This morning, I was at the neighbourhood park at Tai Hwan Terrace to attend Hwan Gardens Neighbourhood Committee’s Family Carnival. One of the events that took place during the carnival was the opening of the community garden located in the park. It is good to see that more and more Singaporeans are taking up community gardening.
Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Senior Minister of State (Finance & Transport) and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC) was the Guest-of-Honour for the event and accompanied by Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, a fellow MP for the same GRC, who was the special guest.
Mr Yeo (left) and Mrs Lim (right) unveiling the plaque to officiate the opening of the community garden.
Similar to most other community garden opening ceremonies, one of the things that must be done is the planting of a tree by the Guest-of-Honour.
A closer look at the plaque.
The community garden – the plots are shaped like the petals of a daisy flower that encircled the central circular plot where the Guest-of-Honour’s tree was planted. The stem of the flower served as the path.
As most of my friends would have expected, as the ‘gardening advisor’ of Serangoon constituency, how can I not be present? At the carnival, I was there to give advice to residents who may face problems with their plants at home as well as to promote the gardening hobby.
I was given some booth space to set up a corner for this but I am always more comfortable to be near my friends from the Community in Bloom (CIB) of the National Parks Board (NParks). This is because we have been long time collaborators who share the same aim, that is to promote the gardening to the masses. During such events, it is always a nice time for me to catch up with the dedicated and professional staff at CIB, namely, Cheow Kheng and Shirley. Today, I got to meet Simon Longman too.
As I had been busy lately with work and work related to the upcoming Singapore Garden Festival (SGF), I only could find time to do my posters late last night (or early hours of today’s morning). On one of my posters, I stuck a couple of photographs taken at my community garden and a newspaper article onto a piece of plastic corrugated board. On another are several articles that I have penned for the Serangoon newsletter written on gardening. I also took the opportunity to advertise the Singapore Garden Festival as well.
On the table, I showcased three interesting plants, namely, the elephant yam, some airplants and a butterwort. Many people are fascinated by the butterwort as the harmless looking plant had never been expected to be carnivorous in nature. I also introduced the trio to Mrs Lim as well as Mr Yeo when they did their visiting to the booths of the participating agencies.
The poster display boards where my posters as well as those of the CIB were put up.
On the table, we laid out the information brochures of the CIB for visitors to take, as well as, the three interesting plants that I brought along.
Me (far right) with Cheow Kheng (second from right) introducing the CIB programme and my trio of interesting plants to Mrs Lim and Mr Yeo while Benedict and John looked on (They are chairmen of two Neighbourhood Committees in the Serangoon Constituency).
A photograph with Cheow Kheng and my Residents’ Committee chairperson, Claire.
My Residents’ Committee chairperson, Mdm Claire Ng, also got a chance to meet Cheow Kheng at the carnival. During their course of conversation, I heard the exchange of compliments and praises from the both of them for the work I have done. Many thanks to that really, as I am just following my passion and mission to promote the gardening hobby. I am also very grateful for the support and advice that they have given me.
