Going Tropical: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Miami is a tropical wonderland. Beach lovers and foodies alike flock down south to "Little Cuba" for good reason. My first stop is always Wynwood Arts District , followed closely by the Perez Art Museum, and a long bike ride along the Southbeach boardwalk. But if you want to leave the beach and hustle behind to explore a few Gardens, I would suggest Villa Viscaya or  The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This trip I drove a short 20 minutes outside of Miami to Coral Gables to visit The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for the first time. The 83 acre garden includes over 23,000 plants and one of the largest collections of palms and cycads in the world. Fun Fact: The Garden opened in 1938 and is named after the famous botanist Dr. David Fairchild (1869-1954) who traveled the world bringing back hundreds of plants including the flowering cherry trees in Washington DC. The Garden is open everyday (except of December 25) from 7:30am- 4:30pm.

You know you're in Florida when the majority of trees are Palms. 

The Clinton Family Conservatory featuring the Wings of the Tropics Exhibit; the Glasshouse Cafe gives a clear view into the garden. . . but I would suggest you eat before coming to the Garden. . . food options are limited and not very good. 

Two Butterflies in the Wings of the Tropics Exhibit 

In the Tropical Plant Conservatory; Colorful Chihuly sculptures always look incredible installed in Gardens. 

In the Rare Plant House  

Every nameplate in the Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion had it's own little lizard; the lizards loved the heat from the metal

Walking down Moos Sunken Garden

Moos Sunken Garden

Spiderwebs are stunning in afternoon light. . . just pay attention not to walk straight through them. 

Viewpoint from the Bailey Palm Glade

Pandanus Lake

I hope you're able to explore your green spaces wherever you may be!
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist 

Roses in Bloom

Located in the Museum district, the McGovern Centennial Garden has grown into a lovely green haven. It has been a little over a year since the Garden opened to the public. Since then, vines have grown their way up the trellis; the Family Garden is bursting with leafy greens and fruit trees; and the rose garden has bloomed with a splendid variety of smells and colors. While I strolled and sketched on a bench, I watched families picnicing, couples reading books together, and dozens of people walking up and down the central earthwork. The garden is such a wonderful reminder of how far Houston has come in the last few years in regards to the importance placed on public green spaces.

Entrance to the McGovern Centennial Gardens

Arid Garden at McGovern Centennial Gardens 

A view from the top of the earthwork

Family Garden 

The smells of Roses and Rosemary float through the garden (photo from January-roses have since been pruned)

Roses at the McGovern Centennial Gardens (photo from January) The Roses have recently been pruned 

I hope you take advantage of the gorgeous weather this weekend by walking through the Gardens!

xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist

Gardens on the Fly : Singapore Changi Airport

I never thought I would say this: I want to arrive a few hours early to an airport. The Singapore Changi Airport  has taken travel to the next level: Free screenings of movies, free internet access, free foot massage chairs, incredible shopping, fine dining. . . . and last but not least several stand-out gardens scattered through the terminals. The Gardens include the Sunflower Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Orchid Garden, and the Enchanted Garden. Trees also grow in groves throughout the airport while koi fish swim in small ponds by charging stations. The green spaces go a long way to make you feel as though you're just passing an relaxing afternoon in a park rather than enduring the normal hustle before a long flight. 

One of the hundreds of Butterflies swarming around the Butterfly Garden 

Butterflies feasting on fresh pineapple slices 

Small Lizards enjoy the nectar of bright Gerber Daisies 

Greenery in the Butterfly Garden

Waterfall in the Butterfly Garden

One of the many groves of trees scattered throughout the airport 

Orchid Garden

Flowers Bundled in the Enchanted Garden

The magical  Enchanted Garden

Sunflower Garden on the roof of Terminal 2 

Sunflowers turning to welcome visitors; how can you not be happy in this garden?

Just in case you forget this is at an airport. See you later Singapore!

Singapore's dedication to green spaces and its belief in the value of gardens both as a place of social importance and health benefits has helped turn the country into a place of extreme beauty. Any admirer of horticulture should mark Singapore as a place to visit in the future.

Wishing you many green adventures,
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist

Singapore: Chinese and Japanese Gardens

Lily Pads in the Japanese Garden with a view of the Chinese Padoga in the distance 

If you want to explore a park in Singapore a little off the beaten path, I would suggest the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden in Jurong East. Both Gardens are built on artificial islands in Jurong Lake (previously Jurong River) and are connected by a 13 arch bridge 'Bai hong Qiao' or 'the white rainbow'. The Chinese Garden features a Pagoda, a stone boat, a Garden of Chinese Zodiacs, a stunning Bonsai Garden of over 2,000 trees, and a tea house. Inspired by Japanese Gardens from the 14th-17th century, the Japanese Garden has fewer obvious attractions as its neighbor but is meant to be a place of tranquility and contemplation. Here visitors can enjoy lily ponds, stone walkways, a traditional resting house, and arching red bridges.

Everyone enjoys the Japanese garden; two turtles sunbathing; the Turtle and Tortoise Museum is on the grounds; you should also keep your eyes open for the large monitor lizards that like to lounge in the gardens

Multiple bridges cross over the Lily Pond  

Stunning Bonsai Garden in the Chinese Gardens; opened in 1992; 2,000 Bonsai trees were imported from China and other countries 

Bonsai Garden; little glimpses into a number of 'rooms' full of bonsai trees on pedestals

Bonsai Garden: a sneak peek into another part of the garden

Bonsai Garden: Bonsai trees growing from stones meant to resemble mountainous landscapes 

In the Garden of Abundance: 12 Chinese Zodiac animal sculpture, a sun dial, and pomegranate trees 

7- story Pagoda in the style of the Ling Ku Temple 

A detailed look at the exterior of the Pagoda

Looking up the heart of the Pagoda 

A view from the seventh eave of the Pagoda 

Tip: The Gardens are easily accessible from the MRT (Chinese Garden stop) and can be combined with a visit to the Jurong Bird Park a mere 8 minute drive away. Gardens are open daily from 6am-11pm.

Enjoy your green adventures!
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist

In a Sea of Orchids

Bird Cage of Orchids 

Located in the heart of The Singapore Botanic Gardens, The National Orchid Garden of Singapore holds the honor of having the largest display of tropical orchids in the world. With over 60,000 orchids, made up of 1,000 different species and 2,000 hybrids, the garden is awash with a full spectrum of color and fragrances. Numbers aside, the garden is otherworldly in its design with pathways surrounded by towering orchids, tropical palms, and three greenhouses. Singapore has been at the forefront of orchid hybrid and cloning research for the past century. And of course, it is only fitting that Singapore's National flower is an orchid: Vanda Miss Joaquim (also the first registered plant hybrid in Singapore and the only hybrid that is a national flower).   

Heritage Orchid Garden: Layers of Orchids up the hillside

The Swoonworthy Tan Hoon Siang Mist House 

You can get lost in the color and smells of the Tan Hoon Siang Mist House 

Hanging plants in the Tan Hoon Siang Mist House 

Tan Hoon Siang Mist House 

Yuen-Peng Mcneice Bromeliad House 

Bromeliad House: The Pineapple, the most well known Bromeliad, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on the Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe 

Lush Greenery line the paths throughout the Orchid Garden

Cool House: a collection of plants from tropical cloud forests

Some of the plants along the paths were just as intriguing as the multitude of colorful orchids 

VIP Garden; hybrids are named after important State Visitors and other VIPS

Golden Shower Arches 

I would't mind losing my way for a few hours/days in this stunning Orchid Garden. How can you say no to thousands of flowers?

Up Next: Singapore's Chinese and Japanese Gardens

xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist