Singapore

Having fallen in love with Singapore Botanic Garden, I could easily have lived in the glasshouse of Gardens by the Bay. These gardens are on the reclaimed land in the central business district of Singapore. There is so much to see, it is like Disneyworld for the avid horticulturist.

I can probably talk at length about how much I love it, so I will have to watch the word count in the corner! Aside from the above, there are lots of new ideas and concepts within the gardens.

The super tree grove is a collection of metal structures to resemble trees. Apparently they also provide electricity thanks to the solar panels, hidden from the pedestrians view. Some structures are festooned in bromeliads (not needing any soil), others act as structures up which tropical climbing plants may grow. One has a restaurant at the top, with an open rooftop bar – something everyone must visit on a trip to Singapore.

The other striking thing is being able to look at plants whilst having a backdrop of some of the most awesome skyscraper architecture in the world..

As far as I can remember there are two main glasshouses. One acts as a temperate/Mediterranean climate zone, complete with air conditioning! A festive Chinese New Year display at the start of last year greets visitors to the larger glasshouse.

The other glasshouse also caters for cool-loving plants from around the world. As you enter, a 100ft waterfall greets you in a shroud of ‘refreshing’ mist.

Pass this main ‘wet zone’ and you find that the living walls relish this constant spray of water, showing a dazzling array of foliage, form and flower. Beautiful!

A walkway leads to the top of the waterfall, “The Lost World” where there were various tropical highland species growing. This included Nepenthes or similar, plus quite a few I wasn’t able to identify. I spent a long time looking around Gardens by the Bay, and loved the fresh and exciting atmosphere created in this very new and high-profile garden. The gardens are free (admission charge allows entry to the glasshouses) and so it’s nice to stop and relax when passing by this urban oasis. I was also here at night, equally magical, but a blog for another day.

Licuala palms, and careful planting abound throughout the gardens. I’m really looking forward to revisiting these gardens once they have matured a little bit more.

Before I get down to the proper business of writing ‘serious’ posts, I just wanted to test out posting an image on here.

I took this photo in February, at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. I was recently walking through the glasshouse at Wisley with a colleague, where they have a huge plant of Ravenala madagascariensis, just starting to form a trunk.

Reflecting and recounting the moment with friends the following day, I did think it somewhat sad. This plant was static in a glasshouse, its life limited by the glasshouse roof.

My memory of it was huge and imposing mature ‘trees’, dominant in the high-profile landscape of Singapore. Covered in warming sunlight, a humid breeze swaying and ruffling the giant paddle-like leaves. I enjoy trying to grow plants outside their typical climate zone, but this really highlighted the fact that it is tricky to do so where the temperatures are so low for much of the year.

Perhaps I just need to go on another adventure abroad?