Earlier this month, my wife and I had a week-long holiday in Singapore. I've finally gotten the photos all sorted, so I will be posting some of the many photos I took at the various gardens we visited featuring Orchids.

Our first full day after arriving in Singapore was spent at Gardens by the Bay. This is a must-see if you visit Singapore and have any interest in gardens or plants. There are two conservatories (massive greenhouse domes) which they charge S$28 to enter, as well as large public-access gardens. They also have two clusters of "supertrees", large artificial tree-like structures that are surprisingly functional (more on these later).

View of one of the supertree clusters (near the Silver Garden), the Flower Dome (middle) and the Cloud Forest conservatory (hidden behind the trees to the right).


A Spathoglottis and a Dendrobium that we passed en route to the conservatories:


We spent the entire day in the conservatories. My next post will focus on the Flower Dome and the many Orchids on display at the time.

The Flower Dome contains a number of fixed gardens, focussing on groups of plants from different parts of the world. There is also a large display (the Flower Field) in the middle of the dome that they change from time to time. We had planned our visit to coincide with their Orchid Extravaganza. I think this was an "off year", as I think they have a larger display with Cymbidiums every second year (i.e. 2016).

At the entrance was a display of a number of different orchids. Some were labelled, some weren't. The largest was this Grammatophyllum on the right hand side:


On the other side was Grammatophyllum scriptum (probably var. citrinum):


This lovely Aliceara was in the centre of the display and has basically convinced me that I need to get at least one from this hybrid genus (whether it be this grex or the similar Winter Wonderland or Tahoma Glacier):


This was unlabelled, but I'm almost certain it's Orchid (Miltonia Sunset) after the photos shown on the forum in the past month.


A few others at the entrance, including a white Dendrobium nobile hybrid and a mislabelled Den. Comet King (almost certain that it's the clone 'Akatsuki', but not 100%) :


A few views of the Flower Field; first, from near the entrance, then from the pathway as it descends around the side:


More in the next post...

Singapore was always one of my favorite layover cities when I was a flight attendant..I sure would have enjoyed spending my time in this spectacular garden. Thanks for sharing , Joshua!

Ohhh, this is wonderful! Such lovely sights! ❤️ Thanks so much for sharing!!
You must have had a really great vacation!! I could imagine spending hours in that Flower Dome!

Wonderful, Joshua! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for the comments We did spend hours in the conservatories/domes and had an enjoyable holiday.

At the top of the Flower Field was this stand with some named and awarded Orchids on it:


In order of the display, starting from the top left:

Rlc. Duh's Pride 'Good Hope' AM/AOS


Phal. bellina (best photo I could get) - Class Rosette: Third/Orchid Society of South East Asia


In the middle of the top row was Paph. appletonianum. Could not get a photo of it at all (too much light from behind) .

Cattleya percivaliana 'Summit' FCC/AOS


Den. trantuanii - Class Rosette: Third/Orchid Society of South East Asia


Maxillaria setigera


Phal. stuartiana


Den. Kuniko - Silver Medal; Class Rosette: Second/Orchid Society of South East Asia


Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester 'Great Bee' - Silver Medal; Class Rosette: First/Orchid Society of South East Asia


Epidendrum hugomedinae - Class Rosette: Third/Orchid Society of South East Asia


Paph. Darling 'Christiane' AM/AOS


Den. discolor


Stelis emarginata


Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana 'Maj' AM/AOS


Epidendrum melanoporphyreum


Renantanda Christie Low - Silver Medal; Class Rosette: First/Orchid Society of South East Asia


More photos tomorrow!

Everyone is a gem! I think I need another Rawdon Jester!!

What an extraordinary place, thanks for sharing.

Interesting how the Renantanda 'Christie Low' was presented. I wonder if that was just for the show or if it is growing in media.

I think the pot for Renantanda Christie Low is just submerged into the pebbles they are using for the display. Most of the orchids seemed to be growing in pots, probably so that they can be moved out easily after the show.

Here are some views of the Flower Field. They primarily used large groups of a few different Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis and Vanda Alliance clones, with a few other genera scattered inbetween. There was even a small water feature in the middle.



The hedges in the Flower Field were cleverly shaped into caterpillars, with an Orchid arrangement to make up the head:



Some of the plants had labels, though not all.

Phal. Sogo Allen


Phal. Sogo Jesbo


Phal. Sogo Super


Oncidesa Lemon Heart


Paph. leucochilum


Zelenkocidium Calico Gem 'Green Valley'


Brascidostele Gilded Tower 'Mystic Maze'


Brassidum FANGtastic Bob Henley 'Hof #4'


Den. Lorrie Mortimer



A few unlabelled Dens:



Some Vanda Alliance hybrids:



I plan to cover the enclosure in the middle of the Flower Field in the next post. After that, I might finally get to the Cloud Forest dome!

The scale of this 'display' is just staggering. The sheer number of perfectly in bloom plants is incredible. I'm not sure I could stand seeing it in person, it would be (almost) sensory overload!

What amazes me is that this enormous facility is for a permanent display of horticulture. Our foremost public and private gardens here in the states have nothing on this scale. It reflects a culture that appreciates the beauty from nature.

This is just breath-takingly gorgeous! Just wonderful!!
WOW!
The best exhibits here would never come close!

Like Lindsey, I used to go through Singapore quite often when I lived in Jakarta. I found it to be a classy city with lots to do. The orchid exhibit is fabulous as I would expect. Thanks for sharing Joshua.

Jim

Absolutely wonderful photos, Joshua. Thanks for doing all the work of sorting and labeling, then posting all these. As Lindsey said, I think I'd have to spend several days going through just that one display, for fear of sensory overload.

That's my excuse (so far) for not yet sorting and posting my tour of Butchart Gardens. First, it surely was a sensory overdose, and second, I just now found out where the heck I saved all the pictures. I'll let everyone recover from your beautiful presentation before I get mine posted. Besides, we're still cleaning up from our flood.

Thanks Jim and Elaine. Glad you're enjoying the photos! Hope the cleanup isn't too extensive.

As I mentioned in a previous post, there was an enclosure in the middle of the Flower Field, as you can see in these two photos from my first post:


For a relatively small structure, there was a surprising variety of different genera. There were a number of arches/pillars with Orchids mounted to them, as well as a few along the side of the path. More Grammatophyllums at the entrance:


Some of the unlabelled orchids inside (loved the colour on the second photo... wish I knew what it was called!):


Apologies for the last photo above being a bit blurry - it's the best shot I had of the overhead Vandaceous Orchids!

Encyclia tampensis var. alba


Oncidopsis Nelly Isler (an unlabelled plant was also out in the main display area and is shown in the third photo)


Two different clones of the same grex:

Oncidesa Hwuluduen Chameleon 'Golden Oriole'


Oncidesa Hwuluduen Chameleon 'Colorful Lake'


On the way out of the enclosure was this Psychopsis:


Ahead, bordered by a Vanda Alliance hybrid, was a sea of Phals...


I am not particularly keen on Phals, but the display was impressive.

Phal. Star Goldfinch (it seemed that some blooms were either older or opened under different conditions, as some were paler than others)


Phal. Luchia Lip


Phal. Scarlett (not registered)


Phal. KV Jixiang (not registered)


Phal. Hong Lin Red Rose (not registered)


Phal. amabilis



One more post to go for the Flower Dome! Hopefully no one has died of sensory overload...

We went to the Cloud Forest conservatory next (I'll post photos of this next time), but then doubled back to view both domes in the evening when the lighting came on at night. Here are a few photos that I managed to get of the Flower Dome. A few are from the opposite side of the Flower Field and provide a different perspective on the scale of the dome.



This is the smaller display as you come in the main entrance (with the Grammatophyllums on the left and right of the red butterfly structure). For some reason I didn't get a good photo of it in daylight:


The one display that I had more success with at night than in the day was the miniature Orchid cabinet, due to its own internal lighting and glass causing reflections:


Comparettia macroplectron


Lycaste Alma de mi Alma


Masdevallia Violet Gems 'Jewel' - Wiltech Trophy Runner Up/OSSEA


Masdevallia Theresa Hill 'Paolina Ferrusi' AM/AOS


Scaphosepalum rapax 'Andrew' CHM/AOS


Masdevallia Mary Staal 'Laurie Jean' HCC/AOS


A Paph with no label:


I think that's about it for the Flower Dome! Tomorrow I hope to start on the Cloud Forest dome.

I am breathless, such extraordinary beauty!

The color on the flower in your second photo is stunning. A while ago Motes had a Vanda listed on their site that was similar in color to your third photo.

Joshua, can you hear the crowd roaring??? You've knocked it out of the park ( as we American's would say...it's a baseball term indicating a home run!).
That second flower photo that you love the color so much on looks like a Schombo Catt cross...maybe Jim or Bill will know. I am hoping that the next photo after that, the pretty rainbow sherbert colored vanda-like plant is the one that both Patty and I have Rhrds. Bangkok Sunset, that's beautiful! I also love that Oncidopsis Nelly Isler, but I bet it's too warm in Florida to grow them..wonderful photography!

I am enjoying this new installment over breakfast! The Flower Dome is incredible, one can only imagine what work and love went into creating this display! And your pictures are just wonderful!!