Friday, June 20, 2014

Botanic Gardens is top park in Asia again

My Paper, Wednesday, June 18, 2014, Page A4, News, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2014-06-18
Source Website:
http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/botanic-gardens-top-park-asia-again-20140618
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea - (Photo's descriptive texts)
http://pentagist.com/5-popular-flowers-field-gardening/ - (Photo's descriptive texts)
By Cheryl Faith Wee, The Straits Times, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on Jun 18, 2014


LIVING HERITAGE
PHOTO: LIVING HERITAGE: The Singapore Botanic Gardens beat the likes of Jingshan Park in Beijing and Japan's Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in this year's TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Overall, the Singapore Botanic Gardens came in 11th in the world.
PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4S7dFUt7fYLN-WAyIEKjZW-6GsV67Xa2GIw7sDADdJ_eXIAoWVAj2txWE9J2vhC-cm8n64PyAJ7rGjm6kJTVsQHG3jKxHusnkU46PfQCLN-Hrgx4tu2zkjWcX2EoZLgXqhf-djFjr84/s1600/Botanic+Gardens+is+top+park+in+Asia+again.jpg
My Paper, Wednesday, June 18, 2014, Page A4, News, Top Stories


FOR the second year in a row, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has been ranked the top park in Asia by leading United States travel website TripAdvisor.


Orange Bougainvillea creates the visual impact, with its vines twisting and climbing to display a cascade of showy blossoms.
PHOTO: Orange Bougainvillea creates the visual impact, with its vines twisting and climbing to display a cascade of showy blossoms.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:36am

It beat the likes of Jingshan Park in Beijing and Japan's Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in this year's TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards, which is in its 12th year. The park category was added last year.


Orange and hot pink Bougainvillea like other Bougainvilleas, need heat to bloom.
PHOTO: Orange and hot pink Bougainvillea like other Bougainvilleas, need heat to bloom.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38am
PHOTO: Hot pink Bougainvillea are plants easily grown but flower best with adequate sunshine, fertilizer and water.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:39am
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The ranking was determined through an algorithm that considered the number of ratings and the quality of ratings on a scale of one to five, over a year.


Pink Bougainvillea flower giving a cool, tranquil and peaceful environment.
 
"It is difficult not to use words like stunning when talking about the marvellous Botanic Gardens of Singapore," wrote TripAdvisor user Suratrichard from Thailand in December.


Flowering bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees with flower-like spring leaves near its flowers.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees with flower-like spring leaves near its flowers.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38amhttps://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoKohFYBq396vOVD2l8CkuyW48dCYUzi8gs5JV8N_dvlepfVNjriMqlPwnxgyKsqS8M-CRCdR0K0-LhNd7AONKBvRVJ0tnoQZU6RCtwx0xBzdh3jOR2L3ezt7gH6zvtpqJvMPrB50LhI/s1600/CIMG4868.JPG



Pink flowering bougainvillea and other green plants. Bougainvillea is a thorny climber, with papery flowers, found in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
PHOTO: Pink flowering bougainvillea and other green plants. Bougainvillea is a thorny climber, with papery flowers, found in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38am


"As you walk into the gardens, you keep finding more and more beautiful plants which are nearly all clearly labelled."


Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants. It is a perennial plant and is considered to be very popular gardening flower around the world. Bougainvillea is seen wound on arches, boughs and on trees, making the surface colourful and lively.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:43am
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In a press statement yesterday, Nigel Taylor, director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said: "This is an encouragement to us as we continue to work towards conserving the living heritage of the gardens for future generations to enjoy."


Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants. It’s relatively pest free and resilient even in extreme climatic conditions. The brightly coloured bracts surrounding the tiny white tubular flowers are often mistaken for petals. The actual petals are the small white tubular structures seen at the centre of bracts.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38am
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TripAdvisor chief marketing officer Barbara Messing said in a press release: "TripAdvisor travellers have helped identify some of the best attractions around the globe.


Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea and other green plants. The papery bracts occur in a multitude of colours like white, yellow, violet, red, pink and orange. The plant needs regular pruning for controlling and regulating the growth. 
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38am
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. Bougainvillea also makes for excellent Bonsai plants and in the form of small-sized bushes, bearing vibrant blossoms, they can cheer up any corner. 
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:38am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0zRlirccXPnjy7wF6suRrITnY_jxFeMd7Rp-Hs7AqjGe4VtAgx-3V6WEc5fcMAeSeXAXnq2tCgwZFx9ViOJ-y1OjAvpwwVrFiTrkoolox3e6ChTL76ccHZZKrRG4GJhM70o_v8bH5hk/s1600/CIMG4872.JPG


The gardens receive about 4.4 million visits every year, and this figure is expected to rise to six million in 2021.


Flowering bougainvillea.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. As you walk into the gardens, you keep finding more and more beautiful plants. The vine species grow anywhere from 1 to 12 m (3 to 40 ft.) tall, scrambling over other plants with their spiky thorns. The thorns are tipped with a black, waxy substance. They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year, or deciduous (falling off at maturity) if there is a dry season.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:42am
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By then, the Botanic Gardens MRT station on the Circle Line will be connected to the Downtown Line. Another station will also open near the attraction on the future Thomson Line.


Flowering bougainvillea.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. The bright colours associated with the plant, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. Bougainvillea glabra is sometimes referred to as "paper flower" because the bracts are thin and papery. The fruit is a narrow five-lobed achene (a type of simple dry fruit).
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:42am
PHOTO: Foliage Garden - a sunken garden featuring carnivorous plants such as Nepenthes pitcher plants. An all green foliage garden can have just as much impact and appeal as any other garden. Foliage actually plays an important role within the garden, providing year-round interest, depth and personality. 
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 11:44am
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The 155-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens had submitted its bid to become the country's first Unesco World Heritage Site earlier this year. The results will be revealed next year.


Foliage Garden - Its calming effect is soothing on the eyes.
PHOTO: Foliage Garden - Designing a garden with foliage plants is not only easy, but when all the elements of foliage are incorporated, it can also be quite impressive. So don’t think of all green gardens as dull or unappealing. With or without flowers, a foliage garden can be filled with interesting textures, forms and colours.

 
It is a hit here too. Ms Ryane Wong, 24, said it is the ideal picnic spot.


Singapore Botanic Gardens - It is pretty, sitting next to the water, and you can sometimes see birds. It is a good place to chill and hang out.
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - It is pretty, sitting next to the water, and you can sometimes see birds. It is a good place to chill and hang out.
Picture is taken on 10 May 2014 at 12:43pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuDU9gVhyMFdDO6nG_xp7pM-S7osF93rltwY6OPBhT5ZM4x4r0E9RazyaqLoh9WsW6EpoUfGZrhtVvRuZCB3Arm8cTY03bw6C_Z4PgdfhUaObnwN3jLxQvexRg2KKyhd8iVqDjoyxzsI/s1600/CIMG5487.JPG


Singapore Botanic Gardens - Combining the different greens and other foliage colors with varying forms and textures can be just as beautiful and captivating as a garden rich with colorful blooms. PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Combining the different greens and other foliage colors with varying forms and textures can be just as beautiful and captivating as a garden rich with colorful blooms. It is a hit here too, it is the ideal picnic spot.
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - a planting limited to green palettes fascinates as much. It converts sunlight to life-sustaining sugars. In garden design, leaves assume equally important roles. They prolong a border's attractions through the season, giving it depth, flow, and personality.
Picture is taken on 10 May 2014 at 12:44pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGKCNcYxPfJ1csFV_kgGkJ_cb7QslERPIkdt6rUi1YUexBwFT4YYNbBRjyomyBzxR0jb8je2-VP_YHf1e4DN6wBdF5hWDm-nSlCNFblpCTuJ6POEd9RtGmcoyewOwMiUOr7ItTrejhmc/s1600/CIMG5489.JPG
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/color/creating-colorful-foliage-gardens/

 
"It is pretty, sitting next to the water, and you can sometimes see birds. It is a good place to chill and hang out," the project executive said.

By Cheryl Faith Wee, The Straits Times, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on Jun 18, 2014


Singapore Botanic Gardens -Start of the Swan Lake
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens -Start of the Swan Lake
The lake's name was inspired by swans populating it. The pair of mute swans was imported from Amsterdam. 
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 1:33pm
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Lake_%28Singapore%29


Singapore Botanic Gardens -The Swan Lake
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - The Swan Lake
Added to the gardens in 1866, the lake covers an area of about 15,000 m² (1.5ha). The lake was closed for upgrading in 2003, and it was completed in April 2005 as part of the gardens' Tanglin Core Redevelopment.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 12:35pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy6bT7bpgF4w3oUaAKGImtd5RB6ynyW5CflvbkZWZJZrYSP54wE6abokNem5ODBB_t2yJ4aus9wnAIYxAPDoi5L8FTCmSRx7HkmRBiItm-_KzYhpQxvgNCqyw5FJpqozKPQ5wO8ylytY/s1600/CIMG4952.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Lake_%28Singapore%29


Singapore Botanic Gardens - Vanda Miss Joaquim (National Flower of Singapore)
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Vanda Miss Joaquim (National Flower of Singapore)
This orchid, a hybrid between Vanda hookeriana and Vanda teres, is hardy and free flowering. It is Singapore’s first orchid hybrid and was named by Mr H. N. Ridley, the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1893. Ridley named the plant after Agnes Joaquim in whose garden the hybrid originated. In 1981, it was selected to be the National Flower of Singapore for its beauty, resilience and year-round blooming quality.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 1:04pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlCUXR2O3tvxCfv-vlZpvyXYC1k57Mh5MDs8hbKZvZyr8frCRJCNhcLOIbIUNoTLGkDgfAPPbmIECwQq4ZSODArXZtSrzzJ0zZZdhBD7-rBn8C4TperX__Woa3Z3DkihssLytaH4ixx8/s1600/CIMG4980.JPG
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/diy_guide/Nparks_eguide_NOG_final.pdf
 

Singapore Botanic Gardens - Rain Forest Walking Trail
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Rain Forest Walking Trail
Singapore Botanic Gardes' Rain Forest is one of the oldest remnants of primary rainforests in Singapore.

The 6.2 hectares of rainforest is home to 314 species of flora and gives an indication of the wonderful richness of tropical plants. The Singapore Botanic Gardens' Rain Forest is a national treasure not only for its rich biodiversity, but also because it is part of the original site of the Botanic Gardens founded in 1859.

More than 80% of its plant species are rare or endangered not only in the Gardens but also in Singapore. Hence it is critical that these species are conserved within one of the last remaining primary forests of Singapore.

The rainforest is a multi-layered wonder. There are three layers of trees in a rainforest – the emergents (45m), the canopy tree layer (35m) and the lower tree layer (25m). Then there is the understorey layer that is made of plants able to survive heavy shading imposed by the canopy above. As you discover different species of trees and plants in the rainforest, try to tell which ones belong to which layer.

This is a boardwalk trail and therefore makes for easy walking. Look out for the signs which will point you to paths that are accessible via wheelchairs. It is a trail also suitable for families with young children and seniors.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 1:21pm
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http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/SBG_Rainforest_%20E-guide_FINAL.pdf


Singapore Botanic Gardens - Rainforest Snake
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Rainforest Snake
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 1:48pm
Singapore Botanic Gardens - clouded monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis)
Singapore Botanic Gardens - monitor lizard PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - monitor lizard
Singapore Botanic Gardens - monitor lizard PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - monitor lizard
Singapore Botanic Gardens - monitor lizard
Singapore Botanic Gardens - Heritage Tree. Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Heritage Tree. Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans)
This Tembusu tree is located in Singapore Botanic Gardens, it is best known as The 5-dollars Note Tree.  It is believed that the tree was there well before the Gardens were laid out in 1859.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 12:53pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-Kn_Ap35TlqK4EjHqaXk2s2jlTKSfhJb_f3ah2cPzxyaeN_BJo2b4VCTMM-QquNtgvvl8reldVjSBgCwu2bkieEkdzoOX90lZTcDKfysHyAOvCJRu-BJTJDR1DenUH9kM42FqCgX1ZU/s1600/CIMG4963.JPG
http://addgrainonearth.com/2012/10/21/2-the-5-dollars-note-tree/

 
Singapore Botanic Gardens - Love and Peace Sculpture Campaign (05 May 2014 - 30 April 2015)
PHOTO: Singapore Botanic Gardens - Love and Peace Sculpture Campaign (05 May 2014 - 30 April 2015)
This “love and Peace” global sculpture campaign is by Ana Tzarev. It was inspired by her belief that art and flowers speak a universal language, one capable of being understood and appreciated by everybody, everywhere. At a time when we are too often defined and divided by our differences, these flowers travel the world as reminders of what brings us together, and of the beauty of the world we all share.

Love & Peace places Tzarev’s large fiberglass sculptures of poppy flowers in public spaces around the world. The flowers have been installed in cities such as London, Rome, Shenzhen, New York, Singapore, and Prague. Visitors of the sculptures can use social media to participate in the Campaign, including a free mobile phone app that allows visitors to post photos of themselves and their friends in front of the sculptures on the Love & Peace website (http://www.lovepeaceflower.com/).
Picture is taken on 10 May 2014 at 12:59pm
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http://www.anatzarev.com/exhibitions-info?id=85


Flowering bougainvillea.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. In the landscape, it makes an excellent hot season plant, and its drought tolerance makes it ideal for warm climates year-round.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 2:03pm
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Flowering bougainvillea.
PHOTO: Flowering bougainvillea. Bougainvilleas grow best in dry soil in very bright full sun and with frequent fertilization; but they require little water once established, and in fact will not flourish if over-watered. They can be easily propagated via tip cuttings.
Picture is taken on 11 April 2014 at 2:02pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbXsZfFTuubqNKbKgsc5DdajPBYmK8eots6vCw_DQ2lKcu4aPKvbLdl_cvgYNACrlrhTn0pWA-2t4HGTgfJG8mr9byALXntEFiy1zM043UpJsOLKrBL4p4d6csMBigiQcY2b4u8OVO08/s1600/CIMG5045.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea

 

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