Gardening with Wilson

I was invited by Rosalind Tan who is now better known as “Madame Butterfly” of Singapore to a garden party at the Alexandra Hospital yesterday evening . The garden party was an event that was organised to commemorate the month-long Clean and Green Singapore that is held in November annually.

The electronic invitation card that I received from Alexandra Hospital. This is an environmentally-friendly way of sending invitation cards as it avoids the use of excessive paper.

Fortunately, the weather was fair last evening. The garden party was held around the famous water lily pond and thematic gardens located in the grounds of Alexandra Hospital. The event that gathered the friends of the hospital who have put their hands together and squeezed their brain juices that helped to make gardens of Alexandra Hospital what they are today.

The beautiful waterlily pond that is located in the middle of the gardens of Alexandra Hospital.

To date, Alexandra Hospital is the only hospital to my knowledge that believes in the value of greenery. As stated on their corporate website, “It’s true – just by looking at trees and plants, you can reduce stress level, ease muscle tension and lower blood pressure. Hence, staff has put in time and effort to ensure that patients have a therapeutic garden to relax in.

Over the years, the garden has grown to include a butterfly trail with more than 100 species spotted, an ecological garden, a fragrant garden and a medicinal garden with “100 plants that Heal, Thrill and Kill”, a book of the same title by Professor Wee Yeow Chin. As of March 2008, it now hosts over 500 plant, 100 butterfly and 60 bird species.”

Alexandra Hospital’s President’s Award for the Environment Trophy.

The hospital also took the opportunity to share their joy with her guests who attended the garden party of her recent win of the President’s Award for the Environment which is the highest accolade in Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources field. It recognizes and honours individuals, organizations and companies which have contributed monumentally to Singapore’s efforts in achieving environmental sustainability.

CEO Alexandra Hospital, Mr Liak Teng Lit, addressing the crowd who also later gave out certificates of appreciation to those who have contributed to the hospital.

The President’s Award for the Environment Trophy that Alexandra Hospital won was displayed in the garden during the party. The trophy is very unique and was specially designed and produced by Singapore’s contemporary ceramic artist and Cultural Medallion winner, Mr Iskandar Jalil.  As stated on the website of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the trophy is shaped like a watering can to acknowledge the winners’ contributions in nurturing Singapore’s environment and also symbolizes the importance of water as a precious resource that should be treasured by every Singaporeans. The spectrum of earthy, blue and green hues on the trophies mirrors the resplendence of Singapore’s natural environment.

A photograph of me and Lily (left) that was taken by the one of the photographers at the Garden Party. The picture was developed on the spot and given to us a few minutes later. 

For me, it was an occasion to meet up with friends of the gardening fraternity. I got to meet up with Mr John Tan, President of the Singapore Gardening Society, as well as, the Patron of the society, Professor Wee Yeow Chin. I also saw Mr Gan Cheong Weei who is a member of the Butterfly Interest Group and an active and very supportive member of my Green Culture Singapore discussion forum. It makes me very happy to be able to meet up with likeminded friends who share the same passion.

Another picture I took of the two new members of the Community in Bloom team, Matthew Tan (Ieft) and Lily Chen.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself this evening. The hospitality shown by the hospital staff was splendid. I lovethe tasty spread of food which was prepared using some of the materials that were harvested from the plants grown in the garden. I am touched by this simple but sincere gesture.

Particularly, I recalled how much I like the refreshing drink that was made by boiling the leaves of the oyster plant (Tradescantia spathacea) in water and the pandan chicken which was flavoured using the leaves from the pandan plants (Pandanus amaryllifolius) that were planted in the hospital’s garden.

The camerman filming some scenes featuring Rosalind Tan during the Garden Party. She was talking to Mr Ng Cheow Kheng from the Community in Bloom. 

Last but not least, I was surprised to see a production crew from 360 Productions at work. They were there to do an interview and film Rosalind Tan in action for a show that will be aired on Channel U later on. The show will depict how Rosalind started a gardening culture in the hospital that was non-existent years ago and how she magically transformed the landscape of Alexandra Hospital into a beautiful and therapeutic garden.

Alexandra Hospital is now indeed a “Hospital in a Garden.”

Thank you Rosalind for the invitation.