Botanic Gardens Singapore
Immerse yourself in Singapore's natural world while visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This beautiful, serene area is home to thousands of plants, including the world's largest orchid display. This is the perfect place to get away from the rush of the city and explore gardens filled with some of the most exotic plants on earth.

The Botanic Gardens were founded in 1859 by Singapore's Agri-Horticultural Society. It began as just a small garden with a few terraces and tiny zoo, and has now expanded to over 52 hectares of lovely plant life that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

The starring attraction of the garden is its giant orchid collection. Comprised of over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids, the orchid gardens are a rare and awe-inspiring sight. The garden's horticulturists are constantly experimenting with new hybrids, resulting in an always-expanding collection of flowers.

The garden's rainforest area is one of the only sections of rainforest left in Singapore. There are 314 species of plants in this part of the park, housed underneath a canopy of ancient 40-meter tall trees.

The Herbs and Spices garden contains many of the plants that flavor the local cuisine. Fruits of every kind are grown in the Fruit Tree section, and plants used for various medicines around the world are in the Medicinal Plant area. The Vanda Miss Joaquim section of the garden contains Singapore's national flower, which is also the first Vanda hybrid to be registered in the world.

The art of Bonsai trimming is revealed in the Bonsai Tree section. The process of dwarfing these trees into aesthetically pleasing shapes is an ancient art that began in China and spread to other parts of Asia and the world. It is a highly regarded process, involving constantly pruning and nurturing the small plant in order for it to grow into the shape of a full sized tree. The results of years of hard work on one specimen can be amazing.

If you will be in Singapore for an extended period of time, the Botanical Gardens do offer courses on gardening, from plant care to Bonsai creations. These are taught by some of the best gardeners in the world, and are definitely worth attending if you have the time.