Friendship through flowers: Oman on global floral map

The Sultanate of Oman is fast emerging as a floral destination in the Arabian Gulf region. Oman as member of World Association of Floral Artists (WAFA), an organisation of international floral art societies, will host its mega event called ‘Bloom Oman’ in Muscat on January 27 to February 1, 2024.

Every three years the show is hosted by a WAFA member country. Formed in 1981, WAFA through its worldwide scope, enhances the diversity of the floral art form by transcending international cultural barriers and bringing together fresh ideas.

Oman thus becomes the first country in the Gulf to have the honour of hosting this prestigious floral event. ‘Bloom Oman’ will be held at InterContinental Hotel Muscat for six days and will have demonstrations by local and international artists, workshops, competitions, and sightseeing places around Oman. WAFA members will participate in competitions, demonstrations, workshops to enhance the floral art.

Madhvi Ramesh Khimji, honorary country president, WAFA, and the lady responsible for placing the Sultanate of Oman on WAFA and World Flower Council (WFC), mentions that Oman is the first and the only country in the Middle East to become a member of WAFA. Thus ‘Bloom Oman’, a WAFA Oman event, will be organised by Madhvi and The Art of Flowers Oman.

Says Madhvi, “I am hosting the event with floral artists and friends from Oman with great enthusiasm. As an honorary country president, I am inviting other member countries to participate in this exciting event in beautiful Oman. After a difficult three years of pandemic, I have accepted the proposal from WAFA to host the event in Muscat.”

Madhvi creates her own floral designs with passion and love. “It was indeed a proud moment for me during the London National Alliance Floral Association (NAFA) show when one of my floral structure designs was from Oman. This was displayed during the celebrations in the Winchester Cathedral for Queen Elizabeth II,” she adds.

One of the main highlights of her floral career was the creation of Omani silver jewellery with plant materials which was appreciated around the world.

For this she used different dried leaves from the Ramesh Khimji’s Farm in Barka which includes materials like betel nut star Anise, small pieces of wood discs, some seeds and other items. Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lily, Cymbidium or boat orchids, or Freesia and Lilium can also be made best use of for floral design.

Madhvi recollects how she got into this amazing art in 2002.

She grew up in South Africa surrounded by the flowers and fauna of Kanji Ved, her father’s garden, which led her to her passion in the 1980’s. This blossomed her expression through flower arrangements when she began attending flower shows internationally. In 2002 she visited the WAFA flower show in Glasgow which opened her mind to the endless possibilities of flower arrangement with a special modern twist. This later led her to complete a course with NAFA.

From then on, there has been no looking back. She then brought her new experience and knowledge of the art of flowers back to Oman where she began a group for flower arranging.

“I love all the flowers which I use and the materials are what my design calls for,” reiterates Madhvi. She began to demonstrate and teach her shared passion with an audience that has grown extensively over the years, popularising flower arranging in Oman. The Khimji’s group later went on to be affiliated with WAFA in 2009.

Residing in Oman since 1973, Madhvi has created a small but enthusiastic floral community in Muscat and regularly shares her learning with them.

Madhvi has attended flower shows and conferences all over the world from the UK, Japan, India, Pakistan, Italy, Australia, China and the US. Extending her knowledge over the years, she has invited esteemed floral artists to Oman to share their knowledge and techniques with Flower Arranging Group and has represented Oman internationally at flower shows and global conferences.

These include international big names in floral design masters like Phubast Chesdmethee from Thailand, Hitomi Gillian from Canada, Mary Franciose from France and Carla Barbaglia from Italy to visit Oman and share their experiences. She came across five different masters and Master Phubast helped and supported her growth.

Oman has been firmly placed on the floral world map thanks to Madhvi’s efforts who considers ‘flowers and plants’ as her loved ones.

“It has been a great journey for me in this very exciting field which I call ‘friendship through flowers’ as I have made many friends around the world,” recalls Madhvi. She has been successful towards getting membership of WAFA and WFC for the Sultanate of Oman as a certified judge demonstrating floral arrangements.

“I love to teach floral art to my friends, students and to popularise the art in Oman. I am also training young Omanis which was held up due to the pandemic,” she adds.

“It has been a great journey for me in this very exciting field which I call ‘friendship through flowers’ and I have made many friends around the world,” she says.

She was able to travel to a host of European countries with her daughter Radhika Khimji, an artist. The visits became a turning point in her life especially to museums which exposed her to flower arranging courses in London obtaining certificates from the UK and Australia. She also took part in floral shows of WAFA and WFC bagging several awards and certificates.

Madhvi attended several WAFA shows across the world, namely in Japan, Pakistan, Boston, Barbados, Ireland and India. In addition, she also participated at the Chelsea Flower Show, WFC shows in Kenya, China and Brisbane.

As Oman gets ready for the big event, her joy knows no bounds and Madhvi is determined to put Oman, her second home, on the global floral map. “It will be a big event and an eye opener for those interested in floral art,” she concludes.