During a trip to Singapore Botanic Gardens, I was amazed by the variety of plants - some which seemed strange to me. I am delighted to find out that there many varieties flowers and plants.

 At the Evolution Garden, I was attracted by those plants that could be found millions of years ago and as we were like walking through a time machine as we saw how plants evolved from one to another.

- Ho Tsui Wan, Sec 1H

Kranji Secondary School

When I first step into our school’s herb garden, I was totally amazed by the number of Zig-Zig plants, also know as the Devil’s backbone. I like its stem which grows in a zig-zag manner. May be that was how it’s name came from. I like to walk in our school garden as I find it relaxing and calming.

- Nurul, Sec 1C

Kranji Secondary School

My favourite plant in the garden that I love best is the mosquito plant because of its lemony sweet fragrance and it repels insects. I like our school herb garden and would like to continue taking care of it.

- Farah, Sec 1C

Kranji Secondary School

I’m glad that NParks came up with this blog, cos it allows us to read others views.

Updates on my experience with Green Haven @ Kranji.

Recently, in trying to incorporate Teach Less Learn More (TLLM) initiative with my secondary 1 biology, we asked students to construct a food web based on organisms they saw in the Havenly Herbs Garden. Much to my surprise, I saw many students walking around during their recess times trying to gather as much info. I was very encouraged by that scene.

I went down to the students and answered many questions on the characteristics of certain plants, which purpose does specific features have and what uses they have.

For example, one student asked why there were snails on the Tongkat Ali plant, but none of the leaves have holes in them (meaning, none of the leaves were eaten by snails). That question is now going to start the next research project in Kranji.

Many students were amused by the Mock strawberry and Mock orange because they had never seen small replicas of strawberries and oranges. They were also very interested to see insects pollinating the flowers and had fun tasting the Cermai.

Recently another collegue took a group of students down to the garden to conduct lesson on the reproductive parts of a plant (the flower).

It’s very encouraging to such involvement in the garden. It can only get better as we conduct more tours (recently, for Family Day and Hong Kong exchange students) and lessons in the garden.

Hong Kong Exchange Students

- by Ms J Vanitha

Teacher from Kranji Secondary School