11/12/13 October 2019
Not content with growing the country’s economy, the Singapore government is also doing its best to grow its total acreage through a bit of ambitious land reclamation in the Marina Bay area. Given the desperate shortage of usable land here it’s pleasing – and very surprising – that some of the new land that’s been created has been given over to the development of some fabulous public gardens.
Gardens by the Bay is an independent organisation responsible for developing and managing one of Asia’s foremost garden destinations…Bay South, the largest of the three gardens, opened in 2012. With its award-winning cooled conservatories and iconic Supertrees, Bay South has placed Singapore squarely on the international map and is a source of national pride.
Source: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/ retrieved 15/10/19
Two of the most impressive features are the massive conservatories. Here’s what the official website says about the Flower Dome:
Step into the Flower Dome and stand in awe of nature. Spectacular and innovative, it is the largest glass greenhouse in the world as listed in the 2015 Guinness World Records! Be amazed by changing display of flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions.
Source: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/ retrieved 15/10/19
And not to be outdone, the good folk at Gardens by the Bay have built a second giant greenhouse replicating a cloud forest, including a 35 metres foliage-clad man-made mountain complete with cascading waterfall . The official website invites us to:
Enter the Cloud Forest, a mysterious world veiled in mist. Take in breath-taking mountain views surrounded by diverse vegetation and hidden floral gems. And learn about rare plants and their fast-disappearing environment.
Source: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/ retrieved 15/10/19
These two greenhouses are stunning structures, and the plants they showcase are equally superb. And to add a whimsical touch, scattered amongst the plants are sculptures of various characters from fiction and mythology, including a fierce dragon and the key players from Alice in Wonderland.
Moreover the air inside the greenhouses is cooled! I’ve never before come across the concept of entering a greenhouse to cool off, but this is just what we find ourselves doing at Gardens by the Bay to escape Singapore’s oppressive heat. It’s a surreal, unforgettable experience.
And I still haven’t told you about the very best bit of Gardens by the Bay! Have you heard of Singapore’s Supertrees?
Measuring between 25 and 50 metres tall, Gardens by the Bay’s Supertrees are designed with large canopies that provide shade in the day and come alive with an exhilarating display of lights and sounds at night. Stand in awe amidst these iconic giants, or stroll along the 22-metre-high OCBC Skyway and enjoy panoramic vistas of the Gardens and the Marina Bay skyline.
Source: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/ retrieved 15/10/19
When we came to Singapore three years ago we saw the son et lumiere display but didn’t manage to see the Supertrees in daylight. This time we did, and they are truly, truly amazing. Words fail me, so I’ll let a few of Mrs P’s photos do the talking.