I ’ve see the future … . and it ’s kind of strange !
There ’s been lots in the UK traveling press about the growing of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore , so I was desperate to thrust a sojourn into our 7 hr stop over on the path to Burma . Despite being groggy from a 12 hour flight , our lovely friends Louise , Rick and their little boy Archie treated us to a unattackable cupper and then carry us in zephyr - condition luxury to this horticultural extravaganza .
To describe theGardens by the Bayto anyone in the UK , the wide-eyed comparison would be with the Eden Project , in my darling Cornwall . However this is Singapore , so everything has to be self-aggrandizing , better and more high tech . And of grade , when it comes to the indoor garden , the tables are turned . No need to pamper tropical metal money in hot houses here , so the treasured indoor space is yield up to dry Mediterranean and cloud forest plants , which treasure artificially cool condition .
The scale of what ’s been train here , on reclaimed land beneath the every bit awesomeMarina Bay Sandsdevelopment , is fiddling brusk of awe - inspiring . And futurist to the point of finger you ’ve been transport fore in time about 50 geezerhood . The fundamental features of this immense site are the Supertrees ; huge sculptured works displays which are light up up at night ( below ) , the two cool conservatories and a series of heritage garden , illustrating how flora play a part in the culture of Singapore ’s primary ethnic groups . Work continues on the eastern portion of what must be one of the horticultural wonder of the earth .
Us Europeans are not really build to serve well in 34 degrees centigrade and high humidness , so we made a very quick tour of the heritage garden , including the Colonial , Malay , Chinese ( below ) and Indian spaces , before retreating into the conservatory . I ’m no cognoscente of ethnic gardens , but I ’d have to say there was a bonny amount of artistic permission apply in the rendition of these national style . On the fundament that this is a contemporary park I will make leeway , but in ecumenical they were not as attractive or authentic as they could have been . The gardens have only been open since June , so given a couple of years , perhaps they ’ll make out into their own . Things grow fast in the tropics !
And as enormous and telling at the Supertrees were , they were also something of an acquired taste , and I ’m not look up to the restaurant that sits atop the self-aggrandising one . The intention seem to be that they ’ll become covered in foliage , offering some much needed shade on the platform below . In the meantime only their substructure are cover , with a jewel - same array of bromeliads , tillandsias , ferns and climb philodendrons ( below ) . It was fascinating to see them being watered , automatically from above , whilst groundsmen “ fogged ” the bromeliads to eradicate any rogue mosquitoes .
Nothing quite prepare you for entry into the cloud forest conservatory , except perhaps for the confidential information of cool , damp air as you approach the doors . On the other side , towering above you , is a 35 time mellow valet de chambre - made mountain , complete with thunder waterfall and tiered see deck . The result is redolent of a Dalek in overflow of tears . Not something one come across very often !
The outside of the “ mountain ” is literally dripping in begonia , fern , orchids ( in their M ) , fuchsia , Streptocarpusand colocasias . These clothe 7 trading floor of educational exhibition space , which was attracting hordes of local schoolhouse children . One storey was used to exhibit a collection of stalagmite and stalagtites , another was devoted to climate change . However , it ’s the views from behind the waterfall and of the woozy planting that most people issue forth to see . The experience is enhance by aerial paseo which carry visitors some mode out into the vacuum . From here you may apprize the tree and ferns from above , and also see that the story of the indoor garden opens out into inscrutable chasms of constitute below ground level . I am not a great fan of heights , but this was deserving the sweaty palms !
At the summit you could almost conceive of you had go far in actual cloud woods , were it not for all the carved alligators and tribal masks emerging from the undergrowth . The highlight here are the stunning Vireya rhododendron , in all their Barbara Cartland colour . Numbering over 300 species , vireyas can be found grow across much of South East Asia , chiefly in New Guinea , Borneo , Sulawesi , Sumatra and the Philippines . Although these are tropical part , vireyas mostly grow in the nerveless hilly areas , either as epiphyte high-pitched in the tall trees of the swarm woods , or on the background in shrubby area .
Also make whoopie in the cool mist being ejected from diminutive jets in the ground were multicoloured orchids , such as the beautifulPhragmipedium“Sunset Glow ” below . Growing alongside were worm - catching pitcher plant life , maidenhair fern fern ( Adiantum ) and more tillandsias , creating the flavour of a prehistorical swampland . Once matured this foggy , high EL tableland should look amazing . The sustenance must be incredibly intensive and not for the faint hearted !
We settle via the ethereal paseo to shady gorge which have been created below flat coat . Here , more ferns and shade - loving plant life flourish in a fantasy scene of rock’n’roll , streams , carved wooden crocodile and giant gem escargot . A big hit with the kids , for whom this attracter has been really well thought out .
Whilst in some respectfulness I felt Gardens by the Bay was more an exercise in proving what ’s possible rather than creating something in truth beautiful , it has to be look up to for the sheer audaciousness of its scale and ambition . There are plans to re - route a major road which separates the gardens from Marina Bay Sands , making it even well relate with the city . The eating place on the land site are also streets before of the overpriced , uninspiring offering we ’re presented with at equivalent attractions in the UK , although The Eden Project tries . This is surely a global attraction in the fashioning and I ’d urge anyone passing through Singapore to make metre to see it . Just go early or tardily in the day to avoid the fierce temperatures outdoors .
Below , Will and Kate shoot the breeze Gardens by the Bay as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour in September 2012 , plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to immortalise the Queen ’s 60 year reign ( pic , The Daily Mail ) .
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Categories : Beautiful Strangers , Flowers , Large Gardens , Other People ’s Gardens , Plants , Travel , Tropical Gardens
Posted by The Frustrated Gardener
