See You in the Garden

Blog #1: Botanic Gardens | Singapore

"In the presence of nature. a wild delight runs through the man,

in spite of real sorrows"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Singapore is a small island whose goal is to utilize the space they have in the most efficient way possible. And that means skyscrapers. Tall, glass-clad buildings for as far as the eye can see. However, they also value the importance and restorative nature of open space, and that is exactly what the botanic gardens are. They are an oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle.

At just over 150 years old, the Gardens are one of Singapore's most visited sites, and the most visited botanic gardens in the world. Exploring the gardens is like exploring a jungle, a rain forest, and a glorious orchid garden all wrapped into one. And that is just in the area that I got around to seeing. Due to the Singapore heat, the 80% humidity, and the enormous size of the park I was only able to see about half the park before I thought that I was going to pass out from either dehydration or heat stoke. But I can tell you one thing, it was totally worth it.

Throughout the park there are glorious paths, covered with leafy arches, that lead to quaint ponds. These ponds are filled with lily pads, frogs, fish, turtles, and more and they are surrounded by beautifully colorful plants and shrubbery. One of the most amazing things I noticed while exploring is that the gardens seemed empty. Never would I have guessed this was one of Singapore's most visited attractions. At moments I felt as if I was all alone in my own private garden.

The highlight of the gardens was the infamous Orchid Garden. From the moment you walk in you can tell that this area is different. Its vibrancy and planned aesthetic make it stand out from the rest of the park; which has a more natural feel to it. As I walked through the winding pathways my brain couldn't decide where to look. The paths were lined with beautifully bright and unique flowers that were unlike anything I had ever seen. I kept thinking at some point I would get bored with looking at orchids, but that point never came. The gardens had unique and whimsical displays throughout that continuously captured my attention.

Below are some photos from the botanic gardens