Day at the Gardens

The girls and I signed up and participated in the NParks Green Corridor Outreach Programme at Singapore Botanic Gardens which was organised in partnership with SCGS. It started at 8.45am with registration at Jacob Ballas Children's Garden. The parents and SCGS students were split into two groups: Blue and Yellow. My girls and I were allocated to the Blue group.

The director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Dr Nigel Taylor gave us a warm welcome and briefing at 9am. After the briefing, our Blue group attended the talk on Benefits for Biodiversity & Community in Bloom first and followed by the Demo of Native Birds iPhone/ iPad app. Little did I know, my girls already had the Birds of Sinagapore app installed on their phones! Lol. The parents and the children were separated for the next activity. The parents went on an exclusive guided tour to the Plant Resource Centre (or affectionately known as the Nursery by the staff of SBG) while the children went on a Education Tour round the Children's Garden and followed by a Hands-on Planting Activity. I really enjoyed the tour and briefing at the four stations at the Plant Resource Centre. The staff are really knowledgeable and passionate about their work. Hats off to them. :) 

Some of the lovely flowers seen at the Plant Resource Centre

By the time, we, the Blue group parents, were reunited with our children, they had planted their "Pink Lady" plant (its common name or also known by its scientific name as Dissotis rotundifolia). Marieann and Juliane said they really enjoyed the planting activity.  

The girls and their Pink Ladies (bagged for easier carrying)

The girls and their Science teachers

At the end of the outreach programme, a buffet lunch was provided. After our respective tours in the Children's Garden, we all tucked in eagerly and happily. Before we went home, we walked round the Children's Garden again. 

The girls' Pink Lady plants

Goodies from the outreach programme: sling bag with badges, gardening hat with packets of seeds (ready for planting)

After returning home, I met with my neighbour around 12.30pm and we went to Botanic Gardens for lunch (well, dessert for me) lol. We went on a walk around the Gardens to walk off the heavy lunch around 3pm and only got home around 6pm. I definitely did my exercise for the week! :P