Green Galore: Singapore Garden Festival Returns - here's what we liked and what we didn't.

The 8th Edition of the Singapore Garden Festival blooms at both Botanic Gardens and along Orchard.

Written by Y.S. Chia The Singapore Gardens Festival has returned with vibrant plant and flower exhibitions that let everyone - from your neighbourhood gardening community to foreign florists and landscape designers shine. The festival has its roots down at Botanic Gardens from 30th July to 9th August and along the Orchard shopping district from 30th July to 7th August. Walking amongst nature displays in your Decathalon dri-fits might not seem as attractive as going clubbing or celebrating NDP, but hear me out!

Many of the displays aren't just random commissioned pieces, but competitions pieces - so what you see - are the best flowers and foliage designs! And here at Honest Review, we know the pain of walking the whole festival, so we're just gonna give you the best places to go. Interested? Here's what we thought about our experience.

What We Saw: Given the size of the event, we split our visit into two days, the first - was for the Botanic Gardens, second was for Orchard. The place is BIG and I would strongly recommend you do the same to better appreciate the works.

What we liked:

2 Worlds Apart

Left: Orchard. Right: Botanic Gardens

The Gardens Festival aims to please everyone - from your community garden Uncle to your TikTok aesthetic cousin and this only became clear to me when I visited Orchard for round 2.

To put it simply, Botanic Gardens has more works that were community-based. It's more rustic, less organised but charms with pretty flowers rather than an overall experience. Orchard, on the other hand, boasts works by professional florists and landscape designers, both local and international. It's more focused on an immersive experience that makes you go "wow". Does the Orchard one look prettier, in my opinion, yeah - but just remember these are professionals who've possibly dedicated their lives to making pretty landscapes.

Keep in mind I said prettier.

Gardens By The People

In fact, I'm actually damn impressed by the exhibits put together by the Singapore Gardeners' Cup at Botanic Gardens. Spanning 5 displays, each one felt like a journey to another world, with pathways, small water structures and foliage all around.

Another thing which I found cute, funny and impressive was the Community Gardens Edibles Competition display at ION Orchard. Award-winning fruits and vegetables grown locally were displayed and some of them looked just like the extremely expensive "Japan-grown-without-GMO" products that I still scratch my head about when I see the price.

Our Secret Garden: A big selling point of the Singapore Garden Festivals is... wait for it... wait for it... the gardens! While most may think Garden refers to all the floral attractions being close together, there are actually full gardens on display during the festival.

In particular, the Show Gardens outside Ngee Ann City were cool and immersive.

A Botanic Fantasy for example, presented a 6m waterfall(that wasn't really wow given we've all seen cloud forest) but lets you get up close with carnivores plants like Venus flytraps.

Meanwhile, Orchard Bridge, though cordoned off, balanced being grounded in reality and a simple futuristic design that I hope Nparks incorporates in the future.

Props must also be given to The Time: In the far, far away future. I felt like I had walked into a peaceful yet dystopian future that echoes the album cover of Imagine's Dragon's Origin cover. There's even mist that adds to the suspense! Bring Your Parents/Grandparents:

There are some things in life some of us appreciate only when we're older. Alcohol. Bittergourd. CPF Savings.

The Orchid Competition at Botanic Gardens is no different. While I initial thought was its messy, the flowers themselves are beautiful individually and it seems many from the older generation love taking them close ups.

Maybe they're making their own "Good Morning Flower Card".

Take Me Home

For those inspired to become plant parents(because A) You already have a kid, B) Kids are a menace), you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that the festival Marketplace at Botanic Gardens has all you need to get started.

I was impressed to learn that I could shop for not just plants, but fertiliser, gardening tools, and even hydroponics! If you think you'll need a mentor for your plant parenting journey, you could also sign up for the Singapore Gardening Club!

I Lazy Walk Given part of this happens at Botanic Gardens, you might be interested in recreating a SAF route march and walking all over. To that, I would say please don't.

The distance may not seem far at first but as the day gets hotter over time, I would strongly suggest taking the shuttle bus. Buses are available at 5 different stops all around Botanic Gardens and come every 15 to 25 Minutes.

What We Didn't Like:

See Don't Snap

This event has come to make me realise that we - are very social media entitled. What I mean is Singapore Gardens Festival has beautiful floral displays, but we shouldn't come in expecting these displays to be instagrammable. You're probably going huh?

You see, some of these displays rely on a more rustic, natrual charm, like those of the Singapore Gardener's Cup. That means you could have a plant or two blocking the perfect shot.

Areas like Orchid Competition aren't even catered for your feed, but rather to just display the flowers in their singular beauty.

You Shall Not Pass I praised the immersiveness earlier, but did you know that many of these garden exhibits were actually cordoned off?

Amongst the Floral Installations at Orchard was an exhibit called This Humid House which had an inviting zen aesthetic but was cordoned off.

It was a similar story for Show Gardens exhibits Orchard Bridge & Green Rise. This was disappointing and annoying for me, especially for Green Rise as it seems much more could be seen if you were allowed to enter. I had asked staff about it and it was supposedly due to traffic being too high(though there weren't many people around that day).

On the topic of staff, they seem great. I've seen many of them entertaining guests and bringing older guests around the different exhibits. They're also very friendly to talk to.

Honest Opinion:

Staying true to its roots while branching out - 3.5/5

The Singapore Gardens Festival isn't trying to curate a picture perfect nature paradise, but rather build upon how beautiful nature already is. It strikes a balance, enough to nerd out with grandpa the florist, and interest your tiktok binging brother. A gentle reminder, the event is big and so I would recommend either going over two days or picking your attractions.

My top picks are the Show Gardens and Singapore Gardeners' Cup displays. Both are beautiful. The second is also a testament for me to what Singaporeans can achieve with a shared passion. I can't help but think of other bright possibilities our communities can reach working together.

How to get there - Botanic Gardens:

Point D: Eco-Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens

By Car

Enter by the Bukit Timah Gate along Bukit Timah Road if driving or alighting from a car

By MRT

Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT Station along Circle Line & Downtown Line, (Yellow & Blue)

By Bus

From Bukit Timah & Dunearn Road Take bus 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170

How to get there - ION Orchard & Ngee Ann City

By MRT

Alight at Orchard MRT Station (NS22). ION Orchard is located right next to the MRT Station. To get to Ngee Ann City, follow the underground linkway to Wisma Atria.

By Bus

From Orchard Turn: Take bus 14E, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 502, 502A, 502B

From Orchard Road (Opposite Tangs): 36, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 174, 174E, 518, 518A, 518B

Orchard Boulevard: 7,14, 16, 36, 65, 111, 123, 174, 174E, 175

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Want an event with more community involvement? Check out our My Community Festival recommendations!

Is there an event you think we should check out? Send us an email at getahonestreview@gmail.com or check out our socials.

About the Writer: Y.S. Chia(he/him) is our 20-year-old Honest Agent who loves going on adventures - be it hiking nature trails or checking out Singapore's latest festivals. When he's not out and about, you can find him being a potato watching netflix or on the rare occasion - at the gym.