Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Beautiful Bromeliads

The weather here in Singapore has been pretty much unpredictable on a daily basis, one moment it is sunny and dry, the next moment it is absolutely wet and pouring down with rain. Such is life in a coastal, tropical location but whether it may be rain or shine one thing remains the same: it's still warm and feels nice nevertheless especially for temporary cold winter refugees like us!



So on our visit to the beautiful Singapore Botanic Gardens, we started off the day there sunny and dry and after a couple of hours the grey clouds rolled in and the heavens opened up and poured it down with rain, in true tropical fashion too. Fortunately there was the visitor centre to seek refuge in during the worst of it. 


So was it that bad that it rained heavily during our visit? Not at all. The heavy downpour actually made the atmosphere much more comfortable afterwards as it became increasingly humid and muggy prior to the heavy downpour then afterwards the air was cooler and felt fresher. And one extra bonus is it made the tropical plants shiny and glossy, making them extra photogenic!

And shiny and glossy the bromeliads were as we visited the section dedicated to them in this botanic garden. And they were a sight to behold.....


The formal name of this area is, as seen above the Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection
A bit more info about the collection...
The display that greets you as you enter the netted area; Tillandsias, Aechmeas, Vrieseas, and...
They have a few Dyckias too!
Tropical and colourful Cordylines and Calatheas amongst the bromeliads
A winding pathway inside the netted area, which gives them shade and shelter but lets rain in
A bit more information about Bromeliads with Tillandsias hanging from the pergola beams, a nice touch!
The netted roof has been colonised by Tillandsia usneoides, very nice!
Huge specimens underplanted with smaller ones


A lovely mix of specimens complementing each other
A Farfugium water feature
If it was dry that bench would have been inviting to sit on
Beautiful, bright, and glossy from the rain
So tropical!


And as you go out from the netted area into the open one, Tillandsia usneoides arches frame the pathway through it. What a fantastic idea!
Even more bromeliads await you outside
And looking back into the arched pathway once again
It was also interesting to see an adjacent utility building were also covered/colonised with bromeliads. Lovely!
The only thing that could do better is the labelling of their plants as very few were labelled. But apart from that the specimens they have are all healthy and in their best condition, and they were displayed beautifully too. And in true Singapore fashion, the place was immaculate. 

Mark :-)

31 comments :

  1. Great pictures... And immaculate it is indeed.

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    1. Immaculate, much like the rest of the country :)

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  2. Replies
    1. You'll be back in SE Asia soon I can imagine :)

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  3. How wonderful that you get to escape to a tropical paradse in February! Thanks for taking us along, I feel warmer already. Beautiful collection & great pictures!

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    1. Cross fingers the warm weather will be on our way very soon! It was nice to escape the tail end of winter even if for just a short time :)

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  4. It's so interesting to see a real tropical botanic garden, where Bromelaids and Tillandsias and such thrive outside. I love that arch with the curtain of Tillandsias hanging down.

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    1. Indeed Alison, and the arches are fab! I wonder if something similar can be done with dangling succulents, hmmm....

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  5. so jealous I want to be in Singapore so badd.

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  6. Wow...I've never seen anything like that! New Orleans was probably the closest, with the Spanish moss dripping down from everything that held still long enough for it to grab. And the terrestrial bromeliads ... amazing!

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    1. Their collection was amazing! We didn't expect they had this section there so was a nice surprise to see :)

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  7. Amazing colours in all that foliage, and I have to say I am truly impressed by how beautifully presented everything looks. Enjoy!

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  8. Nothing beats an escape to the tropics minus the attendant jet lag. Thanks for that. The signage is as beautiful as the plants deserve.

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    1. Ahh jet lag, the only trouble with long haul. Plant trips make a good antidote :)

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  9. I love the curtain of Tillies on the arches What a great idea.

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    1. It is indeed! Such a structure and idea could do well in your area :)

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  10. Wow, a true tropical paradise. There is no botanical garden on the West Coast that can grow such a variety of bromeliads. I would have been in heaven.

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    1. I can fully understand why some gardeners get we'll into bromeliads, such a gorgeous group of plants!

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  11. Some very cool looking plants. It sure would catch your eye enough that you would have to look at each and every plant.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Could easily spend more than hour in this section alone :)

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  12. What a paradise! I was impressed with the Tillandsias hanging from the pergola, until I saw those archways! Those are fantastic! A very creative mind must have designed this place!

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    1. Indeed Holley, a paradise and a creative mind/minds :)

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  13. Glorious, and such a welcome antidote to cold, wet grey!!

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  14. OMG what an incredible place to visit. I really loved your photos and my favorite was the hanging Tillansia archway. Thanks!

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  15. Would you believe that I have never been to the Botanic Gardens? Thank you for posting about it. After looking at your pictures it seems that I should head back to Singapore soon.

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