Singapore’s first backpacker’s lodge in the HDB heartlands opened a month ago. I visited the place last week. Come check out my review in the forum. — http://www.knapsack.net backpacking, trekking and mountaineering travelogues and photos.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Most suggestions don’t consider the interest of the poster. Is she crazy over animals? (Zoo), Mad over birds? (Jurong Bird Park), Gourmet looking for overpriced tourist food? (Boat Quay). If one wishes to really know Singapore, go into the heartlands via bus or MRT. Wander the commercial centres – local shops, market, food courts & meet ‘real’ Singaporeans & try out what we eat & enjoy everyday. Maybe you’ll gain a hint of what Singapore is all about. These are the larger & more vibrant suburbs to visit, easily, via MRT Bedok Paya Lebar Aljunied Bugis Clementi Choa Chu Kang Hougang Outram Park Tampines Enjoy the ‘real’ Singapore! We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

If you’re going to the Night Safari, make sure you get there early.  When we went it closed an hour earlier than the published time and we missed about a quarter of it.  If you go by MRT & bus it takes forever to get there. Go on the MRT at some stage anyway because it’s good and cheap.  i’d recommend Chinatown at night – a few shops selling rubbish, but fun, souvenirs, you might see some street entertainment, it’s a bustling but nice place to be around – more ‘real’ and less sterile than much of Singapore.  The food everywhere is generally fantastic. — Neil

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Hi, A Singaporean nature lover here. Singapore may seem like a concrete jungle, but there are still some forests and wetlands here. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to join us on our regular trekking trips in the nature reserves. — http://www.knapsack.net backpacking, trekking and mountaineering travelogues and photos.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest. :^)  So then, the Long Bar won’t be any cooler or any warmer than it was in a rainy period in October? Not to mention that I’m glad to hear that there is no more than a 4 degree temperature change.  I’ve been kind of cringing about my trip next week. I can barely stand the heat in that area normally and had thought I’d set myself up for an even worse time of it.

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! The temperature is about the same all year round (but it is nice and warm). For me anyway, the main delight of a visit to Singapore is eating. But what are you interested in? Shopping? Museums? Activities? miguel

Yes, yes and yes, but having limited time I have to prioritise. All the replies have been really great and I already know that there will have to be a return visit! Sharon

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Take a taxi to the World Trade Center, grab a ferry, and visit Batam, Indonesia. Or take a taxi to Changi, grab a cheap flight, and spend 2 days in Bangkok. Or grit your teeth and enjoy the boredom of Singapore. Unless, of course, they have outlawed teeth-gritting in which case you’ll be caned.

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missed that one!  must put it on the itinerary for the next trip – sounds as informative and educational as sentosa!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – there is also a museum next to it that showcases the singaporian punishment methods meted out to petty criminals…these include electrical prodes, water torture, and the most famous of all, the whipping with half-inch thick bamboo canes pre-soaked in horse urine (to inflict maximum amount of pain)….they don’t call singapore "disneyland-with-the-death-penalty" for nothing…. The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards. We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

The temperature is about the same all year round (but it is nice and warm). For me anyway, the main delight of a visit to Singapore is eating. But what are you interested in? Shopping? Museums? Activities? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

Most suggestions don’t consider the interest of the poster. Is she crazy over animals? (Zoo), Mad over birds? (Jurong Bird Park), Gourmet looking for overpriced tourist food? (Boat Quay). If one wishes to really know Singapore, go into the heartlands via bus or MRT. Wander the commercial centres – local shops, market, food courts & meet ‘real’ Singaporeans & try out what we eat & enjoy everyday. Maybe you’ll gain a hint of what Singapore is all about. These are the larger & more vibrant suburbs to visit, easily, via MRT Bedok Paya Lebar Aljunied Bugis Clementi Choa Chu Kang Hougang Outram Park Tampines Enjoy the ‘real’ Singapore!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

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The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

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there is also a museum next to it that showcases the singaporian punishment methods meted out to petty criminals…these include electrical prodes, water torture, and the most famous of all, the whipping with half-inch thick bamboo canes pre-soaked in horse urine (to inflict maximum amount of pain)….they don’t call singapore "disneyland-with-the-death-penalty" for nothing…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Changi war memorial is worth a look too – you certainly won’t feel like eating Japanese food afterwards. We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

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It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. Singapore is 1 degree north of the equator. July temperatures are about in the middle of the annual average, which doesn’t vary by more than 4 degrees from the "coldest" month to the warmest.

:^)  So then, the Long Bar won’t be any cooler or any warmer than it was in a rainy period in October? Not to mention that I’m glad to hear that there is no more than a 4 degree temperature change.  I’ve been kind of cringing about my trip next week.  I can barely stand the heat in that area normally and had thought I’d set myself up for an even worse time of it.

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!  

Singapore is always quite warm and humid.  My priorities would be Jurong Bird Park (very nice, and the MRT/light rail ride out to Boon Lay Station gives you a good glimpse of the city), the Botanic Garden (which contains the National Orchid Museum), the Singapore Zoo Night Safari (I only went to the Night Safari, which was quite interesting, but I’m sure the zoo would also be enjoyable in the daylight), and at least one dinner down on Boat Quay, where you can enjoy an open-air meal on the banks of the Singapore River.  Orchard Road would be the place to go if you’re looking to do some up-scaled window shopping (stuff will be expensive), but I can also suggest spending about an hour or so strolling along Waterloo Road (off of Bras Bassah Road), where you can check out the ornate Sri Krishnan Hindu Temple, the Kwan Yin Temple and an interesting 4-story wet/dry market and food court at the base of a large apartment building, which makes for some good photo opportunities (people and lots of local color).  Enjoy. USC

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Well… Here are just some of the recommended destinations in Singapore (not including those near Singapore): – Changi Airport – Orchard road – Sentosa island – Haw Par Villa – Jurong East area

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place.  For a great view of Singapore and a cocktail, The Equinox at the Swissotel The Stamford.

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While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that.  I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard.. One does not do that for the price or the taste.  It’s the experience.

Quite so, which was why I did it.  Now I know that it is an experience I could have omitted, particularly had I only 48 hours to savor Singapore.

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

It is always warm in Singapore. In addition to what others have said, don’t miss the Birdpark in Jurong. Very, very nice! Sjoerd

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night. I wouldn’t bother with the Sling at the Long Bar.  Extremely over-priced and just not that tasty.

It’s been years since I was there, but at the time I was horrified to see the bartender use tinned pineapple juice. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that.  I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany — "it’s the network…"                          "The Journey is the reward" Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night. I wouldn’t bother with the Sling at the Long Bar.  Extremely over-priced and just not that tasty. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that.  I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

One does not do that for the price or the taste.  It’s the experience. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm! Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

I wouldn’t bother with the Sling at the Long Bar.  Extremely over-priced and just not that tasty. While the Long Bar was interesting, it wasn’t all that.  I’ve actually been in a few bars at home that weren’t much different, except for the fans. It was also quite warm in there and in July it should be quite a bit worse in that regard..

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Response:

We have 48 hours in Singapore on our way to New Zealand. Can anyone suggest how we can prioritise what we see and visit. We will be there end of July and I gather it will be quite warm!

Night Safari at the zoo, botanical garden, Singapore sling at the Long Bar, a couple of hawkers centers at night.

Response:

Taking its cue from Kew? K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While AJ’s listing of collections (of all sorts) is quite incluysive, it errs in regard to the Missouri Botanical Garden, whose orchid collection is extensive … just not on public display beyond a small display off the lobby. If you want to see a better representation of the collection, you need to attend the annual orchid show (first weekend in February to mid-March). Organization: Nyx Net, Free Internet access (www.nyx.net) Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ

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hi all, i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. thanks m d

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They are all in sunny Florida. Mick

Response:

i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA.

        Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either.         Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done.         I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there.         Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection.         I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none.         I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there.         I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner.         Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology.         I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly.         I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice.         Cheers,         -AJHicks         Chandler, AZ

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While AJ’s listing of collections (of all sorts) is quite incluysive, it errs in regard to the Missouri Botanical Garden, whose orchid collection is extensive … just not on public display beyond a small display off the lobby. If you want to see a better representation of the collection, you need to attend the annual orchid show (first weekend in February to mid-March). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: Nyx Net, Free Internet access (www.nyx.net) Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ

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i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA.

FWIW, if you go to Fairchild specifically looking for orchids, you won’t be very happy, to put it mildly.  It’s absolutely worth a trip for everything else, and if you go when the naturalized ones in the trees are in bloom that would be an added bonus.  But for orchid collections per se you can do better in almost any hobbyist’s greenhouse. Michael

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How cuet of yew to think of that, Kath!  ;-) Reka http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move."        –Georgia O’Keeffe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Taking its cue from Kew?

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The best one I’ve seen is at Marie Selby gardens in Sarasota, FL. Maybe when the AOS collection comes of age in a couple years that’ll be something to see as well. Haven’t been to Longwood but it sounds like a wonderful place. Definitely on the list along with the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Atlanta (Fuqua) Botanical Garden. RJ

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I agree with Michael.  I was at Fairchild just  2 weeks ago.  They had one small room with both orchids and bromeliads.  And although they do a fantastic job of identifying all other plants on their grounds, I was hard pressed to find an ID on any of the orchids that they had attached to the trees outside. If you didn’t know that they were orchids you wouldn’t see them.  What a shame.

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I know you asked about the USa but living in Northern NH,  the closest orchid collection for me is at the Botanical Gardens of Montreal.  Touring through their several greenhouses hooked me. Tamra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi all, i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. thanks m d

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One of the volunteers at the AOS did a nice series of articles in ‘Orchids’ on botanical gardens world wide, but the AOS Homepage lists several in the US too. http://orchidweb.org/gardens.html K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA.         Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either.         Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done.         I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there.         Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection.         I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none.         I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there.         I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner.         Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology.         I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly.         I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice.         Cheers,         -AJHicks         Chandler, AZ

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Speaking of which order, it always amazes me that "orchid" is considered a color.  There’s an orchid in just about every color. Who the heck decided which orchid would be the official color? "2. A pale to light purple, from grayish to purplish pink to strong reddish purple." – AHD 4th Ed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – seems many South American countries list as their national flower: "the orchid" without distinguishing WHICH orchid.

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I’m guessing it’s Brazil since it seems that every top award winner is such. I believe Laelia purpurata is the national flower of a South American country, but I forget which one. Howard

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Encyclia cochleata – Belize Lycaste skinneri – Guatemala Peristeria elata – Panama Cattleya trianae – Colombia Cattleya skinneri – Costa Rica Cattleya mossiae – Venezuela – used to be Catasetum pileatum until 1921, some websites still have this as the national flower. I found a website with all of the national flowers of the Western Hemisphere. http://www.oas.org/oer/nameindex.htm — Matthew Swift Swift’s Orchids Phone/Fax 909-483-5590 http://www.swiftsorchids.com

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Clare, It is right.  L. purpurata is our national flower. Raul Sudre Rio de Janeiro – BRAZIL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m guessing it’s Brazil since it seems that every top award winner is such. I believe Laelia purpurata is the national flower of a South American country, but I forget which one. Howard — Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/

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I know its a little off topic, but just for reference, Queensland Australia have Dendrobium biggibum var supurbum as their state flower. Just in case you were interested. Shamedly Kye.

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National Flower. The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is the National Flower of Belize. This orchid grows on trees in damp areas, and flowers nearly all year round. Its clustered bulblike stems vary in size up to six inches long and carry two or three leaves. The black orchid flower has greenish-yellow petals and sepals with purple blotches near the base. The "lip" (one petal of special construction, which is the flower’s showiest) is shaped like a valve of a clam shell (hence the name Encyclia Cochleatum) and is deep purple-brown, almost black, with conspicuous radiating purple veins. Taken from http://www.belize.gov.bz/belize/national.html Kye.

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It is also Singapore’s national flower

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Clare, It is right.  L. purpurata is our national flower. Raul Sudre Rio de Janeiro – BRAZIL I’m guessing it’s Brazil since it seems that every top award winner is such. I believe Laelia purpurata is the national flower of a South American country, but I forget which one. Howard — Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/

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Anybody out there know the orchids (by name) that are used as the national flowers of central and south american countries (including mexico).  This seems to be a very difficult list to find! Thanks … David.

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David, Two plants I can give you are as follows: Lycaste skinneri—–Guatemala Peristeria elata——-Panama Sorry I can’t think of any others right now Regards, Stephen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody out there know the orchids (by name) that are used as the national flowers of central and south american countries (including mexico).  This seems to be a very difficult list to find! Thanks … David.

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Anybody out there know the orchids (by name) that are used as the national flowers of central and south american countries (including mexico).  This seems to be a very difficult list to find! Thanks … David.

I believe Laelia purpurata is the national flower of a South American country, but I forget which one. Howard

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A search of the internet on this topic was very frustrating indeed.  :-)  It seems many South American countries list as their national flower: "the orchid" without distinguishing WHICH orchid.  Of course that might have something to do with the way I searched.  Most of the countries which actually identified a species have already been listed here. Singapore, on the other hand,  seems to have named a specific hybrid as the national flower: Vanda Miss Joaquim and publicized this fact so deliberately that it shows up as 50% of the 11,500 hits of the term "National Flower Orchid".

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Al, It’s not surprising about the number of hits that show up for Singapore.  The Singapore National Orchid Garden is one of the country’s main attractions.  The national flower is a major cut flower crop, a top commodity to the country. There are other orchid gardens in Singapore, too — the Sentosa Orchid Garden is a part of the Disneyland-like theme park on Sentosa Island in Singapore.  Anyone visiting Singapore, who loves orchids, should visit these places. Some time ago I visited Costa Rica, too, and found that they have a passion for orchids.  Their rain forest is another "must see" for orchid lovers.  I did mention that Cattleya skinneri is their national flower. . . . Pam Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A search of the internet on this topic was very frustrating indeed.  :-)  It seems many South American countries list as their national flower: "the orchid" without distinguishing WHICH orchid.  Of course that might have something to do with the way I searched.  Most of the countries which actually identified a species have already been listed here. Singapore, on the other hand,  seems to have named a specific hybrid as the national flower: Vanda Miss Joaquim and publicized this fact so deliberately that it shows up as 50% of the 11,500 hits of the term "National Flower Orchid".

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David, The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is the National Flower of Belize. Whereas most counties have national flowers, many of them are not orchids. . . . Pam Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html October bloomers http://www.pe.net/~profpam/orchid3.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anybody out there know the orchids (by name) that are used as the national flowers of central and south american countries (including mexico).  This seems to be a very difficult list to find! Thanks … David.

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David, Just remembered that Cattleya trianaei is the national flower of Colombia and the national flower of Costa Rica is the Cattleya skinneri.  Bolivia, Argentina, Peru and some of the others have other types of flowers. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The Black Orchid (Encyclia Cochleatum) is the National Flower of Belize. Whereas most counties have national flowers, many of them are not orchids. . . . Pam Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html October bloomers http://www.pe.net/~profpam/orchid3.html Anybody out there know the orchids (by name) that are used as the national flowers of central and south american countries (including mexico).  This seems to be a very difficult list to find! Thanks … David.

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We loved the National Orchid Garden

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Don’t miss the Jurong Bird park. It’s excellent. — Original Message — Can anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ? Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Night Safari / Zoo.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ?

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My little boy says not to miss your flight out. For me Hongtin being caned for trying to smuggle in bubble gum.

Unfortunately, he can’t be caned for that. Robbery with a toy gun, maybe.

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Singapore simply does not strike me as truly "Asian". More like a bastard child of the East and the West, if you get my drift.

So Malacca is a child of a more legitimate marriage? Have you heard of Portuguese Square in Malacca? Are you not also insulting the people there?

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Don’t miss the Jurong Bird park. It’s excellent. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —- Original Message — Can anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ? Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Can anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ?

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writes: an anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ?

My little boy says not to miss your flight out. For me Hongtin being caned for trying to smuggle in bubble gum. Maybe you could be more specific in your interests so we can better assist. If you have kids its a delight with many attractions including a good discovery museum. The Jurong bird park is very nice. Nearby is a place you can get an alligator burger. For the more refined the Asia Civ Museum and its nearby relations would be stimulating. Sentosa Island offers a butterfly exhibition area and a good aquarium. For foodies this is a mecca not withstanding Hongtin’s experience. Good English bookstores rounds it out. Excellent base for a trip into Indonesia and Malaysia. Enjoy but watch out for the humidity, edwardseco

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On Snetosa Island, be sure to visit the memorial honoring those who died in the Great Sentosa Cable Car Tragedy. The cable was snagged by a passing freighter’s mast and entire cars were sent plunging into the ocean below. Occupants died horrible deaths. No one was able to explain who in the port office allowed such a tall ship to sail past the cable car area. I must assume its typical Singaporean incompetence…..I heard the prime minister’s son (not having seen a single day of combat, he was made a general at 33) was given the task of co-ordinating the rescue mission. I am not sure if many people were actually saved, but he was given heroic honors and valuable media coverage anyways…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ?

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The Asia museum is considered by many who have visited to be a white elephant. I have toured it, and was totally underwhelmed. There are many Asian heritage museums around (the ones in nearby Malaysia are worth vivsiting). Singapore simply does not strike me as truly "Asian". More like a bastard child of the East and the West, if you get my drift. Tour the nearby Singapore River area instead (actually a huge ditch). Has no shortage of garish Chinese junks and British-style pubs. As an aside, a government ministered was rumored to have swam across it once, to prove that city hall’s has succeeded in cleaning up the ditch of flotsam  Unfortunately he died some time later,,,, There is no point to the story, except that while politicians elsewhere kiss baby bottoms, those in Singapore swim ditches… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – writes: an anyone tell me what not to miss when visiting singapore for one week ? My little boy says not to miss your flight out. For me Hongtin being caned for trying to smuggle in bubble gum. Maybe you could be more specific in your interests so we can better assist. If you have kids its a delight with many attractions including a good discovery museum. The Jurong bird park is very nice. Nearby is a place you can get an alligator burger. For the more refined the Asia Civ Museum and its nearby relations would be stimulating. Sentosa Island offers a butterfly exhibition area and a good aquarium. For foodies this is a mecca not withstanding Hongtin’s experience. Good English bookstores rounds it out. Excellent base for a trip into Indonesia and Malaysia. Enjoy but watch out for the humidity, edwardseco

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