Gardening with Wilson

I was invited to give a talk on how to grow tillandsias, commonly called airplants, to the residents who live in Thomson Gardens and Shunfu estate. There, I also meet my collaborator from NParks’ Community in Bloom, Phillips, who delivered his talk on community gardening that emphasised on beautifying the roadside verge outside private homes.

Was glad to have been invited to give a talk to the residents to introduce the plants to them as well as to share some tips on gardening.

The crowd was good and there were free airplants which was given out to those who participated on the hands on. Before one jumps to a conclusion, I reckon it wasn’t the free airplants that drew the crowd since the seating area was already filled to the brim when Phillips started his talk!

The guest of honour was Mr Raymond Lim, who is the current Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. Took some photographs with him during the hands-on demonstration that involved the mounting of an airplant on a piece of driftwood…

Still at my home, the Tillandsia xerographica to given to the Guest of Honour, which were brought to Thomson Garden the following day.

The airplants for the hands-on demonstration, from left, T. caput-medusae, T. ionantha, and T. brachycaulos abdita.

A better way to present the T. xerographica for the Guest of Honour, compared to being seated in an wooden orchid basket. Idea was from Thomson Garden Neighbourhood Committee.

All the materials on the table before the demonstration. Driftwood in a basket and airplants nicely displayed on tiered dessert plates!

Started on the talk proper, after taking over Phillips…

Mr Raymond Lim at the walkabout who passed by the venue of the talk.

Mr Lim looks on at a resident who tried mounting her airplant on a piece of driftwood. He had earlier tried the hands-on too.