Festival Highlights

• Best of Show Gardens comprise two categories of gardens, namely, Landscape Gardens which showcase good horticultural design principles and skills, planting concepts and outstanding plants; and Fantasy Gardens which creatively combine plants, flowers, stage lighting and props for a “wow” effect. The Festival will showcase nine Fantasy Gardens and 10 Landscape Gardens designed and created by local and international designers from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), France, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, China and the Southeast Asian countries;
• Floral Windows of the World feature colourful and vibrant cut flower displays and floral masterpieces with set design and lighting created by 14 international and local award-winning master floral artists;
• The annual Singapore Orchid Show organised by the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) is now incorporated into SGF as a highlight. The Orchid Show presents Southeast Asia’s rich biodiversity of tropical orchids, and is a preview to what visitors can expect when Singapore hosts the prestigious World Orchard Conference in 2011;
• Garden Marketplace, with over 100 specialty stalls offering horticultural and gardening-related products and services representing every aspect of the floristry, nursery, horticultural and landscape industries, will cater to the public, serious gardeners and hobbyists;
• Educational, recreational and entertainment activities, including gardening talks and demonstrations by local gardening gurus and international designers, activities for children, and special displays and activities from NParks’ partners such as the Clarin’s Garden of Beauty, a collection of nature inspired photos taken by businessman and avid photographer Kwek Leng Joo, and a plant clinic by the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)
• City in a Garden is a collection of special exhibits and displays showcasing Singapore’s concerted greening efforts to nurture a culture of gardening over the years. Highlights include HortPark, a new one-stop lifestyle hub offering gardening-related recreational and educational activities under one roof; Community in Bloom (CIB) outreach initiatives to promote community gardening and encourage Singaporeans to grow their favourite plants and flowers at home, at school and at their workplace; Memories of a Garden City photo competition, which has drawn 1,500 entries so far from Singaporeans sharing pictures and thoughts on their favourite green spot, flora and fauna, and other aspects of Singapore as a green city;
• The People’s Choice Award invites the public to vote for their favourite garden displays through SMS

Competitions and Awards

Various awards will be handed out by distinguished international judges as a mark of excellence. President Nathan will present the Best of Show awards for the best displays in Landscape Gardens, Fantasy Gardens and Floral Windows to the World at the exclusive Awards Gala which kicks off the Festival on the evening of 15 December.

Other prizes and accolades handed out during the Festival include the illustrious Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Horticultural Award of Excellence for the best display that showcases horticulture excellence, the Floral Designer Society of Singapore (FDSS) Cup and various Orchid Heritage Challenge Cups which are handed down from past winners over the years.
Awards will be presented at the following competitions:

• Singapore Orchid Show - Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan will present prizes for the best orchid displays by professional orchid growers and enthusiasts. The World Orchid Conference (WOC) Trustees, who will gather in Singapore to hold their annual WOC Trustees Meeting, will judge at the Singapore Orchid Show;
• Floral Designer Society of Singapore (FDSS) Floral Arrangement Competition - Minister of State for National Development Ms Grace Fu will present prizes for FDSS’ annual floral arrangement competition which showcases the creative flair and artistry of local amateur and professional floral designers;
• Inter-School Free-Style Floral Art Competition - Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew will present prizes to students from primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions participating in the inter-school competition organised by Nanyang Primary School to promote interest and appreciation of flowers and plants amongst the younger generation

Mr Ng said, “The Festival will further reinforce Singapore’s reputation as a City in a Garden to the world. With SGF and other key NParks initiatives, such as the new HortPark and iconic Gardens by the Bay, we are stepping up our efforts to boost Singapore’s international standing as a centre of horticultural excellence and to make the joys and rewards of gardening accessible to everyone. SGF will also add buzz to Singapore, bringing us a step closer to our vision to be a vibrant global city.”

SGF is a biennial event and will eventually find its permanent home at the new Gardens by the Bay in 2010. The Festival is organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) and its key partners, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA). For more information, visit www.singaporegardenfestival.com.

About National Parks Board

National Parks Board (NParks) is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of the Garden City. Beyond green infrastructure, NParks is committed to enhance the quality of life through creating memorable recreational experiences and lifestyles.

NParks manages some 300 parks, the park connector network across the country, and the lush roadside greenery in Singapore. Some of the parks managed include Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park, East Coast Park, Bishan Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Pulau Ubin Recreation Area. In addition, NParks manages nature reserves such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

As Singapore’s scientific authority on nature conservation, NParks monitors and coordinates measures to ensure the health of designated nature areas. NParks is also the lead agency in the efforts to continually upgrade the landscape industry in Singapore. It works closely with industry partners to create a thriving, creative, innovative and professional industry that will support Singapore’s aspirations of being a City in a Garden.

Show Hours:
Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 10am – 9pm
Mon-Fri: 11am – 9pm

Ticketing Details:

Tickets are available at SISTIC counters, Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Visitor Services counters and Level 1 of Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The public can also call SISTIC at 63485555 for more information.

General Admissions (S$)

*Free for children below 0.9m

Photography by Eugene Tang/SingaporeSights. All Rights Reserved.