[SG60 Special] Gardens by the Bay Lights Up SG60 with Fireflies, Flowers & Free Concerts

Hi Huneybees,

Last night was pure magic at Gardens by the Bay as they officially kicked off their SG60 celebrations with "SPARK", a mesmerising firefly-inspired light installation, and the return of the much-loved "Orchid Extravaganza" at Flower Dome!

And yes, I made it just in time to catch "SPARK" in action under the stars. Thousands of glowing, biodegradable light sparks rise and fall gently in the tropical air, like fireflies dancing in slow motion. It felt like I had stepped into a dreamy Studio Ghibli scene!

This is the first time "SPARK" has landed in Southeast Asia, and it's here for only four nights (until 3 August 2025!) at Supertree Grove Lawn. The installation is the brainchild of Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde and supported by GIC, the Tote Board, and the Embassy of the Netherlands, which also celebrates 60 years of diplomatic ties with Singapore this year. What a beautiful double celebration!

Each floating spark is a poetic reimagination of fireworks, but gentler and more sustainable. The kids around me were absolutely enchanted as they tried to “catch” them mid-air, and I had a blast experimenting with light photography. If you’re planning a romantic night out or a family date, this is one experience not to miss before the weekend ends.

---

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay)

Orchid Extravaganza 2025（兰花盛事）

Over at the Flower Dome, "Orchid Extravaganza" is back with over 6,000 stunning orchids in full bloom! This year’s theme proudly celebrates our local heritage, with floral displays that weave in everything from Singapore's national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, to uniquely named hybrids like Papilionanda Chua Chu Kang and Vanda KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay)

What stole the show? Three towering orchid-clad Supertrees right inside the dome where you can walk right into the tallest one for an immersive orchid wonderland experience! There’s also a beautiful tribute to Peranakan culture, complete with floral recreations of traditional interiors inspired by the iconic play "Emily of Emerald Hill". Cultural Medallion recipient Mr Lee Hock Moh’s intricate orchid paintings are also on display, including his SG60 piece "Dancing Petals, Joyful Laughter" (飞跃花丛送欢声), featuring six parrots symbolising six decades of Singapore’s unity and success. 

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay)

Add to that stunning gold-plated orchid brooches by RISIS, authentic kebayas and beaded slippers from Rumah Kim Choo, and historical artefacts from the Peranakan Museum, and you have the perfect weekend plan for culture lovers!

In celebration of SG60, you also get to enjoy a complimentary all-access adult ticket to the Peranakan Museum with each Flower Dome ticket, Friends of the Gardens e-card, or SG60 Wonder Blooms pass.

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay)

Orchid Extravaganza runs till 31 August 2025.
Admission to Flower Dome applies.
*Psst… there’s even a social media contest where you could win a RISIS gold orchid brooch! Visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/orchids for more information.

---

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay and MediaCorp)

What Else is Happening This August? 

The SG60 vibes don’t stop here. Gardens by the Bay has lined up more free events in August to keep the celebrations going:

National Day Concert – Ties That Bloom

📍The Meadow | 3 August 2025 | 4.30pm fringe activities, 7.30pm concert

Celebrate our Singaporean spirit with performances by Kit Chan, Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza and Charlie Lim. Adding a special touch to the evening are performances by local family duos: JJ Neo and her mother Lucy Neo; Rahimah Rahim, her sister Rozie Rahim and granddaughter Alyaa; siblings Tay Kewei and Tay Kexin; and husband-and-wife duo Mark Sara and Annetha Ayyavoo! 

The Purple Symphony (TPS) – Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra of musicians with and without disabilities – will also bring audiences a heartfelt medley of familiar local tunes, blending Eastern and Western instruments in a moving tribute to Singapore’s 60th birthday. 
So, don’t forget your picnic mats!

(Photo Credits: Gardens by the Bay)

NDP 2025 Bay Celebrations
📍The Meadow | 9 August 2025 | 4.15pm – 9.00pm

Catch a live telecast of the National Day Parade right at Gardens by the Bay, with live performances happening on-site too. This is the first time the Marina Bay area is an official satellite site for the NDP, and Gardens by the Bay is the perfect place if you want to soak up the patriotic vibes without the crowds at the Padang!

---

From floating sparks to blooming orchids, Gardens by the Bay is pulling out all the stops for SG60, and I’m loving every second of it! Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night idea, an educational family outing, or just a magical way to soak up Singapore’s birthday month, this is the place to be! Don’t forget to bring your camera, wear comfy shoes, and catch the fireflies before they flutter away!

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

Celebrating Mother's Day at Tulipmania @ Gardens by the Bay

Hi Huneybees,

By the time this article is out, the event -Tulipmania 2023 might be over already. I'm sharing this post for keepsakes and also a reminder to all to spend more time with your loved ones. 

It's been a while since I took a nature walk and the other day, we dated my mum who's a huge fan of flowers to go to Gardens by the Bay to check out the beautiful tulips from Turkey. As we strolled, we chatted about the times when we travelled together to New Zealand and Australia when I was still a kid. 

Bringing back those memories and comparing my mum now,  caught onto my heartstrings a little. As we grew up, everyone had their own agendas and the family seems to be spending less time with each other. Back then, we could climb ice glaciers, walk through forests, but now both my parents had leg issues, walking at such slow pace, got me thinking time is short, how much more time do we have with each other?

That's why I love going everywhere taking photos, not for social media postings but to keep these memories forever locked in this "time capsule" so that everyone in the family can view too!

Have you been to the Gardens by the Bay before? Seeing all the beautiful brightly coloured florals and soaking in the sun simply makes one so much more refreshed and comfortable. It's nice to take a break sometimes, away from all the phone scrolling, and spend quality time with friends and family. You guys should give it a try too!

Ok! gona spam a few more pics before I'm off to bed ~~~

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook page | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

So Many Instagram Worthy Spots At This Year's Singapore Garden Festival 2018

Hi Huneybees,

Over the weekend, we were at Gardens by the Bay for the 7th edition of Singapore Garden Festival 2018. Being Asia’s premier tropical garden and flower show, there were more than 70 garden and floral displays at The Meadow, Flower Dome and the Supertree Grove, displaying a fiesta of creations from the world's top award-winning garden and floral designers. 

There were many different spots this year that covers most part of the garden and this year, they even had buggy rides together with drinks and food stalls scattered along the grounds. It is a very nice touch of addition to the weather was a killer this year. It seems to be so much warmer than previous years and even though I was dressed as cooling as possible, I was still melting and perspiring uncontrollably.

Stepping into the SGF grounds, we were welcomed at a beautiful tent area that houses the 13 Floral Windows to the World where colourful and vibrant cut-flower displays and floral masterpieces with stunning set design and lighting by notable floral designers from around the world are displayed. 

There's also the new non-competitive Floral Windows to the World Installation featuring a kaleidoscopic display of blooms created by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz, Best of Show (Floral Windows to the World) designers for SGF 2016. It gives so many ideas to how we can introduce greenery into our living space and how much floral can brighten and be manipulated.

We spent the most time at the 13 Fantasy and Landscape Show Gardens for the top award-winning 80 sqm creations gardening luminaries from around the world (Australia, France, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America) got us snapping photos away. 

Every creation is a gorgeous Instagram worthy photo and the one we loved the most is the Precious Land by Tom Massey (UK) where the landscape turns from day till night with a glowing sun and dark waters to represent Singapore's vulnerability towards warmer climate change and the threat of rising sea water levels.

The main event has got to be the Orchid Extravaganza in the Flower Dome. Not only do you get to hide from the sweltering heat, you can also get to check out the world's largest family of flowering plants, Singapore's heritage - Orchids in full bloom.

 

There are countless species of orchids gathered here and every corner in this dome, makes a great backdrop (*except for the busy crowds) for your selfies, especially when this year’s orchid display is creatively conceived by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Royston Tan.

Huge beaded Nyonya beaded shoes accompanied the orchids with Singapore's signature Peranakan shophouses in the back, welcomes the tourists to our strong Asian heritage and culture. It's as though Emerald Hill was shifted right into the dome...

Of course there are other places to explore too, like the 8 Balcony Gardens that features colourful and inspirational displays for home and apartment owners. Visitors can see how these designers transform 3m by 3m spaces into a soothing retreat. 

The new ASEAN Garden - a special feature to mark Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018, showcasing a myriad of colourful blossoms symbolic of Southeast Asian nations, including lotuses, hibiscuses and orchids, just to name a few. NParks also displayed a series of gardens with different themes featuring plants such as fragrant flowering edibles and plants with visually cool colours and pleasant scents.

If you are keen in learning more about gardening or learn some greenry tips, there is also the Learning Garden, displays by the Floral Designers Society (Singapore), Singapore Penjing & Stone Appreciation Society and Singapore Gardening Society, as well as various educational talks.

So, come on down to the Gardens by the Bay before it ends. Not only does it make a good spot for photography, you can also soak up the sun and breathe in some fresh air. It's nice to take a stroll amongst the greenery, admired the beautiful and colourful flowers, spot some pretty dragonflies & butterflies, whilst picking up some tips on how we can introduce green ecosystem into our homes...

The Singapore Garden Festival 2018 is till 3 August and tickets can be purchased from the Gardens by the Bay Ticketing Hub as well as from www.gardensbythebay.com.

For more information, visit www.singaporegardenfestival.com or follow SGF at www.facebook.com/SGGardenFest and www.instagram.com/SGGardenFest.  

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More