaar Plants (which introduced Flower Carpet to the U.S. in 1995 as the world’s first low-maintenance, prolifically flowering, disease- and pest-resistant landscape rose.) “That’s what happens when every plant you offer goes through such rigorous testing – 1,465 steps in all – before it’s brought to market.”

Tesselaar is particularly pleased with the ADR designation for Pink Supreme, which is now the third of the Flower Carpet line’s “Next Generation” roses to win the award (along with Scarlet and Amber). The original line’s Pink, White, Scarlet and Yellow have also won the designation. The ADR trials are conducted over the course of three years at a number of different test sites, each enforcing the ADR program’s famous ban on spraying or other chemical support. “We all know these are important measures as we look to minimize our impact on the environment,” says Anthony Tesselaar. 

Pink Supreme also earned high marks in the Dallas Arboretum’s 2010 Trial program – internationally known as one of the premier places to test plants for extreme weather conditions, especially high heat and humidity.

“Our tagline is ‘Trial By Flower – If We Can’t Kill It, No One Can’”, says Jimmy Turner, the Dallas Arboretum’s Senior Director of Gardens.

The arboretum’s trial program annually tests 4,000 annuals, bulbs, perennials, trees and shrubs in search of the “toughest plants alive.”

“This is a variety that I was highly impressed with due to its flower power,” says Jenny Wegley, Research and Greenhouse Manager for the Dallas Arboretum. “Pink Supreme blooms its head off the majority of the growing season, with mid- to light-pink flower clusters that really make this variety popular.” Pink Supreme, she adds, also shows no signs of powdery mildew and takes a cutting well.

Published in: on November 20, 2010 at 7:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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INDIA ROSE TO THE OCCASION

 INDIA  October 2010

A group of youths created quite a scare among traffic violators at Nashik Phata Chowk on Gandhi Jayanti. They handed out roses to every driver whose vehicle either stepped on to the zebra crossing or crossed the zebra crossing.

At 10 am, a few youths landed at the spot with a bag of roses. They kept a close watch on every vehicle that halted at the traffic signal. A rose each was handed out to anybody who touched the zebra crossing and told not to violate the rule again.

“The moment we rushed to violators, they were scared thinking we might do some harm to them. While the motorists tried to pull down windows, the two-wheeler riders moved behind,” said Amol Mahankale, one of the youths.

He said they handed out over 100 flowers and succeeded in passing the message to the traffic violators that they should adhere to the traffic rules and regulations not only for their safety but also in the larger interests of the traffic. “For the past couple of years, we have been doing this activity on Gandhi Jayanti. More or less, we have been able to drill into the minds of road users that adherence to traffic norms is mandatory for all.”

Many motorists, however, did not mind receiving the flowers. In fact, many of them smiled and received them while promising to keep traffic rule in mind next time they are at the traffic signal. Some of them were too embarrassed, who quickly made a getaway without taking the flowers from youths. The traffic police also joined the drive with the youths.

 Avdhumbar Kalsaith, a newspaper vendor, said it was a good move to put traffic violators in place. “But unfortunately, this is a one-off activity. Something of this nature should happen everyday so that traffic sense is infused among road users.”

 

MUMBAI: On Gandhi Jayanti this Saturday, a small group of citizens, activists and policemen decided to do a bit of Gandhigiri for stain-free public places by offering roses to those who were caught spitting at Kurla railway station.

Stanley William, a male nurse at a local hospital, was among those surprised spitters who received a rose from a smiling GRP man assisting the fellow Gandhians. “You are a nurse, will you allow people to spit in your hospital? Take this rose and help us keep our public property clean,” said senior police inspector, Dilip Gore, as Stanley smiled to hide his embarrassment.

President of Kurla Railway Passengers’ Association, Subhash Gupta, managed to catch around 25 offenders within just half-hour of Gandhigiri. “Almost every spitter who got the rose immediately realised his mistake and promised not to do it again,” said Gupta.

Interestingly, his fellow activists Manoj Chaubey and Anil Galgali pointed out that not a single woman was seen dirtying the station. “It seems that women have a better civic sense than men,” said Galgali in a lighter vein.

 

Published in: on October 3, 2010 at 12:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
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