178. GARDENS BY THE BAY 2018

Last several years, visiting the gardens has been a yearly affair. They change the exhibits with different themes and displays dependent on the various ethnic celebrations observed locally - that diversity is refreshing...the bay gardens is like an art gallery...

 

Rhododendrons in October - in season and in full bloom - till I saw this display, I hadn't realise they came in this many colours - perhaps they've been tampered with - no matter, they're nevertheless gorgeous

Plants go well with wood and stone sculptures

Bats - carved out of roots

These sculptures are very likely commissioned from China - they do excellent work out of tree roots

An eagle in the 'mist' - the mist is from water which keeps the displays moist...

Father Sun holding Earth in his hands...

The theme in this section is Alice in Wonderland...she's in blue

They don't call these species bottle trees for nothing! And yes, it's how they store water! yes again, they thrive in dry conditions! Isn't Mother wonderful - She provides...

The trunks have been shaved to keep them smooth and safe to visitors as this is in a rest area

I always linger a little longer to admire their cacti collection as I never had much luck growing them

These succulents look like some alien species from another planet! Some might say the bay gardens is contrived but where else does one get to see this huge diversity all in one place? Those same critics never visit gardens and have no feel for plants - sad creatures

Green daisies and black callas - I find such colors in flowers fascinating

They've wisely kept the orchid collection small as the Botanic Gardens offer a vast collection in its orchid garden

Pitcher plants and the Venus flytrap are more wonderful examples of Mother's handiwork - who else would dream up carnivorous plants that trap its own food? 

The bay gardens has a large collection of fuchsias in a wide variety of hues - the above has white and red bracts with contrasting white and red petals...glorious!

With the year end Christmas festivities round the corner, the gardens prepare for change of display to a Christmasy theme and colours...

...hanging bells

Something hard to create in the bay gardens - real life Autumn colours sent by an English friend, presume it's from her garden...