Sculpture rooted in competition

The Rembrandts of roses and the Chagalls of shrubbery are gathered once again in Montreal.

Representatives of more than 30 countries have been building, planting and pruning their creations for Mosaiculture 2003, an international competition typically attended by hundreds of thousands of horticulture fans.

This is the third and last year that the Mosaiculture competition will be in Canada. The next one, in 2006, will be in China.

The gigantic floral sculptures take shape along Montreal’s waterfront at the Vieux Port (Old Port). To get an idea of what Mosaiculture is like, imagine the Rose Parade standing still and without the marching bands. Now consider that everything is still growing, rooted in thousands of pounds of sphagnum moss, supported by steel framework.

This year’s theme is “Myths and Legends of the World.” Among countries represented are Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the U.S.

You’ll find more than 100 works, including “The Legend of Mother Earth,” a female head with flowing, growing hair; “The Conquest of Fire,” depicting early people and their petroglyph drawings; some playful shrubbery seals; a phoenix; Easter Island statues; and an enchanted forest haunted by will-o’-the-wisps.

The art of Mosaiculture is rooted in 16th century Europe, when gardeners designed vast “embroidered” flower beds for the amusement of kings and other nobility. Mosaiculture 2003 continues that tradition but adds three-dimensional sculptures reaching more than 30 feet high.

When you tire of floral fantasies, take a stroll along the historic Lachine Canal, built in the 19th century to navigate boats around treacherous rapids in the St. Lawrence River. The canal, which begins next to the Mosaiculture site, was restored last year, complete with a system of locks.

Old Montreal is close at hand, with its historic stone warehouse buildings that now hold shops, galleries and restaurants.

A note about severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS: No cases have been reported in Montreal’s province of Quebec.

Mosaiculture 2003 has two sections: “Mythology,” which takes about an hour to tour, and “Dreams,” requiring about an hour and a half.

The show is open 9 a.m. to dusk daily through Oct. 6. Adult admission is about $9; children and seniors pay less. Guided tours, about $3.60 per person, are extra. (888) 868-9999 (Hospitalite Canada), www.mosaiculture.ca.