HortPark organized a “Connecting with Nature Week” during the recent March school holidays, to introduce the public to our new guided tour of HortPark and the Southern Ridges starting on 1 Apr 2009.   From 14 to 22 March, about 400 visitors participated in the free 2-hour guided tour which ended in HortPark.   The guided walk was refreshing for first-time and repeat visitors alike - the soothing sanctuary of greenery and rich wildlife providing a welcome relief from the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Visitors were then treated to a whole host of fun activities, including a mini showcase at the Lifestyle Corner, a gardening talk on carnivorous plants, mosaic art workshops, balloon sculpting and face-painting.

The free guided tour kicked off from Henderson Waves - Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge

Participants smelling the fragrant Tembusu flower

Families having fun creating their own mosaic art

For enquiries, contact National Parks Board, HortCentre Visitor Services Office at +65 6471 5601 or +65 6479 2019 (Fax). Alternatively, email us at NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg to make a booking.

The Community in Bloom Partners and Volunteers’ Appreciation Gathering, organized by the CIB Team, witnessed the gathering of more than 200 partners’ and volunteers at the HortPark on 12 March 2009. On a night dedicated to appreciating the efforts and contributions of our partners’ and volunteers, Guest of Honour, NParks CEO Mr. Ng Lang, presented Certificates of Appreciation to 46 individuals and organizations for their efforts in promoting a gardening culture and a love for greenery in Singapore. On an evening of appreciation and recognition, partners and volunteers alike were treated to a tribute video highlighting the efforts of the volunteers and a song item by the CIB team entitled, “Friendships’ Flower”.

CEO taking a picture with a family of our distinguished guests

Joyous faces of our volunteers and partners

A song item presented by the CIB Team

Lim Chong Han

AES Horticulture Society received an invitation from Sentosa Development Corporation to submit an entry for the Sentosa Flower Show 2009 held at Palawan Beach from 24^th Jan to 1^st Feb 2009.  This is in recognition of our participation and performance in the Community in Bloom where we were awarded the Silver Award and at the Singapore Garden Festival @ Suntec City in 2008.  Participants were required to create at the competition site a garden structure display using items and implements found in the school garden. The ACEs (Parents’ Support Group) and the members of the Horticulture Club brainstormed, discussed, and finally came up with the final entry entitled “Celebration of Life”.

Creating the windmill structure

Creating the windmill structure

Preparing the display area

In brief, the synopsis of the entry is as follows: The display celebrates the beginning of LIFE (springtime). The windmill and flower structures symbolise the exuberant, vibrant and excitement of spring and the commitment of the school’s Horticulture Society and the Assumption Co-Educators or ACES (Parents Support Group) towards the global effort to conserve and protect the environment through the Reuse, Reduce, Recycle programme. Sunflowers are delicate and must be tended carefully during their growth. When nurtured with love and care, they blossom into bold and beautiful flowers.  As such, the sunflower has been adopted as our school’s flower mascot as it reflects our school’s vision to produce “Men and Women of Character and Learning in the Service of God and Community”.

Our winning display

The entry was submitted for the competition.  It cleared two rounds of preliminary assessment and was selected as one of the 16 entries for display at the flower show.  We began preparations by germinating the sunflower seeds in December last year.  On CCA training days, the members of the society practised tying the knots and lashings for the structures in the display – a windmill and a flower.  The ACEs and teachers-in-charge contributed their services by acquiring the necessary props and providing guidance to the members.  Everyone was committed to the cause and during the work process became more aware of the importance of values like resilience, passion and teamwork.

ACEs and Horticulture Club members posing proudly in front of their winning display

ACEs and Horticulture Club members posing proudly in front of their winning display

Most importantly, we gave our best, developed a sense of camaraderie and experienced the Assumption spirit. It was truly a “One Heart, One Mind, One Mission” project and coming in first in the competition was the sweet icing on the cake. Well done AES and ACEs.

Mr Ahmad bin Salani

Teacher IC

Assumption English School (AES)

The first talk of the Community in Bloom Library Talk series at the Botany Centre on Sat 14 March saw a great turnout for Wilson Wong’s insightful and entertaining commentary on the Zingiberales. Gardeners and plant lovers were treated to an educational and lively explanation of this impressive order of plants, which are cultivated as ornamentals and for culinary and medicinal uses as well.

Wilson giving his talk to a room full of audience

This order contains eight families of plants which include many familiar plants like the cooking ginger, tumeric, galangal, torch ginger of the Zingiberaceae or true ginger family, heliconias of the Heliconiaceae family as well as Musaceae or the banana family. It was another day of firsts also because this is the first CIB Library talk held in conjunction with the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Library of Botany and Horticulture. After the talk, visitors were treated to a casual tour of the Library, which opened specially on a Saturday afternoon for this occasion.

The next talk in the series is Venturing into Carnivorous Plants by Richmond Tan at HortPark Fruit Room on Saturday 21 March 2009, 3pm to 4pm. See you there!

Joey Gan

The recent hot and dry spell in February must have made the Australian-native tree, Brachychiton acerifolius, feel like it was back home in Eastern Australia - some of them are in bloom along Jurong West Street 91.  The tree originates from a sub-tropical region of Australia, stretching from Cairns south to Wollongong.  With its scarlet inflorescence, it is little wonder that it is also known as the Illawarra (il-la-war-rah) Flame tree, a name derived from its geographical location and visual appearance.

When in full bloom, it is easily one of the most beautiful and striking trees in the Australian landscape, one that is defined by hot wet summers and cool dry winters.  B. acerifolius defoliates in the dry season and produces flowers in anticipation of the coming wet season.  New leaves are out in time for the summer.  In Singapore, where it rains year-round, it is rare to get a dry spell that is long enough to initiate a flowering cycle of B. acerifolius.

These trees were introduced and planted as saplings in 2000, as part of NParks Streetscape’s broad strategy of greening up Singapore, improving biodiversity, and adding dashes of brilliant colour to an otherwise concrete jungle in the heartlands. Research department has also been studying the precise mechanisms and conditions that induce B. acerifolius trees to flower. With further knowledge, we may be able to see an entire avenue of B. acerifolius splashed in red along more streets in Singapore!

Bleeding hearts are graceful woodland plants that do best in light shade in well-drained soil. Their ferny foliage appears in early spring, followed by pink or white flowers that are arranged along the stem like little hearts. I received the bulbs a month ago from UK and now it is flowering! Beautiful!

Passiflora

Hoya

The Hoya imperial plant at our garden is also flowering non-stop and the Passiflora that we had for a year is now flowering too! Amazing, isn’t it?

More updates from us at Jurong Central Zone ‘G’ RC community garden when the Passiflora fruits are out…

Mdm Kamisah

Gardening Leader

Jurong Central Zn ‘G’ RC Community Garden

Recently, you may have noticed some Tabebuia rosea (also known as Trumpet Tree or Pink Poui) flowering around the island.

Whampoa South

Upper Changi Road

Flowering tends to occur twice a year (usually after a dry spell) and usually lasts for several days. During this period, the entire tree is covered in a profusion of blossoms, creating a truly spectacular sight. The large trumpet-shaped flowers, which range in colour from pink to white, is about 5 - 8 cm in size.

The flowers of the Trumpet Tree

Pink trumpet-shaped flowers

When the flowers fall, they still retain their glory for a day or two, the fallen flowers form a beautiful coloured carpet, covering the ground around the tree.

Race Course Road

The timber is useful for heavy construction, furniture and cabinetwork. This tree is commonly planted along roadsides and in parks and gardens for its impressive flowering display, and also to provide shade and greenery. Some locations include the junction of Whampoa South and Bendemeer Road (along Kallang Park Connector), Race Course Road and Upper Changi Road East (between Bedok Road to Bedok Canal).

Along Whampoa South

Enjoy!

[Excerpt from “Trees of Our Garden City - A Guide to the Common Trees of Singapore”]