S$35m enhancements to National Orchid Garden by 2019

SINGAPORE — Come 2019, the National Orchid Garden (NOG) will have new enhancements, including infrastructure upgrades and new orchids.

The existing 260 sqm Cool House, a temperature controlled glasshouse with orchids species, carnivorous plants and cool-growing plant species, will be upgraded into The Sembcorp Cool House. This will be designed to emulate the cool, trop-ical atmosphere of a high elevation Montane forest, a type of forest found at high altitude in the tropics which have a cool climate and high rainfall throughout the year.

Additionally, the Cool House, Tan Hoon Siang Mist House and the Yuen Peng McNeice Bromeliad orchid collection enclosures, which are currently separate will be connected by a new ravine to form the new Tropical Montane Orchidetum. Together, the integrated area will form an orchid showcase that is four times the size of the current collection.

A more energy efficient cooling system to create an optimal environment for orchids to thrive will also be added.

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong made the announcement while officiating a ceremony Friday evening (June 30) to mark the start of the works at the Orchid Garden. The ceremony also kick-started the festivities for the annual Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival, which will run from June 30 to July 9.

Mr Wong said: “As we progressively expand and enhance the Singapore Botanic Gardens, I think it’s time to enhance the Orchid Garden and make sure that it con-tinues to remain our crowning attraction as Mr Lee (Kuan Yew) called it in 1995.”

“The enhancement works will allow us to strengthen the (Orchid Garden’s) capabilities in orchid breeding, conservation and research,” he added.

The enhancements to the 22-year-old National Orchid Garden, expected to cost around S$35 million, are targeted for completion in 2019. Cost of the works will be partially borne by contributions from the community, including a S$10 million donation by Sembcorp Industries, the largest single donation to the Garden City Fund to date.

The Cool House, Mist House and the Yuen Peng McNeice Bromeliad orchid collection areas will be closed to public after the end of the Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival and upgrading works will commence on July 10.

Visitors will still get to enjoy the Orchid Garden with enhanced orchid displays such as the Silver Arches, tall majestic arches clad with a variety of orchids and other floral species from the Americas, and the Orchid Safari, a display of different types of orchids resembling or named after animals.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival includes, for the first time, a picnic day weekend organised by Tiong Bahru Bakery next weekend on July 8 and 9. Visitors can purchase picnic baskets that come with a mat, helium balloon and fans. There will also be food and beverage pop ups from Common Man Coffee Roasters, House at Dempsey, Open Farm Community, Open Door Policy and Tiong Bahru Bakery, as well as activities for the whole family from yoga to flower wreath-making, and painting fruits and veggies.

The festival also includes free entry to the Orchid Garden, the popular Plant Bazaar and performances by various music groups such as the T’ang Quartet at the iconic Bandstand and Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage.

For more information on the festival, you can visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/activities/events-and-workshops/2016/5/heritage-week