botanical garden now at chennai semmozhi poongha

Remember Woodlands Drive-In Restaurant? That leafy old Chennai hangout will be thrown open to public once again on Wednesday, but in a different avatar. A botanical garden will now replace the much-loved restaurant at the same location.Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, whose government in 1989 had set in motion the closure of the restaurant, is scheduled to inaugurate the new Semmozhi Poonga on Wednesday evening. The garden has been christened such to commemorate the Classical Tamil Conference, which was held earlier this year.The garden will feature eight sub-gardens displaying flora of different varieties, such as a tree court, mural walk and bonsai, herbal and exotic gardens. Also on display will be a butterfly garden and a golden garden that would feature plants that flower in different shades of gold. There is also an artificial duck pond.Though the gardens would open on Wednesday it could take at least a year before it can be viewed in its full intended glory. "Most of the plants here are new. This is a start. But we can assure you it will look more beautiful as time passes because the plants would have grown", the park's horticulture officer, G Vijayaram, told Express.The garden itself still does not have the approval of the vast number of those who adored the old drive-in restaurant that served its last coffee on April 12, 2008. 

courtesy express news