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Robust orchid hybrid named after S'pore's 'Chief Gardener'

SINGAPORE — A special orchid hybrid named after the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was presented to his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, at the Istana today (March 24).

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SINGAPORE — A special orchid hybrid named after the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was presented to his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, at the Istana today (March 24).

Announcing this in a post on the Ministry of National Development blog today, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said Mr Khaw pointed out the making of a Garden City was a key element in Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s development strategy, which differentiated Singapore from other cities and set a benchmark for other cities to emulate. “None of this would have been possible, if not for Mr Lee’s vision and single-minded commitment to creating the best possible living environment for all Singaporeans to enjoy,” he said.

He added that they have been looking out for a suitable orchid hybrid to name after Mr Lee, whom he described as “the Chief Gardener of Singapore’s Garden City”, for some time.

Mr Lee loved nature and visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens whenever he could, he said. “My colleagues in NParks enjoyed taking him around in the buggy. They have a great deal of respect and affection for Mr Lee.”

They finally found “a suitable candidate in a vigorous and robust hybrid” of Arachnis hookeriana and Vanda Golden Moon. “NParks officers who have staffed him on his many visits to the Singapore Botanic Gardens have a good sense of what he enjoyed and liked amongst the flora and fauna,” he noted.

Named Aranda Lee Kuan Yew, the orchid produces flower sprays that bear up to 10 flowers each. Each bloom measures about 9.5cm to 10.5cm across.

Mr Khaw says this new hybrid matches the orchid hybrid that was named after Mr Lee’s late wife — Vanda Kwa Geok Choo.

“The match is not only in terms of colour, form and stature, but both hybrids also share a few species in both their lineages,” he said.

The orchid was presented to Mr Lee Hsien Loong and his family earlier this afternoon at the Istana by National Parks Board (Nparks) chief executive officer Kenneth Er.

 The creator of the hybrid, Mr David Lim, manager of the National Orchid Garden, was also present. 

“It would have been wonderful if we had the opportunity to present the Aranda Lee Kuan Yew to Mr Lee himself. It was not meant to be...I am certain Mr Lee would have loved the flowers,” said Mr Khaw.

In a Facebook post at around 7.20pm, Mr Lee Hsien Loong thanked NParks for naming a new orchid in honour of his father.

“Transforming Singapore into a Garden City was an enduring passion of my father’s,” he said. “He launched the first tree planting campaign in 1967. He formed NParks (originally the Parks and Recreation Department) to be a dedicated, specialised agency to realise the vision of a City in a Garden. The result is beautiful parks for all to enjoy.”

He added that the new orchid will be displayed in Parliament House from tomorrow (March 25) to Sunday, and those wishing to pay respects can visit from 10am to 8pm from tomorrow until Saturday.

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