Who Couldn’t Use a Little Orchid Therapy?

By JuliaUncategorized

A sure antidote to lift my spirits is a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. A mere 1.7 km walk from our condo, these 82 hectare (202 acre) Gardens were established in 1859 during the British colonial administration and dedicated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. It is the crown jewel of Singapore parks, and set in the middle like a bezel diamond is the dazzling National Orchid Garden.

I’ve had a love affair with orchids ever since we grew them in our backyard in the small Caltex oil camp of Rumbai in central Sumatra. Nahir, our gardener, was known for his horticultural talent, and ours was a garden to envy. I had no idea that these flowers, ubiquitous to SE Asia, could be so finicky in other climates until I was hired to housesit, or rather orchid sit, for a Seattle couple during my early 20’s. Their greenhouse seemed to take care of itself until a pipe burst, and I was left scrambling to problem solve while the Samsons were on a Norwegian fjord cruise in the days before cell phones.

In Singapore, I take full advantage of how easy — and cheap — it is to keep freshly cut orchids. My weekly shopping trip to the market usually includes a stop, and inevitable price haggling, with the flower auntie. This week I have a vase filled with one of my favourite hybrids, Oncidium Golden Shower, also known as the ballerina orchid because their petals look like dancers. If I’m close to the wholesale nurseries on Thomson Road, I’ll pick up a potted orchid. (Incidentally, locals nod knowingly when you say Thomson Road, as the pandemic has sparked urban gardening frenzy across the island). I have yet to try my hand at growing these epiphytes. Let’s just say I don’t have Nahir’s green thumb, as more plants have perished than flourished on my watch.

There are more than 25,000 recorded species of orchids, of which about 220 are native to Singapore. The Gardens display more than 1,000 eye-popping species and 2,000 hybrids and every year, new hybrids are introduced. It’s quite a feat, given that each hybrid takes more than five years to make. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is renowned for its orchid breeding programme and has registered more than 630 hybrids since 1932. The hybrid called Vanda Miss Joaquim (Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim) was named Singapore’s national flower in 1981 and was used as the main extract in the fragrance Singapore Bliss, the signature scent of Singapore Airlines.

These delicate, vibrant beauties also play a unique role in international affairs. Singapore has been honouring visiting heads of state by naming selected orchid hybrids after them since 1956. According to the National Parks Board’s website, “Orchid Diplomacy” serves as a gesture of friendship to promote goodwill between Singapore and other countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides whether an orchid hybrid will be named after a particular visiting dignitary and works with the Gardens to identify hybrids for naming. US Vice President Kamala Harris had an orchid hybrid (Papilionanda Kamala Harris) named after her during her official visit this past August. The VIP Orchid Garden showcases more than 200 orchid hybrids named after state dignitaries, including the Duke and Duchess of Wales, the late Nelson Mandela, and the former State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, to name just a few.

Flower naming and gift giving. Such a civilised gesture to commemorate a relationship. Wouldn’t that lighten your mood and put a skip back into your step?

Orchid Photo Gallery

Flower photography is an art, which I have not yet learned. Nonetheless, here are a few photos from Singapore Botanic Gardens and a couple from my home. Enjoy!

  • Named after President Benigno Aquino III, Philippines
  • Named after Olafur Ragnar Grimson, Iceland
  • Statue in the VIP Orchid Garden
  • Named after Princess Diana
  • Named after Mark Rutt, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
  • This little guy enjoying his gorgeous habitat
  • Ginger flower
  • Growing as epiphytes on trees, morning walk in my neighbourhood
  • Botanical illustration, orchid
  • Botanical illustration, ginger flower
  • In my living room
  • Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama
  • Aranthera Anne Black, the first orchid to be named after a VIP, Lady Black, wife of a governor of Singapore
  • Oncidium Golden Shower, aka ballerina orchid
  • Ballerina shaped petals
  • Tackling the plants on our balcony

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18 thoughts on “Who Couldn’t Use a Little Orchid Therapy?”

  1. Thank you for sharing! Orchids are my absolute favorite flower…I get mine from Trader Joe’s (a bargain). Your balcony garden is beautiful!

  2. All just gorgeous. I also love orchids, though I have never tried to keep one alive in my home. Just a few weeks ago Don received one as a gift, and it’s doing well so far. Fingers crossed! Love to you both!

  3. Two comments: 1) reminded me of the book Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean (2000). Only have a vague memory of it but I think it was good. (I know, I should take up work as a book reviewer given how helpful that was. But worth a look.) 2) In your photo in your balcony garden you COMPLETELY have our Max the dog smile from the Grinch, only missing the arm shrug and wave.

    1. Rach – oh yes, the Orchid Thief. Must read. And Max the dog smile – now THAT brings back memories. I’m giggling.

  4. You are a wonderful writer. Through your post I can see the lovely orchids and I can hear you talking to the flower aunties. You have inspired me to go buy an Orchid.

  5. Thanks for the update and the beautiful pictures. It brought smiles and colors to a wet blustery week.

  6. Thank you for sharing, Julia! I love reading your posts because I learn so much about Singapore and in this case, orchids! What a treasure to be able to visit the gardens in a time of lockdowns. Wouldn’t Lisa love seeing these pictures and the gardens themselves!

    1. Deb, we talk often about how Lisa would have LOVED the Gardens. There’s also an extensive collection of botanical illustrations there as well as in the National Museum. Always makes me think of her. Missing her.

  7. I love orchids. And, yes, having one named for me would definitely put a skip in my step! I had no idea there were so many different varieties. Lucky you to live so close to the gardens.

  8. I remember arriving at the Singapore airport for the first time and seeing all the beautiful displays of orchids. The air even smelled of orchids. I learned so much from reading your blog, and it gave me a new appreciation of orchids. I am growing one now in the bathroom as it seems to like the indirect sunshine and the humidity from the shower. Jane Jory mentioned that her Mom had a few RISIS orchid brooches. I just got mine out, and they are so lovely to look at. Thank you for sharing your wonderful blogs. You are such a good writer.

    1. Yes, I would think near the shower would be a perfect place to keep an orchid. It has been fun to relive memories from our time in Indonesia / SE Asia. I’d forgotten about those brooches, but seems like everyone had one back in those days! Thank you for reading and your compliments!! Makes my day.

  9. This put a big smile on my face! Thank you for putting it all together. Love all the orchid names! xo

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