Happy Green Home
City life is hectic. How can city dwellers brighten up their days and relieve stress by bringing nature into their homes?
Spring in 2021 (February to May)
Impacted by the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Hong Kong Flower Show 2021 originally scheduled to be held from 12 to 21 March at Victoria Park was cancelled, in order to reduce social contacts and the risk of spreading virus in the community. To promote greening in a safe way, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has launched the ”Happy Green Home” in September 2020, with some 3 000 DIY pot-plant gift packs distributed to the households of 20 estates participating the Community Greening Programme 2020/2021. With online pot-plant making video, residents can create a unique decorative plant pot to green their home in a distinctive way. Apart from bringing nature into city dwellers’ homes, the programme also brighten up their days with stress relieved.
Making a Wheatgrass-headed Doll
To make a cute wheatgrass-head doll is easy. Simply reuse some leftover household items to create a quirky and special pot for a plant to liven up the space at home.
How to grow the plant
1. Put four-fifths of the potting soil in the flower pot
2. Lay the seeds flat in the flower pot
3. Cover the seeds with the remaining one-fifth of the soil
4. Water the soil surface evenly until water comes out of the bottom of the flower pot
Seed germination diary
Day 1
Day 3 – Seeds have germinated
Day 5
Day 7 – Time for trimming
How to care for the plant
- To keep the soil moist, gently water the plant every 2 to 3 days to ensure the potting soil is fully hydrated.
- Place it beside a window with sufficient lighting to promote plant growth.
How to care for the plant
- Choose an old pot of appropriate size and paint it with colours, then draw patterns or write blessing words on the pot as the doll's clothes.
- Tie knots on both ends of a hemp rope to form the dolls arms and legs.
- Reuse some leftover household items for the dolls accessories (e.g. a necklace, a bowknot, etc.).
Video of making a wheatgrass-headed doll
Floral Delights amid the Epidemic
Impacted by the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced in early February the cancellation of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2020 originally scheduled to be held from 6 to 15 March at Victoria Park, in order to reduce social contacts and the risk of the spread of the virus in the community. The potted flowers (about 13 000 plants) formerly intended for display at the Flower Show were then promptly distributed to more than 40 housing estates of the Housing Department (HD) by its Horticulture Unit. Such a move is not only environmentally-friendly, but also helps beautify the surroundings. Estate residents staying at home are cheered up by the arrays of heartwarming flowers amid the epidemic.
The floral delights are attractive and uplifting. In our fight against the epidemic, let us remain united and we will surely overcome the adversity.
Tsz Man Estate
Budding Rhododendron celebrates the arrival of spring.
Budding Rhododendron celebrates the arrival of spring.
Tak Long Estate
![Blossoms of Rainbow Pink [Dianthus chinensis] form a beautiful tapestry. 1](../../common/img/flower/tak-long1.jpg)
Blossoms of Rainbow Pink [Dianthus chinensis] form a beautiful tapestry.
Yellow Marguerites [Argyranthemum frutescens] complemented by the purplish Dianthus around an art sculpture, offering a feast for the eyes.
The refreshing and delightful scent of Osmanthuses fills the air.
Choi Yuen Estate
Upright pinkish purple Foxgloves [Digitalis purpurea] adorned with brilliant Rainbow Pinks [Dianthus chinensis] greet the residents on their way.
Tsz Lok Estate
Blushing Bromeliads enliven the estate with a bold colour.
Tsz Hong Estate
Purplish blue Glory Bushes [Tibouchina semidecandra] accompanied by Jaburan Lily-turfs [Ophiopogon jaburan] bring serenity to a relaxing corner.
Hong Kong Flower Show 2019 “My Dream Home” Honoured with Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display)
The Housing Department (HD) has actively participated in the annual Hong Kong Flower Show by designing for this year's event a “My Dream Home” garden, which echoes the theme of the Show – “When Dreams Blossom”. The landscape design has proudly won the Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display).
My Dream Home garden invites visitors to a wonderful journey along a star-studded walkway flanked by colourful arches. At the centre of the garden is a carved wishing ball that fuels visitors’ imagination of their dream homes. The sky lanterns greet their onlookers with good wishes. A cart made of recycled wood at the entrance finds itself brimming with boxes of gifts and people’s hope and aspirations. Inside the cart are also balloon decorations celebrating the overwhelming joy of a dream coming true.
Fairytale cottages welcome visitors to a tranquil and relaxing space. A few steps away stands a wishing tree brightened up by a rainbow bridge over a sea of dazzling flowers, adding life and vibrancy to the entire place. Richly planted with a wide variety of flowers, the display area offers a kaleidoscope of colours and texture, enticing visitors to an amazing fairyland. Next to the cottages is a little garden plot with a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, blending well with tree-like structures inside the garden made of recycled wood and plants. A star-shaped flowerbed makes a perfect foil for the 3D logo of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), which gives the garden a luminous glow.
The HD's My Dream Home garden wins the Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display).
A carved wishing ball at the centre of the garden.
A fairytale cottage.
The illuminated 3D HA logo adorned with a sea of dazzling flowers.
Hong Kong Flower Show 2018 “Fun @ Home” Honoured with Gold Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display)
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), an active participant of the annual Hong Kong Flower Show, has designed for the event of 2018 a Fun @ Home garden, which echoes the theme of the show – “Joy in Bloom”. The landscape design has proudly won the Gold Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display).
Fun @ Home depicts the HA’s people-first commitment to providing homes for the public in where to live and to enjoy their lives. The garden invites visitors to a sea of dazzling Dahlias through colourful arches, a fun experience for exploring the vibrancy and delightful scenery along the way.
The path to the garden is flanked by an array of flower-covered arches in vibrant colours which not only depicts the outline of a house but indeed represents the upper part of the Chinese character “home” (家). The archway is designed to make visitors feel at home, filled with joy and pleasure. Artificial panels in a variety of shapes and forms made from recycled wood fuel their imagination as they resemble the Lion Rock. A plant sculpture at the centre of the landscape highlights one of the HA’s core values to put people first. There come various environmental-friendly designs, such as vertical green panels, bamboo lighting, bioswales and a zero irrigation system. Childhood toys and games are offered at the house in green for amusement and entertainment. Next to the house is a garden with a rich variety of fruits and vegetables, adding freshness and vitality to the scene.
Colourful arches leading to the garden
The HA's Fun @ Home garden wins the Gold Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display)
Colourful arches leading to the garden.
Childhood toys and games are offered at the house in green of the garden.
Hong Kong Flower Show 2017 “Love @Home” Honoured with Gold Award for Unique Feature (Landscape Display)
The Housing Department (HD), an active participant in the annual Hong Kong Flower Show, has designed for this year's event a “Love @Home” garden, which echoes the show’s theme “Blossoms of Love”. The landscape design has proudly won the Gold Award for Unique Feature (Landscape Display).
A cottage surrounded by a myriad of flowers and trees is the heart of the garden, creating a warm and cosy ambience. The garden takes on various colours under sunlight and in dim light, visitors immerse themselves in its beauty at different times of the day.
The modern Tree of Love next to the entrance leads visitors to the garden through a colourful arch. Strolling along the heart-shaped path, visitors will be amused by a green panel, a colossal flower tree in an array of colours, together with a variety of roses and beautiful flowers in full bloom. The centre is a globe framed by flowers in heart shape, representing love in different forms from all over the world. When the sun sets, the cottage under the stars is filled with love and warmth.
“Love @Home” demonstrates the commitment of the Hong Kong Housing Authority to Hong Kong people by providing homes in a pleasant environment and facilitating them to live in love and peace.
The HD's “Love @Home” garden wins the Gold Award for Unique Feature (Landscape Display).
The modern Tree of Love next to the entrance creates love and warmth.
The HD's “Love @Home” garden.
HKHA Display for Hong Kong Flower Show (2008-2016)
| Year | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Blossoms in Vivid Art 2016 | |
| Theme Flower | Antirrhinum majus | |
| Theme of HA | Art of Living @Home | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Unique Feature (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | When Blossoms Dance | |
| Theme Flower | Oncidium | |
| Theme of HA | Home of Dancing Flowers | |
| HKFS Award received | Grand Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Blossoms of Joy | |
| Theme Flower | Kalanchoe | |
| Theme of HA | Home Sweet Home | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Kaleidoscope of Spring | |
| Theme Flower | Dendrobium | |
| Theme of HA | Homes of Blossoms | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Floral Delights | |
| Theme Flower | Hyacinth | |
| Theme of HA | Floral Tour | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Symphony of Spring Flowers | |
| Theme Flower | Primula | |
| Theme of HA | Green Delights at Home | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Fairy Tale of Flowers | |
| Theme Flower | Cineraria | |
| Theme of HA | Dream Home | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Unique Feature (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Blossoming Welcome for the East Asian Games | |
| Theme Flower | Cosmos | |
| Theme of HA | Harmonious Garden | |
| HKFS Award received | Grand Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display) |
| Year | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme of HKFS | Vibrant Blossoms for Beijing Olympics | |
| Theme Flower | Gerbera | |
| Theme of HA | Green Green Garden of Home | |
| HKFS Award received | Gold Award for Design Excellence (Landscape Display) |