Sunday, July 24, 2016

Singapore Garden Festival 2016

[Media Invite]

We popped by Singapore Garden Festival 2016 earlier with the family, sans our youngest Louie who was not feeling too well. This festival is not solely about going through the flower exhibitions and taking lots of photographs only. Although I must say that there are a WHOLE LOT of awesome spots for photography! If you love gardening (like me), you will find that a day here is definitely not enough for sure, I guarantee that!
 
Get to the festival grounds easily via the MRT to Bayfront Station!
You will be stuck at the Marketplace, where lots of local / overseas exhibitors ply their fauna and gardening wares. I saw my favourite carnivorous plants and tillandsias for sale, as well as the latest technology in indoor gardening systems (that claims no green fingers are required) and indoor lightings as well. I could have spent my entire afternoon here, if not for the kiddos who complained that they were tired and hungry after all the photo-taking.
 









Speaking of food, there is also a temporary "hawker centre" of sorts that is being set up where you can have delicious food, with shelter from the sweltering heat, and with proper seats as well. It is called "Dining in The Garden City", and although prices are roughly 20%-30% higher compared to your regular hawker prices, but it does makes sense to grab some bites here to replenish your energy before moving on to the unexplored places. This festival is really huge, please get the map and ensure you do not miss out any places like we did! The Market place which consists of the dining and retail stores does not require one purchase any tickets to enter.
 


One will need to get tickets to enter the main areas which consists of The Meadow side, as well as the Bayfront Plaza. We barely explored The Meadow side where the Fantasy Gardens, as well as beautifully landscaped pieces of art are situated. This place would have cost the photographer in you and me a couple of extra hours already! Because we were running a little late, we actually missed the entire portion at Bayfront Plaza... OMG... And I was still wondering why I did not see any of the Bonsais I had a glimpse of on social media! They are all at the other side!
 




 


 

 
Oh, do note that the tickets to Singapore Garden Festival 2016 comes with entry to the Flower Dome (till end 31 July only) which is having the Orchid Extravaganza and Singapore Orchid Show now. If you follow the trail and pay attention to the different types of orchids being displayed, you will be amazed by the different varieties! In fact, for those who had little experience with orchids, their preconception of how orchid plants or flowers should look like, will be seriously challenged! Be wowed by the winning pots of orchids too and I am pretty sure many who walked through the dome during this period, will be inspired to try their hands at keeping some orchids! I am for sure! Tip: Go to Marketplace and get some pots of your own!





















So should you go for SGF 2016?

If you love photography, there will be so many beautiful displays to take photographs of or with! In fact, you will probably be jostling with other visitors armed with selfie sticks or what nots! So yes, go and practice your shooting skills and stand a chance to win NIKON DSLRs and COOLPIX cameras through posting your photos on Instragam (Hashtagging #SGGARDENFEST) or on Facebook (fb.com/SGGardenFest). You can also email your photos to sggardenfest@gmail.com. Check here for more information.








If you love plants and gardening in general, don't hesitate. There are lots of vendors selling exotic plants at the Marketplace and it is always enriching to have a word with the exhibitors and learn more from them. There are lots of talks scheduled as well, such as growing African Violets indoors, making and maintaining terrariums to even tips on photographing nature!

And the best deal of all is that Singaporeans only pay max $16 to enter SGF2016 as well as the Flower Dome for the Orchid Extravaganza! I checked, it would have already cost $12 for Singaporeans to enter just the Flower Dome alone. So this is a pretty neat deal!

Useful Information


Period: 23 - 31 Jul 2016
Show Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm daily 
Conservatories Opening Hours: 9am - 10pm daily 
Tickets include admission to the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay from 23 - 31 July 2016.

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