Festival of Flowers provides quiet contemplation | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Hundreds of people gathered at the Festival of Flowers in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens today honouring those who lost their lives in the February earthquake.

Christchurch residents mingled with tourists taking part in activities including live music, the unveiling of a Golden Angel made of wire mesh, and a stirring performance by a ten strong team of traditional Japanese Taiko drummers.

Messages of hope and love were strung around a giant sequoia tree with baskets of labels and ties left for people to write their own tribute. Messages included ``Stay together-stay strong'',

"We shall endure_life will get better again'' and "May love and healing touch every heart of Christchurch today.''

Some messages were written in Japanese, Chinese and Korean scrit. Mother and daughter Maureen and Michelle Meynell, of Harewood, preferred the peace and quiet of the gardens rather than attending the formal memorial ceremony this afternoon.

"I just wanted to remember today and I thought this was the nicest place to remember,'' said Michelle Meynell.

"It's very soothing coming into gardens here. It's great what they've done here this morning. It's therapeutic here with the Japanese drums and everything.''

Maureen Meynell shared her daughter's views.

"We haven't lost any family or friends, but Michelle hosts Japanese and Chinese students and it makes you realise what we've lost.''

Lynn Collins, of Burwood, was at the commemorative garden with grandson Jake, 3.

"We thought we'd come and just have a look around,'' Mrs Collins said.

"The commemoration service wouldn't really mean a lot to Jake and personally I didn't want to take part. So I came to the gardens for bit of normality.''

"It's a bit warzone where we live.'' Mrs Collins said the memorial garden was a beautiful place to be.

"It's great, just great. There's a lot of effort gone into it and its nice to see so many people out doing what we're doing- reflecting on our thoughts in peace and quiet.''