Gardens By The Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in the Central region of Singapore. It is part of the nation’s plans to transform its “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”, with the aim of raising the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city. It was intended to be Singapore’s premier urban outdoor recreation space, and a national icon. As such it is the most popular tourist attraction in Singapore. The garden is really impressive. Words will not be enough to describe the awe you experience when you visit the gardens. You have to visit it to understand why the place is so popular.

Dragonfly Lake and Kingfisher Lake

Beyond their beauty, the lakes are teeming with aquatic life. Reed beds are planted along the lakes to act as natural filters, ensuring better water quality. The plants along the lakes also provide a habitat for wildlife such as birds, dragonflies and damselflies.

On festive occasions, there are installations in the lake.

Supertrees

One of the iconic features of the Gardens that you should not miss is the unique towering structures known as ‘Supertrees’. They are an example of vertical gardening. They are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of airplants, and perennial flowering plants.

Solar panels are fixed to the top of some of the Supertrees, capturing solar energy that is converted to electricity that supplements the energy required to light up the Supertrees at night.

They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees: Photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees (such as lighting), similar to how trees photosynthesize, and collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, similar to how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories' cooling systems. - Wikipedia

It's early evening and the lights are coming on.

What the trees look like in the evening.

There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens. Every night, at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, the Supertree Grove comes alive with a coordinated light and music show known as the Garden Rhapsody. - Wikipedia

Flower Dome

The Flower Dome is an awe-inspiring part of Gardens by the Bay. Covering 1.2 hectares, it is the largest ‘greenhouse’ in the world as listed in the 2015 Guinness Book of World Records. It features a changing display of nine gardens that exhibit exotic flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions from five different continents.

The spectacular display of beautiful flowers and plants sourced from different regions makes for a unique experience. Every couple of months, part of the dome undergoes a change of theme, making it worth a visit every couple of months.

A section of the Flower Dome. Exhibits in this section changes quarterly.

Some installations in the Dome.

The Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions. It features a 42-metre (138 ft) "Cloud Mountain", accessible by an elevator, and visitors will be able to descend the mountain via a circular path where a 35-metre (115 ft) waterfall provides visitors with refreshing cool air.

The "Cloud Mountain" itself is an intricate structure completely clad in epiphytes such as orchids, ferns, peacock ferns, spike - and a vast collection of perennial flowering plants.

Floral Fantasy

This is quite new and I haven't been to have a look yet. But apparently, this indoor conservatory delves into realms of both history and fantasy. Each of its four distinct zones taking inspiration from fairy tales and the storied Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with cavernous spaces, dramatic driftwood sculptures and works of floral.

Round off your visit to Gardens by the Bay with an unforgettable sunset at Bay East Garden. The lush open lawns and beautiful waterfront will give you an unobscured view of Singapore’s skyline.

Entry to the Gardens by the bay is free. But for the conversatories, and some of the other attractions you need to pay an entrance fee. You can check their website for deals before visiting. If you don’t like to pay, the Gardens by the Bay is still worth a visit. Remember, it is 101 hectares in total. There is plenty to see.

If you are into gardens and photography, be prepared to spend an entire day, or two at the Gardens. You will understand why it is the most popular attraction in Singapore.