Singapore Orchid Show Returns with More Colourful, Fun-Filled and Vibrant Displays

'Orchid Wonderland' Themed Show Takes Inspiration from Amusement Parks

Singapore, 7 July 2012 - The Singapore Orchid Show 2012, one of the key highlights at the Singapore Garden Festival, opens today until 15 July with an 'Orchid Wonderland' theme inspired by amusement parks to showcase the colourful and vibrant diversity, beauty and popularity of orchids in the world.  

Jointly organised by the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA) and the National Parks Board (NParks), the Orchid Show features a 6m tall ferris wheel which showcases unusual orchids from around the world, while a 5m tall carousel will highlight the winning plants from the individual plant competition. Booths designed like carnival game stalls scattered around the show grounds will feature the Floral Windows with Orchids competition entries.

Dr Nigel Taylor, Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens said: "This year's Orchid Show is unique as we have created vibrant displays to feature the various landscapes and competitive plants. Just like orchids, the largest flowering plant family in the world, amusement parks are also popular and found around the world. Hence we thought to marry the two themes to create 'Orchid Wonderland', to celebrate the rich diversity, great beauty and popularity of orchids globally." 

Occupying 2500-sqm of space on Level 4 at Suntec Convention Centre, the Show comprises four main competitions:

-       Floral Windows with Orchids - creative orchid floral displays nestled in display windows that take the form of carnival games stalls. The size of each exhibit is 2m high, 2m wide and 1m deep.

-       Miniature Orchid Display - a display of miniature orchids in a Wardian case (sealed protective container for plants) that takes the shape of a cylindrical carnival stall.

-       Individual Plant Competition - a display of individual orchids of different categories submitted by hobbyists, enthusiasts and professionals for judging and competition. This display takes the form of long stretches of carnival stalls, and the winners of the different categories will be displayed in the winners' carousel. 420 entries were received this year.

-       Landscape Display Competition: There are some 30 competitive and non-competitive landscape displays ranging from 10 sqm to 15 sqm, from Singapore and eight other regions/countries - China, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. For Singapore participants, this includes four schools - Naval Base Secondary, Greenview Secondary, Teck Whye Secondary, Pioneer Junior College.

Gardeners' Cup

Another key highlight of the show is the Gardeners' Cup, which showcases five unique gardens conceptualised, designed and set up by 30 Community in Bloom (CIB) groups. Interesting features of these gardens include a Merlion that was hand-sculpted by members of the team as well as a central-piece floral train that sits on genuine railway track salvaged from the former Malayan Railway line. (Please see accompanying factsheet on Gardeners' Cup)

International award-winning designer, Mr Jim Fogarty, who was in town to judge the Balcony Gardens competition at Singapore Garden Festival, said this when he visited the Gardeners' Cup entries by the community gardeners: "These gardens are a good example of community interaction. It showcases their true passion for gardening and their active involvement for this is highly commendable. The design theme and elements they have chosen are sophisticated and highly aesthetic. All five gardens on display represent Singapore's unique diversity and each of them has great appealing factors with distinctive features that cater from young children, adults to elderly."

Other Highlights at Level 4

• "City in a Garden" Photography Exhibition showcases 66 winning entries from the year-long photography competition. Carrying four themes - Our Parks and Gardens, Trees and Forests, BiodiverCity and My City in a Garden - this exhibition marks the close of this year-long activity. (Please refer to ciag.nparks.gov.sg and the competition factsheet for more information)
  

• Floral Extravaganza - Be mesmerised by a themed fashion show featuring stylish floral fashion showpieces incorporating elements of Earth, Fire, Gold, Water and Wood. The show takes place at the Stage area, Level 4, Suntec Singapore, on Saturday 14 July at 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

• Floral Harmony at Nanyang - organised by Nanyang Primary School, this is the 8^th year the competition is running with a new international component. A total of 124 arrangements will be created by student participants from local and international schools.

• Orchid Anecdotes -The orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants, with over 25,000 species discovered and identified.  Themes of orchid interest - which include pollination, ethnobotany and conservation of Singapore's native orchids - are featured on informative posters at the Orchid Show.

• Garden Fiesta offers educational, recreational and entertainment activities catering to the public, families, serious gardeners and hobbyists. (Please refer to accompanying table for details on Stage programme).

• Hort Doctor Consultation Corner - Staffed with a team of more than 10 certified arborists and horticulturists from the landscape industry and National Parks Board (NParks), this free consultation service is provided daily during the Festival hours. Visitors who have any plants or flowers that are not doing well can bring photos of the affected plants to consult the experts on duty. The experts will also be available to provide advice on how to create a green sanctuary at home.

• 8^th International FDSS Cup Floral Designing Competition - The Floral Designers Society Singapore (FDSS) is organising its 8^th competition to showcase local and overseas designers' creativity and innovation in floral art. Catch the 46 competitors in action on Sunday 8 July between 10am to 1pm.

• Land Art - A movement that first emerged in the United States in the late 1960s which integrates landscape and art, using mostly natural materials such as soil, rocks, dried leaves and twigs, check out the 3m by 4m Land Art display themed "Shadow of Ourself" at Level 4. Earlier in March this year, a group of 250 volunteers also created a 70m by 22m land art display at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to mark the return of SGF.

• My Home Garden showcases how greenery can exude fresh comfort and organic appeal into our living spaces. Visitors can stroll through the living room, kitchen, outdoor and corridor gardens and be inspired by simple tips to create their own green oasis. Ikebana demonstrations are also held during the weekends at 11am.

• "Sara Goes Gardening" Guided Tour - Sara, the Botanicosaurus is back! Join Sara and her friends as they discover fascinating facts and  interesting stories about aloe vera, lemon grass, garlic, spring onion and many more nutritious and yummy herbs and spices. Additional charges apply for this guided tour.

• "Trees for Life" Arts Exhibition showcases over 30 winning art pieces amongst 2,500 entries received from pre-schools, primary and secondary levels. The objective for the competition held earlier this year was to raise awareness of our trees and Heritage Trees as well as the greenery and biodiversity around us. 

• Vibrant MarketPlace - offers a wide array of floral and gardening related products such as plants, gardening and landscape services, jewelry, apparel, and arts and crafts for sale under one roof. Some 90 exhibitors from Australia, Ecuador, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and more are selling their wares at the 125 booths at the MarketPlace.

• Singapore Penjing and Stone Appreciation Society - a display of more than 100 penjing and related exhibits. See how these miniature sceneries are created using bonsai, stones, calligraphy art and figurines.  

• Singapore Gardening Society - an extensive display by the Singapore Gardening Society, it includes a showcase of plants with interesting and unusual foliage. These plants have leaves with intricate and colourful venation and can provide a striking contrast to an otherwise green garden. Some of the more unusual plants include a variegated Solanum macranthum (also known as the Potato Tree), a variety of Episcia called 'Cleopatra', a large purple leafed Begonia and some interestingly patterned Aglonema and Alocasia hybrids. Amongst the displays, are also two plants named after the late Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice, a prominent supporter and patron of environmental causes who passed away in June 2012. Lady McNeice was well known and loved by many and her own garden was filled with many interesting and unusual plants. Visitors to SGF will be able to view Begonia 'Lady McNeice' and Heliconia Beehive 'Lady McNeice'.
 

Visitors to the show also gain entry to Level 6 where the Show Garden, Floral Windows to the World, Balcony Garden and Table Floral Displays are exhibited.

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