HortPark is sort of like a mini Botanical Gardens and a mini Butterfly Garden rolled in one. The greenhouses here were used as test beds for the Mediterranean plants now featured at the new Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories at Gardens by the Bay. It's a very small place with little enclaves that are rented out to hobbyists or professionals who want to showcase their gardening work (and sometimes sculptures and architectural designs).
This was our friendly guide Jean, who introduced some of the more prominent plants in the park:
Left: The flower of the breadfruit tree
Right: The 'Fingernail plant', known for its painted fingernail appearance
A pavilion made of live fig trees!
Left: The colourful shelter where children's classes are taught, situated next to a sprawling play area.
Right: The Bamboo Orchid, sometimes considered a weed in southeast asia. =(
Jean led us down a hidden path to an enclave tended to by NUS students seeking to cultivate local plants. There's a cozy little attap hut to chill in, surrounded by typical mangrove plants.
I have no idea what kind of bug this is, but it's really cool.
Inside the butterfly enclosure!
(This is only open to public on the last Saturday of each month, so we got lucky!)
(This is only open to public on the last Saturday of each month, so we got lucky!)
Left: A pair of mating Leopard Lacewing butterflies.
Right: A hyperactive Common Tree Nymph, the kind you also see in the Fragile Forest at the zoo.
Left: Unopened flower of the Giant Dutchman's Pipe. Apparently the opened flower resembles rotting meat in order to attract flies... euck!
Right: Powderpuff Tree! Of the white variety. Most of us are more used to seeing the pink flowers.
The Herb Garden showcased various herbs used for medicinal and culinary purposes. Since I don't cook and don't know anything about herbal medicine, I shall not even attempt to recall what herbs were in this garden.
And finally at the Silver Garden on our way back to the entrance. It's a large event space surrounded by dry climate trees which appear whitish to reflect sunlight and conserve water. Said to be 'very romantic' at sunset, in the words of our guide ;-). More of a gleaming visual curiosity in the day!
And that was the end of the tour! It's just the right size for the curious to learn about both local and temperate plants - not too small as to be uninteresting, and not too large as to be overwhelming to the non-enthusiast (like the Botanic Gardens). If you wanted to get in touch with nature, I'd definitely recommend taking the Southern Ridges Trail and making a stop at the HortPark!
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Budget!
Free to visit on your own, unless you want a tour/workshop (only group bookings available, min 15pax).
Garden tour: $5
Grow your own Airplant workshop: $16
Terrariums workshop: $32
Hours!
Outdoor Gardens: 0600h - 2200h, daily
Butterfly Garden: 0900h - 1200h, only on last Saturday of each month
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