Bonsai originated in China, as far back as the Tang Dynasty over 1200 years ago. It was introduced to Japan some 700 years ago, where the art was refined to perfection. Subsequently, it spread from Japan to the West and other parts of the world in the 19th century. more

Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet the plants associated with Christmas, particularly in northern Europe and North America, have no direct link to the Christmas story. They are in fact relics of pre-Christian ritual. more

In the pre-dawn hours at the Gardens, the final stage of the metamorphosis of the Common Birdwing (Troides helena) is taking place. High up in the canopy of an Angsana tree, an almost indiscernible wriggle starts off a series of movements in the pupa which culminate in the emergence of a female Common Birdwing. It is now 7:00 am, and as the first jogger runs past below, the adult butterfly crawls out of its now-empty pupa and hangs her wings out to dry. In a few minutes, the limp wing veins are pumped with fluids and the large black velvety wings of the butterfly take shape. As the first rays of the morning sun warm up the butterfly’s wings, she begins to open and close her wings in preparation for her maiden flight. more

Beauty, they say, lies in the eyes of the beholder. In the eyes of landscape architects and garden designers beauty often lies in the shape of trees. Broad spreading trees can give shade and a fine tracery of foliage. More compact crown shapes may provide a formal architectural element to planting schemes. more

A question I am often asked is: Are orchids scented? Many people tend to think that orchids are not fragrant. But in fact, it is believed that as many as 75% of all orchids are scented. That is, they emit detectable chemical compounds and some of them are extremely fragrant. more

There are several tropical species that are sometimes referred to as handkerchief trees. This is because the new leaves of these trees develop in bunches and are pale and limp at first, looking not unlike damp pocket-handkerchief, suspended from their centres, dangling at the ends of the branches. The Gardens has quite an assortment of handkerchief trees, all of them members of the Leguminosae (bean family) and all good-looking in their own way. more

Transplanting mature trees and shrubs into a newly developed landscape allows an almost instantaneous creation of an established landscape. There are as many ways of moving large plants as there are people who move them. It is much more than just removing the tree from its original position and putting the plant into another planting hole. more

Banana Grove
The cool shade of the Banana (Musa sp.) greets the visitors at the beginning of the trail. This plant is mistakenly called a “tree”- the trunk is actually made up of compact, overlapping leaf bases. The fruit ranges in size, shape, colour and flavour, depending on the variety. The fruit is a good source of energy and vitamins and provides excellent roughage, and the central portion of the stem is sometimes eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are traditionally used as a wrapper for food and as a disposable plate. more

Plantation Walk
A very useful plant, the Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is cultivated throughout the tropics. The palm grows to a height of 30 m and has a lifespan of about 90 years. A Sanskrit name for Coconut is ‘kalpa vriksha’ or ‘the tree that provides all the necessities of life’. The trunk is used in the construction of houses, while the leaves are traditionally interwoven into roofing or thatching material. The midribs of the leaflets are used to make brooms and satay sticks. The fibrous husk surrounding the nut yields a much used and well known commercial fibre or coir, used for ropes and cordage, matting, brushes and as a substitute for horsehair in staffing. From the hard shell, which is itself a useful domestic utensil, charcoal of good quality can be made. The flesh of the coconut is edible and used in cooking. Coconut oil is one of the most extensively used of vegetable oils, being employed in the manufacture of margarine and edible fats, soap, candles, pharmaceutical and other preparations. It is extracted from the dried flesh of the ripe coconut, or copra, an important articles of world trade. Coconut water within the young nut is popularly drunk and tapping of the young growing stems produces the intoxicating toddy as well as gula melaka. more

The first miniature garden, which was said to cause quite a stir at the London Chelsea Flower Show in 1923, was created using an old sink. When old sinks ran out, horse troughs, birdbaths and other concrete troughs and dishes were used. These sink or trough gardens raised on pedestals will appeal to many a gardener. Being ergonomically designed, they are a boon to the handicapped or elderly gardener who can enjoy gardening without having to squat or bend. more

The urban-sprawl is in our midst, spreading its tentacles not only radically, but also skywards. These urban-octopuses look both sterile and dehumanizing. Modern buildings with their emphasis on functional and minimalistic design fail at times to consider the aesthetics. True, attempts are being made to preserve Singapore’s old charms and masterpieces of time but the results are unimaginatively restored to look urbane and conforming. more

African violets, also known as Saintpaulias, are among the most well-known house plants in the world. Plants are attractive and grow in a variety of sizes and shapes, from miniature of a few inches high to trailing forms that drape from pots. The flowers of African violets are most appealing. Colours range from single shades of white, red, pink, blue, deep purple and wine to striking combinations. Foliage is lush and multi-shaped in various shades of green. African violets grow well in the temperate region but they also thrive well in the tropics provided the five basic needs, (ie. steady warmth, careful watering, good lighting, high air humidity and regular feeding) are taken care of. There should be no difficulty in producing several flushes of flowers each year. more