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Travel / Singapore

Sentosa Flowers 2008

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By Veron Ang

Every Chinese New Year, special events are held to celebrate this important festival. In Singapore, there is the Chinatown street market, Chingay Parade or River Hong Bao. One other popular event is the annual Sentosa Flowers show.

At this springtime event, you get to enjoy a kaleidoscope of rare flower species imported from all over the world.

Sprawling an area of 5 hectares at Imbiah Lookout, the flower extravaganza is showcased in various zones, with each zone subtly sporting its own theme.

Floral display in the shape of a caterpillar

In Learning Journey, the lifespan of a butterfly is presented using flowering plants that have been painstakingly cut and pruned into the shapes of caterpillars and butterflies. The caterpillar even bobs its head!

Floral display in the shape of a butterfly

Is it just me, or does the butterfly kinda resemble a bee? In my impression, butterflies have slimmer bodies!

Floral display in the shape of a giant flower

This large flower has been constructed from several smaller flowers, like big round pompoms! I think they look cute!

Floral display in the shape of couple hearts

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is usually around the same time as Chinese New Year, predesignated photography spots have been set up in the Language of Love zone. Boy, are these hot! Long queues would form at spots such as the red hearts above, with eager couples waiting their turn to get a romantic shot in front of the floral display.

Giant sunflowers amidst the sunflower bed

Besides flowers, props are also used to enhance the presentation. From afar, these gigantic sunflowers (complete with giant bumblebees!) can be seen sprouting from the bed of regular-sized sunflowers.

White flowering plant

I’m not quite sure what it is. But this white flowering plant looks pretty unique to me. It reminds me of cotton wool.

Clay fountain of little couple
Photo by Jaslinewong

I absolutely love, love, love this cute clay fountain of a little boy and girl couple. They look so innocent and sweet!

Little blue flowers

We don’t often get to see blues in flowers, do we?

Pink leaves

I know that leaves sometimes appear in colours other than green. But ones that are completely pink? These I have never seen! They look even prettier than the flowers!

Morning glories

Aren’t these morning glories unusual with their white edges? Kind of like lace!

Colour-splattered rose

These “tie-dyed” roses sure look unique! I think they are some sort of a hybrid species.

Colour-splattered rose

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I have never seen a rose like that!

Rose

If you ask me, I still prefer the regular red or pink rose, though not as much as my most favourite flower…

Pink lilies

…the exotic pink lily! It was such a joy, seeing these lilies growing in abundance right in front of me! Before Sentosa Flowers, I had only seen them in bouquets.

Swans and ducks made from flowers
Photo by De Novo

At the fountain area, swans and ducks made from flowers froli as visitors snap away with glee with their cameras.

Clay parrots with messages perched on tree

Visitors can also purchase leaf-shaped cards where they would pen their words and attach them to trees.

Message of peace

Amongst the hundreds of messages of wishes and dedications to that special someone, this particular message of peace stood out for me.

Giant floral display of the Chinese character "Chun"
Photo by eydren1982

Even moving away from the Imbiah area, giant floral displays can still be seen towering into the sky. This colourful display featuring the Chinese character, Chun (spring), is particularly eye-catching due to its majestic height. It stands more than 2.5 metres tall!

In so many amazing ways, flowers can be transformed into interesting works of art when creativity is put to use!

I am already looking forward to next year’s Sentosa Flowers!

Tags: Sentosa

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Responses Leave a comment

Xwings
50 comments

Hi Veron,
Great pics…but…
Do you happen to know if these flowers are suitable for local climate or they are meant to last for the exhibition period and then off to the rubbish bins they go ? Like some of those CNY plants so many of us bought in bulk to beautify our houses and offices for visitors and then somehow afew days after the Public Holidays, they somehow “mysteriously” appear close to the Lift corridoors and rubbish bins…….
Some things are nice to have and great to see but…
Wonder if we can ever balance our likes/wants with what the Planet Earth can freely provide us with forever…
Reply
Posted February 25, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Miccheng
90 comments

Very nice flowers… :D
Reply
Posted February 26, 2008 at 12:55 am
kormmandos
4 comments

You didn’t mention about those creepy looking rats and rodents they had all over the place. Think they scared off some kids.
Reply
Posted February 26, 2008 at 9:25 am
Veron
3439 comments

Haha I didn’t like those clay rat figurines one bit even though I was born in the year of the Rat. I didn’t take any pictures of them too.
Reply
Posted February 26, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Kay Thi
7 comments

oh, amazing…. I like all knid of flowers. I prefer heart shade flower.
Reply
Posted February 27, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Valerie
14 comments

I heard that is nice too with some symbols and characters made from flower. Anyway…haha jus happened to read this post before my trip to Sentosa. Surely I will drop by there to have a look :))
Reply
Posted February 28, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Beni
30 comments

Those are some really pretty flowers.
BTW another notch on my belt :-)
Reply
Posted March 2, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Nicole
1 comment

Hey you don’t know me but I stumbled across your blog looking at kittens heh and I found your posts about finding that tiny cow kitten… I was just wondering If it survived…. yeah… I think its awesome that you took it in… I love cats and I would of done the same thing… Good thing you were there to save him….
Reply
Posted March 3, 2008 at 3:05 am
Veron
3439 comments

Kay Thi: Glad you like these!
Valerie: The Sentosa Flowers already ended two weeks ago! But there’s always next year right? :)
Beni: Congrats dude! (I spy a German flag. You sure are going places!)
Nicole: Thanks Nicole. Unfortunately my baby didn’t survive beyond the first month. I feel that a part of me would always be missing. There were great memories though.
Reply
Posted March 3, 2008 at 12:24 pm
kirsteen
15 comments

hi veron, how have you been? it has been quite some times since you update your blog.
Hope evrything fine for you.
Reply
Posted March 6, 2008 at 9:57 am
mervkwok
38 comments

Whoa! funky stuff! makes me wish i had gone… too bad i didn’t :(
Reply
Posted March 6, 2008 at 11:59 am
alldoneup
24 comments

wow, thanks so much for sharing!! I’m a fan of art and nature and this is spectacular…I love the blue hydrangeas and the swans the most! =D
Reply
Posted May 29, 2008 at 8:30 am
Andrea
2 comments

Hi! This blog is a show! I’m brazilian and the name of blue flower that in your post is “Hortência” in portuguese.
Reply
Posted August 27, 2009 at 5:42 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Oh thanks! I’m learning something new everyday :)
  Reply
  Posted August 27, 2009 at 11:04 pm