The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated today that the Camellias Exhibition in Furnas has "asserted itself as an excellent show in regional floriculture, promoting the growing of these flowers with the local population as well as with the increasing number of tourists and experts that visit it."
 
João Ponte spoke at the opening of the 15th edition of this exhibition, stressing that "such initiatives bring regional, national and international prestige to this production and to the agricultural diversification intended for the Azores. Moreover, it provides an important contribution to the promotion of Azorean floriculture."
 
The Regional Secretary addressed a word of encouragement "to all nursery gardeners and flower growers in the Region", ensuring that the Regional Government "is committed to supporting events that promote camellias and floriculture in the archipelago and abroad."
 
The 15th Camellias Exhibition, with more than 250 varieties in exhibition, is organised by Povoação Town Hall in collaboration with Terra Nostra Garden Hotel and Furnas Village Council.
 
The exhibition demonstrates the growing interest in this beautiful winter flower and the evolution that the camellias from Terra Nostra Park collection have registered both in terms of variety and quality. With more than 700 varieties, it is one of the largest in the world and was distinguished with the "Garden of Camellias of Excellence" award in 2014 by the International Camellia Society.