SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2014 (1)

Now, back to the topic of Singapore Garden Festival 2014 (SGF 2014) that was held at the Gardens by the Bay (GBB), 16-24 August, 2014.

In my previous postings, I have written about how I have enjoyed the Orchid Extravaganza, part of the SGF 2014 which was held in the Flower Dome.

Singapore Garden Festival 2014 – Orchid Extravaganza

Singapore Garden Festival 2014 – Orchid Extravaganza (2)

But the feel was very different in the rest of the exhibits that were held at the Meadow of GBB, both outdoor and indoor.  The two air-conditioned pavilions (temporarily built for this event) housed mainly Fantasy Gardens, Floral Windows to the World, Miniature Gardens, Floral Designing Competition and Floral Table Series.

For the whole afternoon I was at the Meadow, I spent most of my time in the two pavilions.  In my opinion, the scorching August sun, coupled with the hot and humid weather conditions were not very ideal for the event to be held outdoor.  It was worse for a “puteri lilin” (Malay words referring to one who can not endure the hot sun) like me!  The hot sun was way too unbearable and I was perspiring. So, I was unable to enjoy the outdoor exhibits much as I had wanted to, but to rush through them, and even gave some sections a miss.  Ideally I would like to cover every part of the event.

Here are some shots on the outdoor exhibits.

Landscape Gardens (8 of them)

Sacred Grove by Andrew Wilson & Gavin McWilliam (UK) – Best of Show

Layered Spaces by Joe Palimeno (USA)

Heaven on Earth by Vincent Chia (Singapore).  See that LKY (Lee Kuan Yew, first PM of Singapore) book on the coffee table, on the left?  A symbol of the identity of the designer or a fan of LKY?

Vertical by Brendan Moar (Australia) – Best Construction Award

Full Circle? by Andy Sturgeon (UK) – Best Outdoor Lighting Award

Full Circle? caught my attention amongst all the landscape gardens.  Quite different from the designer’s concept, looking into these huge cylinders somehow gave me the feeling of “there is light at the end of the tunnels”!

I was not particularly impressed with the Balcony Garden exhibits this time.  Perhaps such a comment is not very fair for the designers since I know nothing about floral and garden designs.  I can only say my liking is very much based on my feelings.  If I have to pick one, it would be this one below which is a Gold award winner.   It gave me a sense of serenity and comfort.  I imagine it would be very nice to spend time in this balcony; relax in lovely music, immerse in a book or even sip a cup of afternoon tea and watch the time passing by!

Rock Paradise by Alan Wong

From the Community In Bloom/Gardeners’ Cup 2014 category, Touch Our Hearts, winner of the Best Theme Award, stood out amongst the rest.

“Our ability to touch makes us alive, whilst our ability to feel makes us people.  Through these experiences, we celebrate all that make us society” – by The Gardeners’ Cup “Touch” Team

Carnival by the Bay won the Best Innovation Award

Taste Fiesta – Gardeners’ Cup Champion

 Various parts of the Meadow were well decorated too, but it was just too unfortunate that the hot weather made it uncomfortable for me  (and perhaps many others too) to fully enjoy the event.

The bandstand with life performance

Nice colourful carnival-like decorations but somehow couldn’t feel the mood.  There were actually not that many visitors.

Skylab Terrarium by Hamzah Osman which won Most Creative Display and Best Container Garden awards.  Created using bulbs, pipes, wood and magnifying glasses and it symbolizes earth, air and sun coming together as one

Designed by Alan Tan, Creative Director of SGF and installed by Singapore Botanic Gardens

I will share more photos from the two Pavilions in my next postings.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2014 – ORCHID EXTRAVAGANZA

The biennial Singapore Garden Festival (SGF 2014) is back!  For the first time, the event has moved its venue to the award-winning Gardens by the Bay.

Photo taken from the official website of Singapore Garden Festival 2014

Map taken from the official website of Singapore Garden Festival 2014

This is one event that I have not missed since 2008.  I believe, likewise for the flowers and photography enthusiasts!

Decorations @ Gardens by the bay, near the cooled conservatories

Orchids everywhere! 🙂

As DS had to be in the office for some work this morning, I decided to make my way to the Orchid Extravaganza exhibition, part of the SGF 2014 event that’s being held in the Flower Dome of the Gardens by the Bay.   I was not planning to spend the whole day there, and in anticipation of the large crowds today, I decided to just focus on the Orchid Extravaganza first, and visit other parts of the festival on a weekday which hopefully, will be less crowded.

Outside Flower Dome.  A nice spot for a souvenir snap here.

I arrived at about 845am.  A long queue was already forming up before the Flower Dome opened at 9am!

In the Flower Dome…..

View from the observation deck

View from another angle

I like the overall design of the orchid displays this time.  It is simple but elegant, in my opinion.  I also like the fact that this time, the competitive orchids are organised in sections and classes such as Moon Orchids, Dendrobium, Climbing Orchids, Lady’s Slipper, Vandas and New World Orchids, with short but useful descriptions of the characteristics of each group of these orchids.   I found these descriptions educational.

With its glass roof which allows in natural bright lighting from the sun, Flower Dome is definitely a much better venue than the convention centres where the event used to be held.  I used to find the lighting in convention centre too dim for better appreciation of the orchids, and photography.

Variety of Moon Orchids, characterized by large showy flowers that last for months.  I like this group of orchids the best.

Variety of Dendrobium, the most hybridised groups of orchids in Singapore as most are well-suited to the local climate.  They are characterized by many shoots or canes (pseudobulbs).

Variety of Climbing Orchids which form a major group of local orchids.  This group of orchids need a lot of sunlight.

Variety of Lady’s Slipper.  They are characterised by the appearance of the pouch at the centre of the flowers.  They are among the rarest and hardest to grow of the orchids.  They have been so much sought after that many wild species are threatened, and all are now protected by international regulations

Vandas comprises many orchids with large, showy, often patterned flowers.

New World Orchids – Orchids from the New World (the America) are often grown in Singapore, especially cattleyas and their allies, with large flowers and spectacular lips.  Also common are smaller Oncidiums and their allies, sometimes called dancing lady orchids

It got more and more crowded by mid morning but that did not actually bother me.  I was really having a good time immersing myself in admiring the flowers and happily clicking my shutter away until I began to hear repeated voices from the staff of the Flower Dome urging us to have our final shots and make our exit.  What a spoilsport!  Isn’t this an event for the people to take time to appreciate the beauty of the orchids, and also for the photography enthusiasts to capture their best shots?  If the management was concerned about being over crowded, then they should have exercised some control like limiting the number of visitors to the Flower Dome.  Just as these thoughts were going through my mind, I then realised what was actually going on when I looked up.  No wonder!

 Two big shots – Mr & Mrs Goh Chok Tong – have come to the Orchid Extravaganza!  They were accompanied by a big entourage of people including Dr Kiat W. Tan (CEO of Gardens by the Bay), staff , body guards, photographers etc.  I didn’t realise they were actually so near where I was!

Mr & Mrs Goh’s visit had surely attracted a lot of attention, even from the visitors!  Many were excited, and some even rushed to take photo with him.

Mr Goh (the man in light yellow shirt) surrounded by many visitors on his way out!

 The stunning 10-metre centre-piece at the Orchid Extravaganza with a lot more orchid displays in its inner wall.  I have decided to go see it on a weekday in the coming week before I visit other parts of the SGF 2014.

The long queue waiting to get into the centre-piece, and this was just part of the queue.  So, I didn’t want to waste too much of my time queuing for it.

 Crowds near the entrance by the time I made my way out at around noon time.

Marketplace which sells a variety of plants and related products, at the Supertree Grove area.

I had a pleasant surprise while walking out to the Bayfront MRT station!  I finally came to this part of the Gardens by the Bay and saw this huge sculpture called Planet, after so many visits!  I have read about the installation of this sculpture early last year but somehow did get to see it until today.

Stunning!

Mascots of SGF, seen near Dragonfly Lake (near Bayfront MRT station)

It is very thoughtful of the organiser to have provided covers for the pavement leading to Bayfront MRT station.  It makes it a lot more pleasant to walk to the station under our hot and humid weather condition.  I wish these covers are permanent!

Despite the little fuss during Mr & Mrs Goh’s visit, overall I have enjoyed the Orchid Extravaganza very much.  I am looking forward to return to the Gardens by the Bay very soon to see the rest of SGF 2014.  It is one great event not to be missed.